trailer without brakes - max weight

[JWR]

Say this thread generated a LOT of opinions in a few short days. Much of it good stuff and worth reading. Every operator has different needs and challenges. Appropriate for one may be silly for another. Since there is so much interest, I will go ahead and spout off on my own towing circumstances.

• A few years back I used an F-250 V-10 stick weighing 6500lbs to tow a two axle 3000lb trailer with a 9000 lb tractor on it on pretty steep mountainous roads, and sometimes 330 miles one way. Absolutely you use trailer brakes in that situation !!! No question. Because I bought the trailer in PA I found that PA requires brakes on BOTH axles, not just one, of a two axle trailer. I consider that a good rule.
• In later years I still tow the same 3000 lb trailer (Pequea 21ft deckover) but now with an F-150 V6 which is aluminum and only weighs 5500lbs as usually equipped. You can bet one thing -- there is one H*** of a lot of difference using a 1000lb lighter towing vehicle. Now I rarely tow the Pequea with the 9000 lb tractor on it but I can if need be. Not in the mountains and only for 22 mile jaunts to a dealer. Supposedly all within specs but it is NOT anything I would recommend compared to the heavier 6500lb F-250 towing it.
• I had a 14ft 77 inch wide load space single axle trailer (weighs 1200 lbs, 5000lb GVW rating) made for me with several options. It has a 7000lb overkill axle, heavier than std tires and wheels, and NO brakes. It is a thing of beauty for lighter-load trips. I just got home after towing it 1200 miles cross country from MD to Iowa, then 980 miles back to the farm in WV loaded with a 2300lb Kubota aboard. Using the F-150. Never one whimper of a problem of any kind. Smooth, quiet and stable in every respect. The driver does have to have enough sense to know it takes further to stop with the trailer than without. He also has to have enough sense to know it takes more space yet when loaded.
• I finished this trip towing the same setup in steep winding mountain roads for about another 80 miles. No problems and no regrets of any kind.
• Coming around to trying to answer the OP: My data point here says several things:

1) Towing a 3500lb single axle trailer (loaded total weight) with a 5500lb F-150 or similar pickup truck vehicle is safe, reliable, predictable and friendly WITHOUT trailer brakes.
2) As I said every operator and his challenges are different but in my judgement the threshold is around 75% of the towing vehicle weight -- Much above that I would want trailer brakes. Much below that I see no real need in most circumstances.

 

[Jstpssng]

Obviously the tow vehicle makes a huge difference. My 750 will stop 25k with the brakes turned off just the same as a pickup stops a lawnmower. But how are you supposed to make laws to fit every vehicle? Painting everything with one brush is a lot easier.

The poster below you touched base on this; it also depends on operator experience and ability. You pull trailers on a regular basis; I suspect that you are more adept than somebody who only hauls their tractor to their weekend property a few times every year.

 

[sandman2234]

The poster below you touched base on this; it also depends on operator experience and ability. You pull trailers on a regular basis; I suspect that you are more adept than somebody who only hauls their tractor to their weekend property a few times every year.

And often the fact that they only tow it a few times a year is used for justification of why to go cheaper and forego the brakes!

 

[JRH02]

The controllers I’m used to have a lever so that you can do the same.

Of course one should do so at the brake controller first off as a test. The controller is going to need adjusting to the load anyway. But afterward, if possible and in a safe place, I don't miss a chance to check handling including the trailer. I'm not talking of locking wheels up but just a faster than normal braking of the rig and trailer.

 

[OzKioti]

I consider a 1653 lb limit absurd.

Yeah, no mention of the towing vehicle. However - the regs go into great detail with the ball coupling. In the extract below, "ADR" refers to Australian Design Rules.

If you really want to take your head for a spin (definitely not recommended though ) get in to the full saga: Technical Requirements

Part of that says:

I guess every country has it's fair share of rules and regs...

 

[RandyT]

A lot of USA trailer would fall under the two axles under a meter apart rule.

 

[Jstpssng]

At least Australia understands the importance of having that hitch right at shin level.

 

[BoylermanCT]

1) Towing a 3500lb single axle trailer (loaded total weight) with a 5500lb F-150 or similar pickup truck vehicle is safe, reliable, predictable and friendly WITHOUT trailer brakes.

Depending what state you are in, towing a 3500 lb trailer without brakes is illegal. Here in CT, any trailer with a GVWR of 3000 lbs or more requires brakes, and all dual axle trailers require brakes on both axles. That's why most single axle trailers have a GVWR of 2,990 lbs even though they have a 3,500 lb axle.

I am rebuilding my single axle trailer this fall, replacing all the decking, painting all the metal, new wiring harness etc. I am also adding brakes to the axle. Not worth an accident when brakes are easy to add to a trailer.

 

[sandman2234]

Depending what state you are in, towing a 3500 lb trailer without brakes is illegal. Here in CT, any trailer with a GVWR of 3000 lbs or more requires brakes, and all dual axle trailers require brakes on both axles. That's why most single axle trailers have a GVWR of 2,990 lbs even though they have a 3,500 lb axle.

I am rebuilding my single axle trailer this fall, replacing all the decking, painting all the metal, new wiring harness etc. I am also adding brakes to the axle. Not worth an accident when brakes are easy to add to a trailer.

When I used to build and modify trailers as a side job, I found I could buy a complete axle almost as cheap as I could put bearings and a brake kit in it. Shop around for a complete axle assembly, might save you some work.
David from jax

 

[RandyT]

Depending what state you are in, towing a 3500 lb trailer without brakes is illegal. Here in CT, any trailer with a GVWR of 3000 lbs or more requires brakes, and all dual axle trailers require brakes on both axles. That's why most single axle trailers have a GVWR of 2,990 lbs even though they have a 3,500 lb axle.

I am rebuilding my single axle trailer this fall, replacing all the decking, painting all the metal, new wiring harness etc. I am also adding brakes to the axle. Not worth an accident when brakes are easy to add to a trailer.

Most people will toy with the brakes vs no brakes on utility trailers up until they are involved in an accident that results in major injuries or death, and them towing a trailer without all the proper gear gets them serious hot water with lawsuits in the millions.

Reminds me of an articles from year ago, I believe it was in Connecticut with a construction company towing a equipment trailer with a loaded skid steer behind a Chevy 3500 that was involved in a serious accident that cost the company $6M and the basis for the successful lawsuits against the company was due to the lack of the required weight distributor hitch.