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2026
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Trying to save costs just to get the registration, ended up using low-quality ABS to get by
At present, whether it's trailers or tractor heads, ABS anti-lock braking systems are already mandatory by regulations, and many high-end flagship models are gradually being fitted with EBS electronic braking systems as standard. But many truckers have found in practice that even though their trailers have ABS, compared to the ABS on the main truck or cargo vehicle, the trailer's ABS performance leaves a lot to be desired. Currently, apart from trailers that haven't kept up with the times, many trailer ABS systems may not even be up to standard. Some small workshops use cheap ABS to cut costs, resulting in abnormal trailer braking performance or mismatched main-trailer braking, directly endangering truckers' driving safety.▎Cutting costs just to get registration, using cheap ABS to get by
Compared to trailers, most domestic mainstream tractor manufacturers are state-owned or well-known local companies. They not only have rich technical reserves, manufacturing processes, and management experience, but also strictly follow the requirements set by relevant authorities to produce vehicles, ensuring that the whole vehicle meets legal standards.
Looking at the domestic trailer industry, describing the current market as a mix of good and bad is pretty accurate. Apart from a few leading companies, most manufacturers are small to medium-sized, and some are just small workshops or factories with basic welding skills. Overall, their technical level can't compare with the well-equipped vehicle manufacturing companies.
The ABS system has pretty high installation requirements for pipe design and wiring connections on trailers, but some small factories are really amateur in their techniques and can't design or test properly, so mistakes are easily made during production or installation. Especially with those cheap axles made by tiny workshops, they can't meet the ABS system's precision requirements at all. On top of that, the ABS systems they install are all off-brand, so overall performance takes a big hit.
For many small and medium trailer companies, if they want to survive in a fiercely competitive market, they have to constantly reduce production costs. As a result, many small workshops start to 'make a big deal' out of the braking system. If it’s produced by a regular trailer manufacturer, whether it's fitted with ABS or EBS, the price isn’t cheap. It is understood that a set of ABS systems may cost several thousand, while EBS can be as high as over ten thousand. At present, ordinary trailers may only cost around 70,000 to 90,000 yuan, so a set of ABS systems would account for a significant portion of the trailer's cost, which is hard for some cost-conscious small factories to accept.
So is it okay not to have ABS? Of course not. According to GB7258 requirements, almost all mainstream trailers now have to be fitted with an ABS system. As a result, some small workshops, to save costs and pass registration, start installing low-quality ABS on trailers. Keep in mind that registration doesn't actually test how well the ABS works; it mainly checks whether you have this feature installed. If the trailer has an ABS system, you can get it registered, even if it's a substandard brand that doesn't work well.
Obviously, this cheap ABS system can't ensure everyone's driving safety, let alone perform well during emergency braking. Its main purpose is just to get the trailer registered smoothly. Because of this, many truckers who don't know they've got a low-quality ABS start to think that the ABS on trailers doesn't work well.▎Poor braking performance, low-quality ABS poses a big safety risk
After trailers made with low-quality ABS are registered, many truckers find that the braking system is really hard to use. The trailer tyres often lock up, brakes don’t release properly after being pressed, sometimes they don’t stop at all, and the coordination between the tractor and trailer is very poor. Especially when driving in rain, snow, or around bends, the braking system performs terribly, and truckers gradually lose confidence in the vehicle’s braking system.
Actually, many years ago, a lot of truck drivers would remove the ABS and drum brakes from the front wheels of the main vehicle to prevent pushing or fishtailing between the truck and trailer. Looking back, this was a wrong approach. Removing the main vehicle's braking system disrupts the original braking force and distance, which definitely reduces the overall braking performance. As a result, braking relies more on the drive wheels of the main vehicle and the trailer's braking system, creating a significant safety risk.
Since it's so hard to use, why am I still keeping this system? Many car enthusiasts are starting to remove ABS and modify it into the so-called brake king at street stalls to roughly improve the car's braking power. The brake king really gives a feeling of instant response underfoot, even with a light touch, you get decent braking, which is one of the main reasons it's popular. On the other hand, the ABS system keeps adjusting brake pressure during engagement to maintain optimal pressure, so the brake pedal can feel springy, making it feel less powerful and harder to use.
In fact, the situations for the two are quite the opposite. When the ABS system kicks in, it allows the wheels and the ground to be in a state of rolling friction, which not only shortens braking distance and improves tyre grip on the road, but also helps control the vehicle's direction and change its path. Without ABS, if the wheels lock up, braking power decreases, stopping distance increases, steering becomes impossible, emergency avoidance is lost, and situations like rollovers or skidding are more likely to occur.
● Editor's note:
Currently, most mainstream tractors in China come with ABS, and flagship models even have standard EBS electronic braking systems. However, if your trailer uses a low-quality ABS or brake system, in extreme road conditions, emergency braking can easily cause the tractor to jackknife or even roll over.
Therefore, besides focusing on the tractor itself, you should also check whether the trailer's ABS or EBS braking system is a compliant product. Having a high-quality, compliant ABS system not only enhances driving safety and braking performance but also prevents abnormal tyre wear, helping to extend tyre life.
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