Trailer Brakes on Aspen

[mhud]

How many of you have brakes on your tent camper? I know brakes are somewhat controversial on a light trailer. I'm getting close to ordering a new Aspen Classic to pull with my Road Glide and it seems to me brakes would be a good thing when pulling a 400+ lb. trailer with a 900 lb. bike. If any of you have them on an Aspen I'd appreciate some feedback and also what kind of brake controller do you use?

[G wizz]

I have an Aspen camper, I ordered mine without brakes.
After pulling it over 30,000 miles, If I were to buy a new one, I still would not order one with brakes.
One reason is there isn't a brake controler out there made specifically for motorcycles nor for that light of a trailer. Most all controllers are designed for trailers weighing in at over a ton. The brakes can be hard to adjust properly with the light of load of a motorcycle camper.
Some of the controlers made for cars have been known to act up when installed on a bike, some with bad results. You certanaly wouldn't want your trailer brakes coming on when you wern't expecting them to, like when you were making a turn ... (thats been known to happen) or have only one trailer brake grab, and not the other.
Besides that, there is the added weight of the brakes, and the extra maintenance, not to mention the added expence of having them installed when you order your trailer in the first place ...

When pulling a camper, or any trailer for that matter, follow this advice ... and you won't need trailer brakes.
Use some common sense, and give yourself extra braking room.
Also pay attention to what you are doing and keep in mind you have a trailer behind you.
Don't go daydreaming, or staring off at the girl in the bikini in someones front yard.
Oh, and don't go riding like a bat out of hell with a trailer behind you ...

Keep in mind these are my opinions only, other trailer tuggers may dissagree with what I have to say ...

G wizz

[motomac]

I have brakes on my Bunkhouse and if the Aspen uses the same system, I reccomend you get it. I had the brakes put on at the Bunkhouse factory after pulling it for a year without brake. The difference was immediately noticeable.

The Bunkhouse system has a little hydraulic pump that is energized by the brake light switch. When you apply the brakes on the bike the pump starts and applies pressure to the brake calipers on the trailer wheels. When you release the brakes on the bike the pump shuts off and the pressure on the calioers is released. Great system!!!

[Chip]

I pull an Aspen Classic behind my Ultra Classic. My aspen has brakes and they save alot of wear and tear on the bikes brakes. I use a DrawTite activator brake controller,it is small in size and can be mounted in any position(mine is inside my tourpack attached with velcro) This brake controller is a timed unit, not an inertia unit. This brake controller is very predictable.I've Found The only time when the electric brakes have been a issue is durring low speed parking lot manuevers where you would clutch/brake, this could be embarassing.

[BCRider]

I pull an Aspen Classic behind my Ultra Classic. My aspen has brakes and they save alot of wear and tear on the bikes brakes. I use a DrawTite activator brake controller,it is small in size and can be mounted in any position(mine is inside my tourpack attached with velcro) This brake controller is a timed unit, not an inertia unit. This brake controller is very predictable.I've Found The only time when the electric brakes have been a issue is durring low speed parking lot manuevers where you would clutch/brake, this could be embarassing.

Hello Chip and welcome to the forum, good to have you. P^

I know absolutely nothing about electric trailer brakes so don't shake your head too hard when you read this question.

Since the brakes are activated electrically isn't there some way you could wire them to have an off switch on the dash for when you are doing slow stuff? Just a thought and everyone knows what thought did.


Pete

[Ironheadziggy76]

Welcome to the site Chip, great looking Ultra! P^