Trailer brakes

[LandyAndy]

Hi Guys
Im starting to plan a off-road trailer.
BRAKES
Personaly I like discs and electrics,BUT HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH ELECTRIC OR "PUSH PULL" systems.
The no1 pro for the "push pull" setup is any vehicle can tow it.
Ive never used electric brakes but I gather their main pro is you can set the brakes to "drag" downhill and not have the trailer pushing.
The trailer I have in mind would be 8x5ish size single axle,tipping with a 2 tonne axle/braking setup.Later I can build a camper setup to match.
Any input guys,this is the next project once BlackBetty has her suspension sorted.
Andrew

[rick130]

used electric for years on horse floats, and they seem to be about the only thing that is used there these days. As you said, they can be activated manually or set at whatever level you want in relation to the car brake system. The current generation of electronic controllers are simple to mount and very easy to use. You no longer need to have the controller sitting level for the internal pendulum to work properly as in the old days, as they don't use one anymore. The one in the 'fender is screwed to the front of the console sitting vertically.
The only real downside is if you blow the fuse in the main brake light circuit, you have no trailer brakes as they are activated by the brake light circuit !

[Pedro_The_Swift]

dont normal trailer brakes work when going down hill anyway?

[dobbo]

Pedro I tow my wifes horses around a lot. Personally I'd only use the electric brakes. Consider the weight your towing just say float = 1.5t horse approx 2x 500kg each associated rubbish that goes with it (saddles, bridels, rugs, etc lets say another 150 kg) you get the idea there would be a lot of weight to consider, in my senerio nearly 70% of the braked towing capacity of car. Electric brakes run in conjunction with the car brakes and can be set as lightly or as heavy as required therefore it is possible to get the trailor brakes actuating slightly before the cars or dragging if required. I've found they are most reliable and easiest to maintain and can save the cars brake pads a lot of wear.

[CraigE]

Andy,
Electric brakes are abit better, but for the size trailer you are talking about hydraulics would be fine as well. If you go the electric way do some investigation as the electric/magnetic set up on some brakes can fail with interference from iron stone. This is fairly applicable if you are using it offroad a fair bit in iron country. I remember discussing thsi when I put electric brakes on an off road trailer some years ago. There is an alternate type of electric brake that does not get this interference, but for the life of me can not remember which type.
I remember reading some time ago in 4x4 Australia about this issue as well.