[AT] Trailer brakes

[Cecil Bearden]

I do the same thing with a switch panel I built that hooks up to a 
battery and has a connector for the trailers.  That way I can test 
everything without running the battery down on the truck.  I hauled 15 
bales of hay about 16000lbs plus the trailer (tandem dual bumper pull 
30ft) behind my 78 ford 1 ton wrecker across the north end of town last 
week.  One place I came up to an intesection about 200 yds away at 25mph 
and it seemed like 50mph....  Front tires were barking loud enough that 
the cars approaching the intersection stopped about 20 ft early and 
waited until we got there.  I could pump the brakes and slow it down, 
but it you needed to stop, it took 1/4 mile....  I guess you could say 
we were overloaded.  Got to get the brakes fixed on that trailer.. But 
then again, Henry Ford left a legacy of dragging your feet to stop.  I 
don't have that problem on my Chevrolet 1 ton or 1/2 ton trucks, but my 
3 ford 1 tons just do not stop trailers that are loaded without their 
own brakes....  I gotta get the old Fire truck we drove across country 
built into a trailer puller...  76 GMC 427 Engine, twin screw with 13 
spd road ranger...

Cecil in OKla

Cecil in OKla

Paul Waugh wrote:
> I test my trailer brakes by hooking up to truck, put a small battery charger 
> straight onto trailer terminal s (positive & negative) at trailer plug. You 
> should hear the brakes, clang/pop/grab. Then I pull the trailer ahead a 
> foot, if wheel lock, brakes are working. Just my 2 cents, at least I know if 
> it is truck or trailer.
> If wheel don't lock, I move charger back to wires coming out of axle and 
> repeat.
> Paul - IN
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Don Bowen" <don.bowen at earthlink.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 10:09 AM
> Subject: [AT] Trailer brakes
> .  I am thinking the controller may be bad
>> but I am looking for suggestions on what it could be and how to test.  I
>> am headed for california in a week but the trailer stays here.
>>
>> -- 
>> Don Bowen           KI6DIU
>> http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html
>>
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