Towing Questions?

[mikejr]

Originally Posted by MVR 155

Towing that much weight without trailer brakes is just crazy if you ask me, not to mention illegal (I believe any trailer over 2K or 2.5K lbs needs to have brakes). If you had to panic stop you could seriously hurt, kill yourself or someone else on the road not to mention destroy your truck, vette (Im also a vette owner so I dont want to see one get destroyed ) and trailer. A brake controller is less than $100 and with a harness very easy to install. Be safe

In PA anything at 3000 pounds or above you need brakes on the trailer. They can be either surge brakes built into the tongue or electric brakes that work in conjuction with the towing vehicles brakes.

[Dash]

Maybe I should have clarified, the trailer did have brakes. They were/are manually adjusted (first one I have had like this) and were activated when I applied the brakes on the tow vehicle ( I know this because the front axle would lock up in the wet grass when I was moving the trailer to load). Upon reading the owners manual it detailed how to adjust brakes like this as well as after installing a controller. As the previous owner used the trailer to haul a weight close to mine I thought this set up would be fine for the short distance I was towing. As mentioned, I will have the controller on before I tow again with the H2. I lke being able to "fine tune" from the cab for varying conditions and load.

[MVR 155]

Originally Posted by Dash

Maybe I should have clarified, the trailer did have brakes. They were/are manually adjusted (first one I have had like this) and were activated when I applied the brakes on the tow vehicle ( I know this because the front axle would lock up in the wet grass when I was moving the trailer to load). Upon reading the owners manual it detailed how to adjust brakes like this as well as after installing a controller. As the previous owner used the trailer to haul a weight close to mine I thought this set up would be fine for the short distance I was towing. As mentioned, I will have the controller on before I tow again with the H2. I lke being able to "fine tune" from the cab for varying conditions and load.

I see..... alot of trailers wont activate the brakes without a controller, we have a Haulmark double axle enclosed trailer (8x13 motorcycle trailer), you can haul it without a brake controller but doing this results in no trailer brakes, you are completely relying on the tow vehicle to stop the trailer. Sorry for any misunderstanding

[Dash]

No problem at all. I can see where my original post read as if I didn't have any brakes at all. My other trailers are as yours and do require the controller to activate the brakes. This is the first I have seen like this. They are electric brakes (on the front axle only) and work alright, but I will feel a lot better after I get my controller on and can re-adjust and also set the gain.

On a side note, I see you have an R1 and some 1/4 mile times. I also drag race motorcycles. Always good to meet a fellow enthusiast!!!

Darren

[dkhummerh2]

Yeah, my trailer is an 07 and has the brake controller on the trailer. The brakes are activated through the light hookup. Works great.
thanks
dk

[dkhummerh2]

I hooked the H2 today, pulled great. I always keep an extra truck for business purposes, so I went ahead and got an 06 Ford F 150 Long Bed with the heavy duty towing package. I would not have a problem towing it with my H2, but with the supercharger on it, I just don't feel comfortable using it for work. When I pull for pleasure, I will use it. By my weekly work I will use the new truck! Thanks for the input,
dk

[Dug]

Someone said you could damage your airbags by over loading them. Where did this theory come from ?

[MVR 155]

Originally Posted by Dash

No problem at all. I can see where my original post read as if I didn't have any brakes at all. My other trailers are as yours and do require the controller to activate the brakes. This is the first I have seen like this. They are electric brakes (on the front axle only) and work alright, but I will feel a lot better after I get my controller on and can re-adjust and also set the gain.

On a side note, I see you have an R1 and some 1/4 mile times. I also drag race motorcycles. Always good to meet a fellow enthusiast!!!

Darren

Im actually thinking of selling the bike, I have only ridden a total of 300 miles this year, its hard to sell since I have had street bikes for the past 10 years (have been riding in the dirt for over 25). I havent been to the track on it in about 2 years, I was more into road racing/track days, been to Jason Pridmore school and on Gingerman and Road America with it as well as quite a few trips down to Deals Gap. Its a hard bike to get some good 1/4 times out of since its short, light and likes to stand up, my 60' times are in the high 1.7's to low 1.8's but I have to shift early into 2nd due to the bike coming up in first. I was gonna try strapping it to keep the front down but never got around to it.

[Dash]

Originally Posted by MVR 155

Im actually thinking of selling the bike, I have only ridden a total of 300 miles this year, its hard to sell since I have had street bikes for the past 10 years (have been riding in the dirt for over 25). I havent been to the track on it in about 2 years, I was more into road racing/track days, been to Jason Pridmore school and on Gingerman and Road America with it as well as quite a few trips down to Deals Gap. Its a hard bike to get some good 1/4 times out of since its short, light and likes to stand up, my 60' times are in the high 1.7's to low 1.8's but I have to shift early into 2nd due to the bike coming up in first. I was gonna try strapping it to keep the front down but never got around to it.

If ya decide to take back to the 1/4 before ya sell, PM me. I have a few "tricks of the trade" I'll share to drop those ET's. By the way, I started out drag racing an R1. I know what a challenge they can be to launch. Back then mine made 156hp at the wheel. The bike I launch these days makes over 500...................still no wheelie bars either!!!!!!!