BRAKING with Tow Vehicle / Controller?

samedi 25 avril 2015

This probably has been discussed somewhere at some time on the Forum. Braking options.

I have 40,000 miles on my 2012 Tundra. I use to sell my Toyota's when they had 180,000+ miles just because I could not risk a break down in some out of the way place that I frequent, much too often. Now, maybe 50,000 to 60,000 miles I find myself a new truck and have to relearn how to turn the radio on and what all of the buttons and switches are operating.

One thing that has not changed. How I brake using the Truck AND the brake controller connected to the Airstream in tow.

I trust brake shoes as much as I trust that my taxes will not increase over time. I recall the days when all vehicles had brake shoes and each operated with more or less friction over time. This would be discovered in snow or slick pavement where some wheels could lock up and other wheels were undecided, what to do. No set of brakes worked together. Disc brakes on all four wheels eventually solved that. I guess...

When I brake while towing I use a combination of options.

-Tow Vehicle brakes.
-Trailer brakes controlled from the brake controller.
-Shifting down the tow vehicle's transmission while braking.

It is remarkable how well using all THREE options at the same time work best. I am braking and manually downshifting the transmission for a steady, controlled slowing down or stopping. Much like landing an aircraft on an Aircraft Carrier. A coordinated mix of all three options. I find the modern automatic transmissions dependable and maintenance free. The stopping process is like a well written song with all instruments blending into a melody worth listening to on the radio.

Rocky Mountain traveling is NOT Texas flat land traveling. So, if you are in Houston, Texas it is not the same as traveling on a stretch of highway that drops 5,000 feet elevation in ten miles. You must understand that overheated brakes can create a disaster when the brake fluid reaches its boiling point in the tow vehicle. Again, you must learn to use the Tow/Trailer brakes AND downshifting the transmission to keep control of your... descent. It is a learning process. It cannot be taught from a booklet or video. You must experiment with what works best with your brand of tow vehicle, trailer brakes and transmission.

This Thread could not be introduced with one paragraph or a smart one sentence introduction. Braking in City traffic, Flat geography, Mountain travel, etc. all have their challenges.

Next time you are going East from the Front Range, Colorado back into Denver, Colorado... SMELL the 18 wheeler brakes smoking. Obviously an inexperienced trucker... as they are everywhere as are poor drivers towing a travel trailer in these same conditions.

This may seem to be preaching to those who have been towing boats, trailers and UHauls for decades... but there might be some new trailer owners that never considered using the truck's transmission as part of the "slowing or stopping" options.

What do you have to say? Yes... it IS easier to SLOW OR STOP GOING UPHILL. What about steep downhill grades? City traffic spacing ahead of you while towing? Only your experience in print can help.

Do you know what to do IF you are driving in snowy conditions and your trailer begins to JACKKNIFE on packed snow? There is a way to regain control. Maybe... lets start there. I had a friend explain how he learned. It makes sense to me.


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