[A/S] Brake Controller

[nudog@xxxxxxx]

Yes you will need a brake controller, priority one before moving the 
trailer, it is a towing safety issue.  First as others have stated, the 
controller activates your trailer brakes.  For example on the unit I 
have I can set the amount of "force" that is is applied to the brakes 
by dialing in a value between one and ten.  You basically want to set 
the brake to where they apply enough to stop the trailer at slow 
speeds, follow the directons with your controller.  

Also on my controller I can activate the brakes to pressure I desire 
on the trailer independent of the vehicle.  In other words brake only 
the trailer.  Helpfull to keep from jackkniving the units, and for 
control in certain road conditions such as ice or slick rain.
  
Same principal as when I used haul horses with an 18 wheeler 
applies to your trailer.  I could in the cab set the brakes to the truck 
for wet or dry roads.  I also had a lever to apply trailer brakes only 
and to the amount I desired.  I also had an emergency paddle I could 
hit to lock the trailer brakes. (Which I did one time outside of Atlanta 
when a tow truck cut off a Greyhound bus in front of me and all I 
could think of was dont hit the Greyhound because that baby in the 
mothers lap I saw would go through the windshield. Never saw so 
much smoke from tires and brakes before.)

You did not want to do any towing with the weight of an Airstream 
without brakes.  One reason you see these single and dual axles 
open trailers in the ditch is many times they do not have brakes. 

Many trailer places can install the brake unit of your choice for you.  
Think mine a few years ago ran around 225.00 complete.

Wishing you many safe and enjoyable miles,
Jim