How many brakes do you need....
11-20-2014, 11:47 PM
#1
How many brakes do you need....
I was wondering if there is any kind of calculation or rule of thumb even that people use to decide when they need more than a single axle with brakes under their tandem trailers. I found a really nice 20 foot equipment trailer today that weighs 3500 lbs. It had 7,000 lb axles, 235/80R 16" E rated tires but I couldn't pull the trigger on it because it only had one axle with brakes. I know that would probably be okay, but the whole point to all this planning is to do it as correctly as I can afford to. If I could get set a second axle with brakes for a couple hundred more, I think I would. What are your opinions on single vs dual axle brakes?
11-21-2014, 02:33 AM
#2
I get as much braking as I can. A trailer with a 20' deck can haul a good load, although two 3500 lb axles are light for something that long. It was common ten years ago to just put brakes on one axle, now it seems like both axles have brakes.
Don't know that you could add brakes for $200, but you probably could for $250. The axle itself is probably fine, but you'll need to get some hubs.
Don't know that you could add brakes for $200, but you probably could for $250. The axle itself is probably fine, but you'll need to get some hubs.
11-21-2014, 07:34 AM
#3
Senior Member
At 7000# total, I want brakes on both axles. If the price was right I would buy it and instal the second set. It would have to be a great buy though.
Rule of thumb for me, if it needs another axle, it needs brakes.
Rule of thumb for me, if it needs another axle, it needs brakes.
11-21-2014, 07:45 AM
#4
I Like Tires
Both of his axles are 7000lbs each. If he only had 3500lbs tandem axles he would only need a 205/75R15 LRC trailer tire.
You've got a huge load OP that would be a deal breaker for me. I've got a 7x14" enclosed with tandem 3500lbs axles and they both have breaks. Mine honestly has too much break without being heavily loaded but when it's loaded it'll stop the truck by itself.
You've got a huge load OP that would be a deal breaker for me. I've got a 7x14" enclosed with tandem 3500lbs axles and they both have breaks. Mine honestly has too much break without being heavily loaded but when it's loaded it'll stop the truck by itself.
11-21-2014, 08:39 AM
#5
Senior Member
Both of his axles are 7000lbs each. If he only had 3500lbs tandem axles he would only need a 205/75R15 LRC trailer tire.
You've got a huge load OP that would be a deal breaker for me. I've got a 7x14" enclosed with tandem 3500lbs axles and they both have breaks. Mine honestly has too much break without being heavily loaded but when it's loaded it'll stop the truck by itself.
You've got a huge load OP that would be a deal breaker for me. I've got a 7x14" enclosed with tandem 3500lbs axles and they both have breaks. Mine honestly has too much break without being heavily loaded but when it's loaded it'll stop the truck by itself.
11-21-2014, 08:56 AM
#6
Member
Give Yourself A Brake
I added Brakes on my Utility Trailer. Yah, it had only one 3,500 lb Axle. My point, though, is that the Hubs already had the Holes to accept Brake Assemblies. Think about it... You're a Manufacturer knocking out a bazillion Trailer Axles. You're gonna punch them/fabricate them all the same; not make a second type with different Hole patterns that allows Brakes on only certain Hubs on down the Manufacturing Line. Crawl under the Trailer to look for identical Hub Holes to confirm this before buying.
I think Brakes Parts were ~$100- tops at 'Redneck Trailer Supply' north of Denver. An afternoon job...
I learned Decades ago what a 'dry' Lubricant even Sand on Asphalt was. You can slip on surfaces other than Snow/Ice. I like all the Rubber on the Road to have Braking. Less likely for the Trailer to come around on you, since meeting a Deer in the Road at Dusk on a curve happens in my World/Real Life.
Run a separate, substantial Ground Wire back to the 7 Pin Connector. All the Current you're putting to 2, 4 or 6 Brakes has to make it back w/o much electrical loss. Cheesy, undersized Wiring doesn't cut it.
I think Brakes Parts were ~$100- tops at 'Redneck Trailer Supply' north of Denver. An afternoon job...
I learned Decades ago what a 'dry' Lubricant even Sand on Asphalt was. You can slip on surfaces other than Snow/Ice. I like all the Rubber on the Road to have Braking. Less likely for the Trailer to come around on you, since meeting a Deer in the Road at Dusk on a curve happens in my World/Real Life.
Run a separate, substantial Ground Wire back to the 7 Pin Connector. All the Current you're putting to 2, 4 or 6 Brakes has to make it back w/o much electrical loss. Cheesy, undersized Wiring doesn't cut it.
11-21-2014, 09:14 AM
#7
Hi, Thanks for your reply. Yes it is 14,000# GVWR. The 3,500 lb number came from the title for the trailer showing actual weight of trailer. I asked to see title because they didn't know the trailers weight. That seems about 500 or 600 hundred pounds too high to me. Most competitors trailers are not that heavy. If it really is that heavy I'm giving up that much more payload capacity I can have behind the truck but I guess maybe it is sturdier built if the extra metal is used strategtically. It is made by a company called C&W trailers.
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11-21-2014, 09:27 AM
#8
I Like Tires
Definitely he said his trailer has 235/80R16 trailer tires, a tandem setup of those would be overkill on a 7k lbs trailer. They generally come with tandem load range C for that much weight.
11-21-2014, 09:43 AM
#9
Senior Member
Hi, Thanks for your reply. Yes it is 14,000# GVWR. The 3,500 lb number came from the title for the trailer showing actual weight of trailer. I asked to see title because they didn't know the trailers weight. That seems about 500 or 600 hundred pounds too high to me. Most competitors trailers are not that heavy. If it really is that heavy I'm giving up that much more payload capacity I can have behind the truck but I guess maybe it is sturdier built if the extra metal is used strategtically. It is made by a company called C&W trailers.
11-21-2014, 07:32 PM
#10
