Stopping Distance

Bobtail
Empty trailer
Loaded trailer.

You can't stop 80,000 pounds faster then 35,000 or 20,000 pounds.

Course. If you got crap brakes then it might be a different story.

 

Trailer. Bobtail will have no weight on its back axels

 

That no weight is what enables you to stop faster .

With nearly every tractor and trailer having anti lock brakes now , the bobtail isn’t a factor.
The drive tires brake as hard as they can with out skidding .

 

Somewhere on the internet there is a video. I can’t remember where it is. Been tested like everything else lol. Can’t remember who won

 

Not true, newer tires can cause skidding, BTDT have the t-shirt, mug photos of damage and a copy of the repair bill.

 

I have no front brakes. Have fun stopping quicker without a trailer.

 

Unless I see proof otherwise I'm going with this answer. The trailer has 2 or 3 axles worth of brakes that more than make up for the trailer's tare weight. Plus it helps give the drive axles traction. Depending on 5th wheel placement may even transfer additional weight forward to the steer axle.

 

Mine is one notch back from centered over the drives.