Which Axle of Tandem Axle Trailer Should have Brakes Installed if Only One

Question:

should brakes be on back axle or front, or does it madder?

asked by: Kenneth O

Helpful Expert Reply:

If you plan to only run one brake axle on a tandem axle trailer you want to put the brake axle on the one that will carry the most weight. In most cases this is the front axle. This works out best because inertia puts more weight on the front axle when braking typically.

But if the trailer is a boat trailer with an outboard motor for example, you then would want the brake axle to be the rear axle.

expert reply by: Jameson C