Camping Trailer Brakes

Your trailer brakes are one of the most important parts of your camping trailer, and understanding how they work and how they should be set up, will be an important safety task when it comes to hauling your trailer. There are several things that you need to keep in mind, including some brake system specifics that are usually required by the state, to prevent accidents from happening while pulling camping trailers. Let's explore what you should know and what you need to know regarding on-the-road and off road camper trailer brakes.

Let's talk first about the breakaway switch, which should be on the tongue of your camper trailer. This is a feature that is required by law that works hand in hand with a separate braking system on the trailer. This way, if the trailer and the tow vehicle become separated, the trailer will not continue to roll and cause damage, serious injury or death. The breakaway switch will activate the independent brake system, allowing the trailer to stop and limit the damage that it could cause were it to roll on its own.

The type of braking system that you employ will have a lot to do with what sort of tow vehicle you have and what kind of trailer you are pulling including the weight of the trailer when it is completely loaded. For instance, if you are hauling a light trailer, then you may simply have a surge brake that is in the tongue of the trailer. This is also usually true for the pop up type trailers. This means that you don't have to install tow modifications on your vehicle. Instead, the vehicle brakes will cause the trailer to press up against the hitch, which will activate a hydraulic cylinder that activates the brakes on the trailer.

A problem is often encountered when trying to back the trailer up or down a steep hill. In this case, the brakes will sometimes apply themselves, especially if you back the trailer up too quickly. This will get easier with experience. Also, you should make sure that the links do not rust. After sitting idle for the season, it may not work as well as it should; so try to apply your vehicle brakes a little bit sooner than you usually do. This won't last very long, and should fix itself by the time that you complete your first trailer haul of the summer.

The larger travel trailers and fifth-wheels have brakes that are electronically controlled, and have both manual and automatic controls, the manual brakes controlled by the tow vehicle. Also, these brakes will require wiring. Make sure that you test your electronic brakes regularly so that when you do need them they will be working perfectly, because these systems often need to be twiddled with a little bit to get them to match the trailer load. Also, don't use your trailer brake controls unless you are unable to handle the trailer any other way.