Talking About Hydraulic Trailer Brakes

Basics of Trailer Brakes

Trailer brakes function much like vehicle brakes when it comes to braking. An automobile's brakes work by converting kinetic energy into friction, which stops the vehicle's motion by converting it into kinetic energy. Surfaces encounter friction when they move against each other or rub against each other (usually in the opposite direction).

As braking surfaces rub against each other, soft friction materials supply the necessary friction. In drum brakes, brake shoes are forced up against the inner wall lining of drums mounted on wheel hubs to create friction. Squeezing large discs attached to the hubs is the function of disc brake pads mounted on calipers.

Each wheel of a trailer is fitted with drum brakes, which allows the trailer to be able to brake independently rather than relying solely on the vehicle towing it. In order to distinguish hydraulic trailer brakes from electric trailer brakes, the way the brakes are engaged is crucial.

What is the working principle of hydraulic trailer brakes?

Towing vehicles rely on master cylinders to generate hydraulic pressure within the towing vehicle's braking system, and trailers have their own master cylinders to generate hydraulic pressure within their braking system.

Trailer master cylinders are integrated into the hitch assembly that connects the trailer to a towing vehicle (often looking like boxes).

As a two-piece mechanism, the trailer hitch consists of a rear attachment that attaches to the trailer and a forward attachment that attaches to the tow vehicle. Activating the master cylinder is done by a rod within the two pieces.

With the trailer's forward momentum, the rear piece of the hitch assembly moves forward into the forward piece when the brakes are applied to the towing vehicle. Compressing the inner rod generates hydraulic pressure that engages the brakes in the trailer by pushing the inner rod into the master cylinder. The trailer brakes disengage when the towing vehicle accelerates, causing the two hitch pieces to separate.

Hydraulic trailer brakes drawbacks

The hydraulic braking system on a trailer has several distinct disadvantages. Due to the way hydraulic trailer brakes work, there is a lag time involved from the standpoint of safety. Towing vehicle brakes are applied only when the trailer's master cylinder engages when the rear piece of hitch assembly slides into the forward piece of hitch assembly.

In addition, when backing out of a parking space or similar maneuvers with the towing vehicle, it is disadvantageous to shift the towing vehicle into reverse. The tow vehicle's forward hitch assembly piece is "back" into the trailer hitch piece when moving in reverse, activating the master cylinder and engaging the trailer's brakes as if it were moving forward. When the tow vehicle moves in reverse, a pin can be inserted into most hydraulic system hitches to prevent the two hitch pieces from moving into one another, preventing unintended braking; after the tow vehicle resumes forward motion, the pin must be removed to enable the brakes once more.

The reverse light circuit on the tow vehicle will be connected to the hydraulic hitch wire on newer hitches. To prevent hydraulic fluid from moving in the trailer's brake lines and applying the brakes, the reverse light circuit activates when the tow vehicle is in reverse. Deactivating this solenoid occurs when a forward gear is selected on the towing vehicle.

About Deutsche Hydrapro's Products

Together with European hydraulic pump manufacturers, Deutsche Hydrapro has developed its Electric-Over-Hydraulic (EOH) Brake Actuator.

A dependable trailer braking system requires a brake actuator with the quality and simplicity of Hydrapro EOH. A shorter stopping distance is achieved because of its superior response time, which gives drivers peace of mind when towing.

The following are some of the features of Deutsche Hydrapro:

● A powerful DC motor and a well-designed pump with a minimum number of moving parts ensure long-lasting performance.

● Providing extra fluid reserves in an independent, sealed fluid tank.

● Components are protected against external elements with a weatherproof, anodized alloy case.

● Protective coating on a circuit board to prevent corrosion.

● An EOH braking system is much more affordable when compared to other brake systems due to its competitive pricing.

● Peace of mind with a two-year warranty.

A German hydraulic braking unit with all these features provides reliable braking performance in harsh, corrosive conditions. The brake actuators we manufacture can withstand salt water, extreme temperatures, and poor road conditions thanks to our attention to detail.

Whether you're towing a boat trailer, RV, or utility trailer, the Deutsche Hydrapro unit provides reliable electric-over-hydraulic braking. Let us know about your electric hydraulic brake pump needs and we would be happy to help.