Towing double trailers
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 338
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From: Boulder City, Nevada
Towing double trailers
I have a four quad trailer that I plan to tow behind my fifth-wheel. With quads it will weigh about 2,200 lbs. The hitch is all set up but I'm not sure how to wire the brakes. The quad trailer has brakes on one axle. I ordered the brakes since this is a trickey setup anyway. Will my present controller apply the brakes equally? The controller can handle four axles. Randy
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 457
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From: SW ND
Only thing I can say about this is make sure all the connections are very good and weather proof. Best bet is to solder in the splices from the camper wires to get minimal voltage drop, from the connections.
Depending what controller you have a slight adjustment to it might be necessary.
Depending what controller you have a slight adjustment to it might be necessary.
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Randy -
Are you sure you'll be under Nevada's 70' max length? If so, you might wanna weigh the whole rig loaded up and ready to go (fluids and gear) to ensure you're not overworking your F-250. As for the brakes, you should contact a local expert to see if 1 controller should and can control the brake system on 2 trailers. Good luck!!!
Steve
Are you sure you'll be under Nevada's 70' max length? If so, you might wanna weigh the whole rig loaded up and ready to go (fluids and gear) to ensure you're not overworking your F-250. As for the brakes, you should contact a local expert to see if 1 controller should and can control the brake system on 2 trailers. Good luck!!!
Steve
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Boulder City, Nevada
The total lenght of my setup is 63 feet and the total weight of my truck and both trailers is 19,030 lbs. I will not be towing both trailers more than twice a year and then only 220 miles to Utah. My Diesel can handle the weight its the braking that concerns me. The law is very strict on these setups and I had to get a "J" and "R" endorsement on my Nevada license.
Randy
Randy
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Yeah, the braking would concern me too. That's why I suggested someone local with experience in towing 2 braked trailers, or maybe someone here will chime in. If you use the same controller for both trailers, you'll definitely have to run healthy wires for the quads.
Steve
Steve
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 181
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From: Michigan
That is an interesting situation. The 12v will be sent back from the controller but because of the extra distance from the first trailer brakes to the second there will be a slight voltage drop/difference. I think this will result in the second brakes not grabbing as hard as the first. You can remedy this voltage drop by using a larger size conductor to the second set of brakes and this may solve the problem. Not sure but that is what I would try. Good luck and let us know what you come up with.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,992
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From: Lancaster, MA
I think most brake controllers are rated for only a certain number of axles. That would be the place to start when thinking about the brake controller. I know they do make them up to four axles and beyond.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Windsor, Colorado
If I was wanting brakes on the second trailer I would install an extra brake controller. The wieght of the trailers would be different therefore requiring different gain setting. I have not done it this way before. My boat doesnt have brakes that I tow behind my 5th wheel, but when I hauled new horse trailers I had a harness rigged to only apply the brakes on the rear trailer.
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From: san gabriel valley
towing 2 trailers
I tow a 26FT 5th wheel w/ a 22Ft boat trailer behind it 4-6 times a year 200-300 miles at a time.The trailer has electric and the boat has surge.Both work well but long downhills make me wish I had a diesel w/ exhaust brake.Whatever you do make shure you have some kind of brakes on the quad trailer, in panic stops or even downhill turns it's momentem will want to push the *** end of your travel trailer around.The first time w/ my combo w/ out surge brakes I had to make a panic stop and damn near jackknifed!!
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Originally Posted by Randy777
The total lenght of my setup is 63 feet and the total weight of my truck and both trailers is 19,030 lbs. I will not be towing both trailers more than twice a year and then only 220 miles to Utah. My Diesel can handle the weight its the braking that concerns me. The law is very strict on these setups and I had to get a "J" and "R" endorsement on my Nevada license.
Randy
Randy
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 338
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From: Boulder City, Nevada
I went to the DMV in Henderson off of American Pacific and Stephanie. Most of the employee's there were not sure what I wanted. Finally one looked it up in a book and they also gave me a commercial license book. I took what I believe was the commercial license written test and got a new license with a "J" endorsement for towing over 10,000 lbs and a "R" endorsement for towing up to 70 feet combined length. The test was 35 questions and was not too hard. I did not have to take a driving test althrough one employee told me I would have to take it while towing my trailer. I believe most people towing large trailers and fifth-wheels in Nevada do not have the correct endorsements on their licenses. Randy
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