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Old May 15th 18, 07:22 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Bob Kuykendall
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Default Komet trailer axle dillema

I would run, not walk, away from the proposed deal. Have the wheel bearings replaced and carry on.

Electric brakes are a pain in the rear for a glider trailer. They don't adapt well to different weights (and glider trailers basically have two very different weights--going out on a retrieve and coming back from one). They require an electric braking module in the tow car, which makes it awkward when someone else needs to tow your trailer. It takes rather a bit of fiddling to adjust the module to apply the right amount of braking, and what works when full locks up the tires when empty.

The surge brake that Spindleberger and such install in their trailers is kind of hokey, but it tends to work pretty seamlessly and tends to fail gracefully. It complies with the NASCAR dictate that if it's stupid but it works, it ain't stupid.

--Bob K.