<<I didn't
hit the brakes, but I did take my foot off the gas, slowing us
down...
...with surge
brakes, using just the trailer brakes wouldn't have been an
option,...
...Whatever I did -
it worked, and things settled down >>
You actually did apply the trailer brakes alone
and that may be what worked for you. You inadvertantly applied the surge
brakes by slowing the inertia of the tow vehicle.
This is how Brenderup brakes work and I love
them. They apply when necessary, quicker than our own reaction time can
hit our pedal with a foot or the controller with our hand.
Brenderups also canter and camber all four wheels
on their trailers, which generally prevents fishtailing entirely. Other
trailers don't and their wheels are mounted straight and they want to go in
whatever direction they are pointed. In a fishtail, they are pointed
left (by the wind or a dip in the road)...then the hitch won't allow it...so
they swing right...and the hitch won't allow it...left...right. This is why they
eventually just overtake the vehicle and outmuscle the hitch with enough weight
inertia. Cantering and cambering causes the trailer wheels to always track
straight and centered.
