Trailer brakes and their hub assemblies are the spinning components that connect the pavement to the axle. Along with their small mounting components as well as tires and wheels, they complete the trailer and make it road-ready. Like all other components in our Trailer Parts section, there are many weight and size options when it comes to brake assemblies.

There are 2 questions that need to be answered so that you can install the correct brakes:

1. Given the size of the trailer, do we need to use brakes?
   Throughout Canada and the U.S., there are varying laws in place regarding towing practices - depending on the State or Province. Since most RV', Campers, and trailer Tow-ers travel over several States/Provinces, it is always safest to go with the average-to-stringest laws as a guideline for any given setup.

2. What are the brake style options available, and which is the best choice?
   There are 4 main choices when it comes to selecting a trailer brake style - meaning, choosing how you want the brakes to operate.
   What each style is good at: Benefits & Features
   How they work: Components
   What gets done to the trailer: Brake Installation Process

Trailer brakes ensure that when a tow-vehicle is travelling down the road and puts on the brakes, the vehicles brakes are not doing the stopping for both the car and the trailer. This becomes more important the heavier the trailer that is being towed. A vehicles brakes are simply not designed to stop the vehicle PLUS an additional 3,500 lbs. (or more) behind it.

Finishes

In most brands, the backing plate is constructed of unfinished steel. There are however brands who specialize in marine applications. This is for boat trailers, where the brakes will be exposed to the corrosive effects of salt water. To slow the corrosion of steel components they are coated with a protective material that provides a barrier against solvents, heat and salt. They follow the same standard sizes as regular backing plates.

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