Thread: Question: How to share an electrically braked trailer?

Override brakes are only legal if the gross trailer mass is less than the unladen mass of the towing vehicle. IE you can tow 2T with a 2.4T vehicle but not with a 1.8T vehicle on override brakes.

Electric brakes have definite advantges over override braking systems but override systems can work very well when set up properly. I've towed for years with hydraulic override brakes that have later been converted to run vacuum braking as well, by modifying a brake booster fitted to the hydraulics. I have no idea how override and electric systems would combine.

Originally Posted by AnD3rew

Lots of trailers have electric brakes plus backup override brakes.

Not sure that I have seen this.....didn't think it was possible

Trailers over two tone need a brake away system....

Originally Posted by AnD3rew

Lots of trailers have electric brakes plus backup override brakes.

Is this done by connecting the override actuator to the handbrake on the electric drum brake?

The main reason I fitted electric brakes to my camper was for better braking control on dirt roads. You won't get this much if at all with override brakes.
I think this is the main reason you rarely see override brakes on off road campers etc.

I'd go the electric brakes. Override are crappy and never seem to do much for me. No wait that came out wrong! They never seem to stop much? O gee, you know what I mean.

Originally Posted by Utemad

Electric and override brakes are different and can't be fitted at the same time AFAIK.

Plus override brakes are useless compared to electric.

yeah they can.... the cheap version has the same basic cable setup as per normal over runbrakes (that also double as a hand brake) with the electric brake system overlaid onto it. (typically this setup is used to provide electric brake trailers with a manual parking brake and if you have this its easy to convert the parking brake to over run brakes by changing the hitch from a static head to a springloaded dynamic head)


Remember that override brakes are the brakes you don't have when you think you have brakes on the trailer.


very roughly the minimum for brakes on light trailers by GVM(trailer) is

• up to 750kg none
• 750kg-2T Override brakes on at least one axle (command brakes if GVM trailer is greater than the tow vehicle GVM)
• 2t+ Command brakes with a break-away control that provides positive braking for at least 10 minutes.