Description and Performance of Trailer Brake Systems with Recommendations for an Effectiveness Test Procedure

A significant aspect of trailering safetyis the ability of a combination vehicle to stop with the same effectiveness as the tow vehicle alone. This paper describes the operation of electric and surge brake systems and presents analytical equations which can be used to predict stopping distances of these combinations as well as those trailers having no brakes. Comparisons are then made to full scale brake performance tests with seven different trailers. Problems are discussed and recommendations for a trailer-alone brake test procedure are given.