Trailer Brakes – Electric Vs Mechanical Trailer Brakes
There are many beliefs that are widely held by the Australian consumer on trailer brakes, both electrical braking and mechanical (overrun braking).
There are both benefits and differences to each but at the end of the day it comes down to preference, price, quality and value for money.
One of these beliefs is that a mechanical braking system is jerky, rough and does not allow for a smooth trip. While this may have been true for a long time in Australia the market has since changed, the importation of the superior European overrun braking system has advanced mechanical overrun braking a lot. This comes in the form of two primary brands, Alko and Knott. These braking and suspension systems are most known on trailer brands like Brian James Trailers, Variant Trailers and Ifor Williams Trailers.
The electrical braking system which has been the chosen braking of the Australian consumer for the longest time, is no longer always favoured. We begin to see more and more hire companies, tradies and personal users beginning to make the switch to higher quality European trailers and in turn the overrun Alko or Knott braking systems.
How Do Electric Trailer Brakes Work?
Electric trailer brakes use a brake controller which is situated in the tow vehicle. They then use electromagnets to activate the braking system via the drums. The electricity to the brakes is controlled via the brake controller and brake light circuit.
What are the Benefits Of Electric Trailer Brakes?
Trailer electric braking systems have several positives, such as limiting the pressure on the tow vehicles brakes, the ability to manually adjust via the brake controller to reduce swaying which is a great advantage when travelling on hills and in areas where the wind speed is high. In general, electric brakes can work great when they are setup correctly, however, such is the case that often users don’t know how to set the brakes properly or can not be bothered. This then leads us to the benefits of an overrun or mechanical braking system in comparison.
How Do Mechanical Trailer Brakes Work?
Mechanical (overrun) trailer brakes are also a relatively simple principle, when a trailer is moving forward it moves with the speed of the vehicle. In order to stop the trailer from going too fast in comparison to the car, its own weight applies pressure to the the hyraulic ram, which engages the overrun brake. A sliding spring mechanism piece is mounted to the trailer’s drawbar, this spring contracts as soon as the trailers speed attempts to overrun the vehicle. When the drawbar contracts, a set of Bowden brake cables are pulled and activate the brake drums to the axles, the higher the pushing force the increased braking force. When the car stops braking the cables are deactivated and the trailer tows as normal.
The European braking system also utilises an overrun dampener (different to the Australian standard) which acts as a shock absorber. This dampener is installed to prevent the overrun brake from immediately working when the throttle or brake is slightly released. This in turn completely removes the jerky, vibrating feeling that a standard Australian mechanical braking system possesses.
The European mechanical braking system utilises an auto-reverse mechanism which is included in the brake drums. This mechanism ensures that the overrun brake will not take effect when reversing.
What are the Benefits Of Mechanical Trailer Brakes?
The mechanical braking system also has several positives that make it an ideal system for the Australian user, especially in fleet and hire. The overrun trailer system is simple, self managed and therefore not much can really go wrong, whereas your electrical system can often have wiring faults or connector issues which in turn means shortages or the complete replacement of parts. The Knott and Alko overrun systems also utilise handbrake breakaway cables for extra on road safety, the overrun dampener is also a fantastic feature because it ensures that your trips are completely smooth.
Whether your trailer utilises electric brakes or mechanical brakes it’s good to know what’s on the market and the innovations that the Australian user is beginning to adopt.
For Further Information On Australian and NSW Regulations for Trailers and Road Rules:
Full Alko & Knott Trailer Part Support
Brand New Variant Trailers:
