Brake question for using a trailer on roads.

[Turnip]

So there are many threads on here about trailers and brakes, unfortunately it is not showing me the forest for the trees. So wanted to simply ask for this particular case in the UK.

T6

FARMA T6 is an easily driven trailer for more simple requirements when working in the forest. A flexible trailer for users that have tractors with low oil flows, but who still want to have a trailer that keeps what it promises. The market has demanded a longer crane on T6, our smallest trailer...

www.forsmw.com

The Farma T6 has a gross weight of 6000kg and option of having one or two axles fitted with drum brakes. It also has the option of having overrun brakes on one axle. Would this be legal, having just one axle with overrun brakes or do I need to be looking into the air/hydraulic brakes?

 

[Nearly]

@Simon Chiles
Overrun brakes legal on 3500kg ifor williams etc.
I can see 6t gross being better off on hydraulic.
It depends what is pulling the trailer.

 

[Turnip]

@Simon Chiles
Overrun brakes legal on 3500kg ifor williams etc.
I can see 6t gross being better off on hydraulic.
It depends what is pulling the trailer.

55hp tractor.

 

[Simon Chiles]

@Simon Chiles
Overrun brakes legal on 3500kg ifor williams etc.
I can see 6t gross being better off on hydraulic.
It depends what is pulling the trailer.

So there are many threads on here about trailers and brakes, unfortunately it is not showing me the forest for the trees. So wanted to simply ask for this particular case in the UK.

T6

FARMA T6 is an easily driven trailer for more simple requirements when working in the forest. A flexible trailer for users that have tractors with low oil flows, but who still want to have a trailer that keeps what it promises. The market has demanded a longer crane on T6, our smallest trailer...

www.forsmw.com

The Farma T6 has a gross weight of 6000kg and option of having one or two axles fitted with drum brakes. It also has the option of having overrun brakes on one axle. Would this be legal, having just one axle with overrun brakes or do I need to be looking into the air/hydraulic brakes?

Trailers up to 750kg GW don’t need brakes, trailers up to 3560 kg can have overrun brakes. You can go to 4070 kg without brakes if the trailer was built before 1/7/1947 and only up to speeds of 10 mph. It is acceptable ( although probably not recommended ) for the brakes to work on two wheels if the trailer has not more than 4 wheels. As the log carrier in question weighs 720 kg empty and 6000 kg loaded it wouldn’t count as an ag trailed appliance as it is easily over the twice as heavy laden as it is unladen rule so would have to comply with ag trailer rules. Hope this helps.

 

[Turnip]

Thanks @Simon Chiles, as the tractor isn't that big I'll look into having both axles braked (all 4 wheels). Now to figure out how the air/hydraulic combination brakes can be hooked up to the tractor.

 

[davidroberts30]

Thanks @Simon Chiles, as the tractor isn't that big I'll look into having both axles braked (all 4 wheels). Now to figure out how the air/hydraulic combination brakes can be hooked up to the tractor.

I guess your tractor doesnt have air brakes?
Should have a hydraulic brake coupler at the rear

 

[Captain Sensible]

Thanks @Simon Chiles, as the tractor isn't that big I'll look into having both axles braked (all 4 wheels). Now to figure out how the air/hydraulic combination brakes can be hooked up to the tractor.

Suggest you download the AEA's 'Look Behind You' Guide to Tractor-Trailer Braking (or ask for a free hardcopy) from the following website ........ https://aea.uk.com/look-behind-you/

Simon is right to state that (as a 4-wheeled agricultural/forestry trailer) you only need to have brakes on at least 2 wheels (i.e. half of the total number), but this only applies if you don't travel faster than 25 mph / 40 km/h on-road. Go faster and you need (service) brakes which act on all the trailer wheels. I'd have all the wheels/axles braked & be done with it.

 

[Turnip]

I guess your tractor doesnt have air brakes?
Should have a hydraulic brake coupler at the rear

Correct,
at least haven't found them yet.

Suggest you download the AEA's 'Look Behind You' Guide to Tractor-Trailer Braking (or ask for a free hardcopy) from the following website ........ https://aea.uk.com/look-behind-you/

Simon is right to state that (as a 4-wheeled agricultural/forestry trailer) you only need to have brakes on at least 2 wheels (i.e. half of the total number), but this only applies if you don't travel faster than 25 mph / 40 km/h on-road. Go faster and you need (service) brakes which act on all the trailer wheels. I'd have all the wheels/axles braked & be done with it.

Downloaded it yesterday, was a good read but thanks for suggesting it.

 

[Turnip]

Correct,
at least haven't found them yet.

Downloaded it yesterday, was a good read but thanks for suggesting it.

Reading the manual there should be support for a trailer air brake, going to go on a search to see whats what.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Reading the manual there should be support for a trailer air brake, going to go on a search to see whats what.

What make, model & age of tractor have you got? ..... Is it a UK-market spec. vehicle?

 

[Turnip]

What make, model & age of tractor have you got? ..... Is it a UK-market spec. vehicle?

Its a Foton 5500, UK spec, think its roughly 10 years old but not 100% sure. Sold by Danelander (UK outfit) so would assume its uk-market spec.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Its a Foton 5500, UK spec, think its roughly 10 years old but not 100% sure. Sold by Danelander (UK outfit) so would assume its uk-market spec.

I fear you may be about to encounter a 'challenge'. I'm not certain, but I doubt if the (55 hp, 'Compact') Foton tractor will be fitted with a tractor-trailer brake control valve (TTBV) ...... (a hydraulic supply valve linked to the tractor's braking circuit which supplies hydraulic pressure to operate the trailer's brakes in proportion to how hard the tractor's brakes are applied). You can't control a trailer's brakes properly with a normal tractor spool valve because you can't vary/control the pressure supplied, only the flow. Consequently the trailer's brakes would be 'digital' .... either 'On' or 'Off'

Also the normal spool valves will deliver too great a pressure .... The trailer brakes don't want more than ~2000 psi / 150 bar.

If your tractor is fitted with a TTBV ... No problem.

Good luck!