Quote:
|
what if you have to stop suddenly, and don't have time to hit the brake controller (or don't think to do it)? Won't you potentially lose control of the trailer? I'm thinking of emergency stops here...
|
You don't have to engage the brake controller. It engages electonically from the brake light circuit. Controllers like the Tekonsha Prodigy are interia based and do a great job of controlling brake application.
My boat trailer has surge brakes and my folding trailer has electric brakes. I do have have the surge problem as stated above with the boat trailer. It may have something to do with the fact that boat trailers carry less tongue weight as a percentage of total weight than do conventional trailers. The advantages of surge brakes is that no controller is necessary in the TV and they can take immersion much better. Electric brakes have the advantage of the load always pulling on the hitch rather than pushing when braking is required. They both have their places.
My boat/trailer combo weighs 3,250 lb. and the folding trailer weighs 3,500 lb.
loaded. Living in Oregon, I do a lot of towing in hilly and mountainous terrain.
I started keeping detailed mileage records about 900 miles ago. A little less than 50% of those miles have been towing miles. I am currently averaging 14.17 mpg with the last mileage reading being 3,733. The rest of the miles have been combined city/hwy.
I find the power to be more than adequate. It does a much better job than my Ranger 4.0L ever did. While there may be frequent shifting in the hills, they keep the engine working at its optimum. Many times the shifts are so smooth and the engine so quiet that the only way you have any idea you are in a lower gear is to look at the tach.
I will be leaving on a 700 mile trip the middle of next week with the folding trailer and will report back on updated mpg figures then. The trip will include climbing Cabbage Hill in eastern Oregon, which is an approximately 8 mile stretch of 6.5% grade freeway. I have no doubt the RL will take it with ease.