Different Brake Systems for Trailers

Brake Systems for Trailers – Which is Best?

Frequent haulers and those lugging heavy loads require more braking power than the typical tow vehicle provides. In these situations, additional brake systems for trailers can provide the necessary stopping power to ensure safety and reduce wear-and-tear on tow vehicle brakes.

Adding a Trailer Brake System
There are two major types of trailer braking systems: Surge and electric brakes. What’s best for your application? 

●     Surge Brakes
Best Uses: Boat trailers and the occasional tower.
These self-contained systems take advantage of a trailer's weight and momentum to actuate the brakes. Unlike electric systems, no added controls or electrical connections are necessary for operation.  You press the tow vehicle’s brakes, and trailer pushes against a connection that compresses a hydraulic cylinder, transferring pressure from the trailer to the trailer brakes to provide added stopping power. Properly adjusted, they are easy to use. The downside? No capacity for driver control or adjustment, and maintenance and operational procedures require spot-on adherence to avoid issues that could result in vehicle damage when backing up or transporting over bumps and downhill.

●     Electric Brakes
Best Uses: Heavy hauling, frequent towing, and those looking for added braking control.
With the help of an in-cabin brake controller and an added electrical connection, electric trailer brakes give drivers more customizable brake operation via programming adjustments. Simple in operation, they employ an electromagnet to actuate drum brakes as programmed. You can even operate brakes on-the-fly, when descending hills, in high winds, or with trailer sway. However there are more than one type of in-cabin control module, affecting performance:

o      Proportional or Inertia-Based Brake Controllers
An inertia-based sensor provides power to trailer brakes proportional to vehicle momentum, allowing for smoother stops and more efficient braking than time-based controllers. These systems offer superior braking on hills (up or down), and are a boon for hauling livestock or other sensitive cargo, detecting changes in momentum and powering brakes accordingly.

o      Time-Based Brake Controllers
These systems activate with brake pedal use, performing as programmed by the driver. Effective and simple to use, but not as precise as inertia-based controllers, they are often sufficient for light duty hauls like pontoon boats and smaller campers.

Bring Braking Problems to an Abrupt Halt
Towing a trailer can take a heavy toll on your trailer and tow vehicle. Get the extra stopping power you need to better protect cargo and the brake system on your hauler. Upgrade your trailer brakes affordably and easily with the help of Ainsworth Trailer Repair today.

This post was originally published at http://www.trailerrepairdenver.com/different-brake-systems-trailers/

Boat Trailer Bearing Replacement: How Long Do They Last?

Putting off boat trailer wheel bearing replacement? If bearings fail, wheels can literally fall off the vehicle, and your boat will definitely go sailing off in the sunset… Just not quite the way you’d envisioned. Bearings should be greased, taken apart and serviced at least once per year. But that’s not a hard and fast rule. Maintenance and replacement needs will vary based on frequency of trailer use, wear-and-tear from water, mud, and road conditions, and how well you kept up with (or ignored) bearing service needs over the year.

How Do I Know When My Trailer Wheel Bearings Need Repacking/Replacement?

The bearings on your boat trailer reduce friction, allowing trailer wheels to spin freely about the axle. This takes a constant supply of lubrication – bearing grease – which must be regularly replaced to prevent damage. Luckily, your trailer will drop little hints when bearing issues are imminent. Are you ignoring these signs of worn wheel bearings?

●     Warm/Hot Hubs
Lack of lubrication can cause bearings to generate excessive heat. Carefully put your palm on the hub of each trailer tire. If it is too hot to comfortably handle or one is warmer than the other, this indicates the need for trailer bearing attention.

●     Noise
Grinding, clicking, and squeaking from trailer wheels often indicate a worn or defective wheel bearing in need of replacement – or the need to repack bearings with grease.

●     Grease in the Hub
When bearings seals go bad, grease can leak out and collect in the hub, and can even be blown into the fender.

●     Lost/Loose Dust Cap
Dust caps often come loose when issues with the bearing assembly exist, and should be replaced when bearings are serviced.

Grease the Wheels of Progress
Your boating time is sacred. Don’t spend your weekend stuck on the side of the road. Contact Ainsworth to schedule wheel bearing maintenance for your trailer today.

This post was originally published at http://www.trailerrepairdenver.com/boat-trailer-bearing-replacement-long-last/