difference between electric and vacuum over brakes

[mrpeal]

im interested in the difference in the systems offered today on trailers, i have seen electric brakes which i currently have on the gooseneck i pull now, but im looking at a trailer with vacuum over hydrualic now and im unfamiliar with the system. question is what is the difference and how do they work compared to electric systems? i have been on the site for few months now but havent posted, so much information here so i figured i would ask and see what you guys and gals have to say, thanks ahead for the information.



jamie

 

[bombero]

Welcome aboard!! The state of the art now in trailer brake for RV's are discs. I think the actual brake works by hydraulics powered by a electric pump. Klenger, who post to this site regularily, would probably know. Regular gas rigs, cars ect have a Vacuum/hydraulic system. They have been that way for decades

 

[draymorris]

Before buying a trailer and vac/hydrualic brake set-up I would consider Masterbrake by Brakesmart and then if you have a trailer that has huydraulic brakes on it, you can get one of their electric over hyraulic units that is controlled by the same controller - main advantage - one controller in truck to control electric brakes without the intallation expense of a vac/hyd sytems.

 

[draymorris]

Sorry - we have not answered your question

So I will give it my best.



Vacuum over hydraulic systems use vacuum "pressure" from the tow vehicle to "pull" a diaphram type unit mounted on the trailer that converts this motion to hydraulic pressure by means of a piston. This unit is very similar to the vacuum boosted brakes on any vehicle on the road today.



Although I have never owned a trailer that needed this or a vehicle with a system on it - I did research this topic 2 years ago during my GN trailer purchase. I learned this:



A trailer with Vac/Hydraulic brakes cost at least $500 more, though they do stop better.



The system installed on my tow vehicle was going to cost about $800 compared to the $75 Tekonsha Electric brake controller to be used on a less expensive trailer.



Drawbacks in my opinion: Cost more, another "system" to worry about", will have to continue to have system installed on future trucks if you keep the same trailer.

Advantages: Stop better, Hydrualic brakes on trailer are more reliable, other cannot borrow your trailer as easy if they do not have vac/hyd brake controller.



In my previous post I talk about Master brake because I beleive thier Electiric over hydrualic unit can be used on a trialer with hydrualic brakes and be towed with any electric controller - thier controller is top of world in quality and performance - I could go on and on - but the best thing to do is look at the post in this forum about Master brake and then go to their website.



If i had my way I would have hydrualic disk brakes on my trailer with a Master brake elec/hyd unit and use my current Brakesmart controller - the controller I installed a few weeks ago, so I am one step toward this plan. It controls my electric brakes so well that I am not sure if I will stick to that plan.



Welcome to the TDR.

 

[mrpeal]

that is very helpful. the trailer that im looking at is already equipped with vacuum over hydraulic, my big concern was the way it hooks up, he said he just bought a new pump that attaches to the truck and my luck it fits a dodge, so im in good shape there, i would prefer to stay hydraulic as i like the reliablity factor of them but was mainly concerned on how they work. i can get the entire setup at a pretty good price so i think ill look into this particular trailer a bit more, if it doesnt pan out ill look into the electric over hydraulic, that seems to be easier to hook up anyhow. thanks guys.



jamie