Utility Trailer for Subcompact Tractor

[WinterDeere]

The concern is that they are intended to be installed inside the cab of a vehicle, not out exposed to the weather.

The formerly-mentioned Tekonsha is all electronic, no hydraulic connection into braking system you don't have, like ultrarunner's unit. Moreover, they're cheap and everywhere, and easily replaced with a single connector.

I'd not let some concern over weather exposure stop me, if I needed one on my tractor. I'd either put a rain shield over it if used frequently, or just unplug it and store it in the shed if not used very frequently. If it gets killed, not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, ebay has hundreds more for $30/ea if you don't need new in box with harness... which you don't after iniitial install. Heck, even the new ones can be had for $70. That's less than the per-head cost of a nice dinner, these days.

 

[ultrarunner]

Fir a tractor scenario the hydraulic connection would not apply… basically installing the trailer brake unit just for the variable resistor to manually be able to activate the electric trailer brake via the controller lever.

 

[WinterDeere]

Fir a tractor scenario the hydraulic connection would not apply… basically installing the trailer brake unit just for the variable resistor to manually be able to activate the electric trailer brake via the controller lever.

I've often wondered how the modern ones like the Teconsha P3 provide variable control, since I don't think they get a variable signal from the brake pedal, I think they just get an on/off signal from the tail light circuit. With everything pre-wired and connectorized on every truck I've owned the last 20 years, I've never had to dig to figure it out.

I would guess they must have an internal accellerometer that adjusts the braking voltage according to how hard it senses you're trying to start, but it seems there'd be a lot of opportunities for a closed-loop circuit like that to oscillate, if the time constants between the circuit and what the tow vehicle are trying to do aren't far enough apart.

Please, no pole/zero plots anyone. I took 2 terms of control theory, but can't endure the PTSD today.