redneckracin
Senior Member
From what I gather regarding the air brakes, the handle added to the column for separate operation of the trailer brakes is one thing but the requirement for the truck brakes to also activate the trailer brakes with only one action by the driver is the snag .... there are some brake system hydraulic to air valves for ag uses, but valve is not intended for highway use (no DOT rating). Electric brake signal to trailer can operate a trailer hydraulic brake system (electric over hydraulic).
This is why using a pickup gets a lot of concerns - because the trailer brakes being electric just dont have the reputation for stopping power.
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Underlying all this Door Nameplate Ratings is a question: Wonder what values are used by the pickup truck manufacturers to establish the CGVW ratings? Is it pure engineering data (physics) or the encouraging push by the marketing department for numbers of higher magnitude?
There is a new SAE rating J2807 that is supposed to "level" the playing field here in the US. I do think that it requires some more in depth testing and requirements to be met before the towing number can be slapped on a truck. I think its only a matter of time before they start getting air brake options on these pickups. I imagine a lawsuit might get things moving.