Replies to this message are sent to The Chevelle Mailing List
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James,
There are two types of braking systems for trailers. The most common are
'electrical' brakes. These hook up to your tow vehicle via a plug on your
bumper. This plug is part of a braking system you'll need to have
installed. Here in Houston it costs between 150 and 200 for the towing
system to be purchased and installed.
The second type of braking system are 'surge' brakes. They are installed on
the tongue of the trailer, and come on when the trailer moves closer to your
vehicle. IE when you brake, and sometimes when you are going down steep
hills.
I recommend the electrical braking system, as it's hooked into the braking
system on your tow vehicle, the trailer brakes come on when you apply the
brakes to your jeep.
If I were shopping for a trailer right now, I would be looking for a 16' to
18' trailer with electric brakes. I would go ahead and have the following
items installed on your tow vehicle in preperation. 1-Electrical braking
system, btw this also will work the lights on your trailer. 2-Underhitch,
this hooks into the frame of your vehicle and is safer than using a bumper
hitch. And 3- for your underhitch, an equalizer bar system. Most
Trailer/Hitch accessory stores will have this. It helps with the load
balancing, and keeps most of the sag out of the rear end of your jeep when
you are towing. The main bonus to this is it keeps the front end of your
tow vehicle down on the round, in contact with the street. A side bonus is
it ups the weight capacity of the hitch and your vehicle.
When you find a trailer, go ahead and hook it up to your jeep before you buy
it. You want to make sure the brakes aren't going to lock up. This is a
problem that sometimes will happen to trailers with brakes that sit up for
long periods of time. Just drive it down the street hitting the brakes
occasionally. You'll know if they lock up!
Hope all this helps
Jeff Yates
1970 Chevelle
1979 Trans Am
1997 GMC Sierra
----- Original Message -----
From: "James R Hunter, Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2001 12:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Chevelle-List] Seeking info on trailers
>
> Replies to this message are sent to The Chevelle Mailing List
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Jeff (and everyone else),
>
> Thanks for all the input. The possibility of a car falling off a dolly
> is indeed pretty scary, especially considering that it must happen fairly
> frequently if you (and others) have witnessed it firsthand. That,
> coupled with the fact that I probably won't be able to find a dolly with
> brakes, helps point toward a full-size trailer.
>
> I agree with you about not wanting to pay the full price of a new one, as
> I would not be using it that much, and I've already started watching the
> local papers, etc. I'm definitely going to keep my eyes open for a
> decent used one & I'm trying to learn as much as I can about them in the
> meantime so that I know what to watch for, what to avoid and what a good
> price would be.
>
> I've been figuring on putting a power winch on whatever I buy, but I
> would like to find out more about brakes on a full-size trailer. Are
> they electric-powered (via a battery on the trailer itself)? How are
> they controlled? (do I need a wiring harness on my tow vehicle which is
> separate from the light harness?).
>
> Thanks for all the help!
>
> Jim -69-SS396- H.
>
>
> On Sun, 22 Jul 2001 00:00:12 -0400 "Rowdy Yates" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> writes:
> >
> > Replies to this message are sent to The Chevelle Mailing List
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Let me throw my two cents in here. I don't think you are going to
> > find a
> > tow dolly that will have brakes. I also can't recommend using one.
> > I have
> > seen front ends fall off of them, and if you have ever seen one
> > going down
> > the street, they aren't stable. They don't track behind your
> > vehicle very
> > well, making them an unsafe tool to use.
> >
> > So I recommend a full trailer. Down here in Houston, you can pick
> > up a new
> > 16' trailer, with wood floors, dual axle's, with brakes on one of
> > them, for
> > around 1600. However, I would'nt buy a new one in your position.
> > It sounds
> > like it'll be an occasional usage item. So ask around, check the
> > local swap
> > meets, local racetrack, papers, anywhere you can think of that is
> > automotive
> > related. You'll find a used one with a little looking. And if you
> > are
> > lucky, it'll have a winch and battery to go with it.
> >
> > Jeff Yates
> > 1970 Chevelle
> > 1979 Trans Am
> > 1997 GMC Sierra
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "James R Hunter, Jr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2001 6:38 PM
> > Subject: [Chevelle-List] Seeking info on trailers
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Replies to this message are sent to The Chevelle Mailing List
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > I'm seeking information and opinions about what type and size of
> > trailer
> > > to buy. I'd like to find something that I could use on rare
> > occasions to
> > > tow a vehicle for short distances (to bring home a parts car or to
> > go
> > > rescue my 69 SS396 if/when it should break down on the side of the
> > road,
> > > etc.). The tow vehicle would be my 2001 Cherokee 4.0 liter
> > automatic.
> > >
> > > I'm just starting to gather information on full-size "flat beds" &
> > > half-size "dollies" and I'm curious to hear what opinions anyone
> > has on
> > > one vs. the other. For instance, the state of Pa. apparently
> > doesn't
> > > require the half-size trailers to be inspected annually, yet I
> > haven't
> > > been able to find one that has trailer brakes. Does anyone know
> > if a kit
> > > to add brakes to them (or wouldn't trailer brakes really be
> > necessary if
> > > I was to only tow a vehicle a dozen or so miles at "low speed"?).
> > >
> > > Any info that anyone can give me (either firsthand experiences or
> > 3rd
> > > party info sources) would be appreciated!
> > >
> > > Jim -69-SS396- H.
> > >
> > >
> > > ________________________________________________________________
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