towing questions....

[sly_karma]

I wouldn’t drive the Coq without trailer brakes. If you ever get uncontrollable trailer sway, it’s the trailer brakes being applied that correct it. And it normally will happen going down a hill. Often when a large vehicle passes you creating a bow wave sucking you into their lane. Once it starts it’s hard to stop without trailer brakes being hammered on. The Coq has the mother of all hills. Secondly, what’s your vehicle gross combined weight and max trailer towing capacity? You’ll need to do math to figure this out, and you need to confirm that tongue weight is approx 10% of trailer weight, in your case say 200lbs. Take it to the highway scales in your area and weigh everything. It helps getting things figured out. I’d weigh the front and rear suv axles note weight then boat axle too all with your normal load. If you can disconnect the trailer and weigh the tongue too that’ll give you a start point to make sure you’re balanced. It’s a bit of trial and error, but, when you get it right you’ll feel it when you drive it.

I only have experience with the one boat/trailer setup, so I'm not expert. Please explain what you mean by using trailer brakes to correct sway. Light single axle setups are largely surge activated, how do you apply trailer brakes without hammering the truck brakes?

I thought the aim was to set up the trailer so as to prevent sway in the first place? Tongue weight set at ~10% of trailer weight, etc.

I've towed a 19 ft on a single axle from the Okanagan to the coast once or twice a year for a dozen years now. Weight is up toward the mandatory brake cap, a bit below 3000 lb. My trailer did have surge brakes, but I deleted them entirely. Haven't had issues since I got rid of those troublesome drums - and didn't notice a difference in towability after removing brakes. Was towing with a Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 V8 and now the Lightning, so I do accept the greater truck to trailer weight ratio.

 

[pescador]

I only have experience with the one boat/trailer setup, so I'm not expert. Please explain what you mean by using trailer brakes to correct sway. Light single axle setups are largely surge activated, how do you apply trailer brakes without hammering the truck brakes?

I thought the aim was to set up the trailer so as to prevent sway in the first place? Tongue weight set at ~10% of trailer weight, etc.

I've towed a 19 ft on a single axle from the Okanagan to the coast once or twice a year for a dozen years now. Weight is up toward the mandatory brake cap, a bit below 3000 lb. My trailer did have surge brakes, but I deleted them entirely. Haven't had issues since I got rid of those troublesome drums - and didn't notice a difference in towability after removing brakes. Was towing with a Silverado 1500 with a 5.3 V8 and now the Lightning, so I do accept the greater truck to trailer weight ratio.

Surge brakes are of no value if you encounter sway. Of course setting the trailer up correctly is the key to safe towing. Tongue weight/et al. However, every trailer is at risk of encountering sway under the right conditions. On major highways where large trucks operate the risk of experiencing a “bow” wave is real. Bow waves will pull you into their lane. Typically this happens when you are passed by a large vehicle going down a steep grade. (IE Coq Hwy). You may experience a pulling sensation into the next lane of your trailer. If it’s extreme, the trailer will move side to side. If you don’t stop it, you may lose control. If you have trailer brakes, you apply the trailer brakes with the ‘in cab brake controller’ to stop the sway straightening out the trailer. When I said hammer on the brakes, I meant trailer brakes. Not truck brakes.
Hey, it’s just advice from a guy who’s gone thru multiple trucks, boats, towing set ups, done many trips and encountered lots of problems over many years. And I had a few close calls. I learned from trial/error and research. I’m not saying anybody gotta do what I do. Just advise from a guy who’s gone thru pain I’d like others not to experience.

 

[sly_karma]

Surge brakes are of no value if you encounter sway. Of course setting the trailer up correctly is the key to safe towing. Tongue weight/et al. However, every trailer is at risk of encountering sway under the right conditions. On major highways where large trucks operate the risk of experiencing a “bow” wave is real. Bow waves will pull you into the lane their lane. Typically this happens when you are passed by a large vehicle going down a steep grade. (IE Coq Hwy). You may experience a pulling sensation into the next lane of your trailer. If it’s extreme, the trailer will move side to side. If you don’t stop it, you may lose control. If you have trailer brakes, you apply the trailer brakes with the ‘in cab brake controller’ to stop the sway straightening out the trailer. When I said hammer on the brakes, I meant trailer brakes. Not truck brakes.
Hey, it’s just advice from a guy who’s gone thru multiple trucks, boats, towing set ups, done many trips and encountered lots of problems over many years. And I had a few close calls. I learned from trial/error and research. I’m not saying anybody gotta do what I do. Just advise from a guy who’s gone thru pain I’d like others not to experience.

Thanks, makes sense. Being able to control trailer brakes separately would be a useful tool at times.