Brakes on two trailers - Diesel Forum

beagdog · 03-04-2005, 06:24 PM

A friend is buying a 26' 5th wheel camper. He also has a four horse tandem trailer that he wants to pull behind the 5th wheel and will haul a mule and a horse. With the weight of the pony hauler on the back he would like to have the brakes on both trailers doing some work. Is this possible? If it is, how would he go about it?

Thanks for any help and guidance.

jellis66 · 03-04-2005, 06:57 PM

The things to consider would be that the brake controller is rated for the number of axles with brakes and that the wire used in the harness appropriate for the total length and amperage. There is a calculator located here that might help. http://www.wranglernw.com/wire/ I'm sure there is a better one on the interent somewhere.

AaronSEIA · 03-04-2005, 07:32 PM

Might also want to look at being over length. I'm not sure what the DOT lets people pulling doubles run, but I've never even seen the Featherlite hotshoters pulling that much stuff. a 26' '5er plus a 20 something horse trailer is going to be a bit long. On the brake controller side, I'd want all 4 axles to have them. Just look for one that'll handle 3 or 4 axles. Most have a rating for the number of axles on them
Aaron SEIA

MonkeyWrench · 03-04-2005, 09:55 PM

Well, he would want a controller that will handle 4 axles or 8 brakes, but if I were doing it, I would rig a second brkae controller for the second trailer. That way you could adjust on-the-go how much braking that rear trailer is doing compared to the front one. That would be handy if he started out a trip with a lot of hay and water, and ended empty. Or if sometimes he leaves one of the two critters at home, etc.

I just like to customize my stuff my way, I guess. Maybe it would be overkill. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

j_apetersen · 03-04-2005, 10:00 PM

When pulling two trailers It is adviseable to use two brake controllers.and set the rear trailer gain a little higher than the first.Most states say that when pulling doubles that the first must be a 5th.trailers 27 27.

beagdog · 03-05-2005, 08:32 AM

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking the dual controller route would be best, just didn't know how well it would really work. He shouldn't have an overlength problem, he'll be pulling with a regular cab pickup, that's why he's limiting himself to the 26' 5th wheel.

Thanks again.

Dualie · 03-05-2005, 08:25 PM

I don't think that combo would be safe at all!!! A 4 horse pumper pull is very nose heavy! haven't seen one that wasn't! There made to really be towed behind a motorhome not a pickup even. this has the potential to turn into a real wreck. With the really nose heavy horse trailer trying to push the 5er down its going to try and unload the rear wheels of the truck. IF he really is only going to haul two horses then he might be able to get away with this and a 2 horse trailer.

Another thing you have to remember is this is a LIVE load not a static load say if the horses get really cranky they have the ability to really make a hairy situation really bad in nothing flat!

Personally I don't think this is a good idea AT ALL! And potentially dangerous! I have seen when horse trailers have been involved in major accidents and its not pretty in the least!