Do I Need Trailer Brake?

[ovrszd]

I guess not everyone read my original post in its entirety.

YES, my vehicle already has a brake controller.

NO, my state does not have a requirement for trailer brakes unless the trailer is gooseneck/5th wheel or carrying 3000lbs or more of hazardous material. Therefore, NOT required for me.

I did.

People on here get a little testy when talking about brakes on trailers. Those same people may drive around with bad windshield wipers, worn out tires, a bad u-joint, and a taillight out,,,,, but they got brakes on their trailers!!!!

 

[MossRoad]

I did.

People on here get a little testy when talking about brakes on trailers. Those same people may drive around with bad windshield wipers, worn out tires, a bad u-joint, and a taillight out,,,,, but they got brakes on their trailers!!!!

You've seen my '93 Suburban! :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

You've seen my '93 Suburban! :laughing:

WAS THAT YOU!!!!!

 

[MossRoad]

I'd have waved but the window only rolls down 2".

 

[Stimw]

There are dozens of reasons to have them! Idiots, weather, Idiots!
But once you do have them you will not want to pull without them.
I have them on this 16' trailer with a cheap Reese Controller from Walmart. Work great!

 

[Redlands Okie]

Forget about your state requiring them or not. Please get the brakes working and hooked up to your trucks controller. Unforeseen problems from other drivers, road conditions, animals, slippery pavement, jack knife trailors, etc. You probably get the idea.

Keep in mind that government codes for building and requirements on vehicles are the MINIMUM of what you are allowed to do. What is recommended or needed almost always exceeds the codes.

Also keep in mind you need to secure any cargo on the trailor really well.

Have fun and hope all goes well

 

[goeduck]

Also, many states have a law that requires brakes on any trailer above 2K# (may vary by state)

Yes. Up here any trailer over 3000 lbs GROSS weight requires brakes. Doesn’t take much to get to 3000 gross. I have an old very stout trailer that is road ready but weighs about 3000 lbs without brakes. So it is regulated to on farm use only.

 

[4570Man]

It may or may not be required but imagine trying to panic stop that load if a car/child/whatever runs out in front of you. Not only will you probably lose your truck, trailer and tractor--You will most likely be sued for anything else you own. Trailer brakes are cheap and responsible in comparison.

If the op is right that they’re not required by law they’ll probably lose that law suit as long as the accident was their fault. I’m not condoning running with no trailer brakes especially behind a 1/2 ton though.

 

[square1]

Let me tell you about the rainy morning a old Ford station wagon with 3 kids in a rear facing 3rd seat stopped abruptly in front of me while I was towing s loaded 5th wheel behind a 3/4 ton PU. By the time I was able to stop I couldn't see anything except three little faces in the rear window of the station wagon. Yes, you want trailer brakes.

 

[cat fever]

I did.

People on here get a little testy when talking about brakes on trailers. Those same people may drive around with bad windshield wipers, worn out tires, a bad u-joint, and a taillight out,,,,, but they got brakes on their trailers!!!!

OK, so it's 3:45 in the morning, I've been working all night (last night shift of my career) and your post put a big smile on my face.:laughing:

To the OP, I agree with the majority here, get the brakes working.

 

[RandyT]

If the op is right that they’re not required by law they’ll probably lose that law suit as long as the accident was their fault. I’m not condoning running with no trailer brakes especially behind a 1/2 ton though.

Legal or not, if somebody is involved in an accident and they could of done something to prevent it, IE, brakes there is a very good chance they could be found at fault in a civil lawsuit. I think it was North Carolina, but not sure, A guy with a brand new Chevy 3500 dually hooked on his trailer with a tracked skid steer on the trailer which was rated within the legal towing specs for the truck and trailer., and was involved in a fatal accident, and the driver was sued and bankrupted for over $1 million all because he wasn't using a weight distribution hitch.

 

[mcfarmall]

That's pretty good! We made it to the 3rd page of replies before the threat of a lawsuit from an injured party was mentioned!

All lawsuits aside, I have a much more stress free and pleasant towing experience with brakes on all axles. Other drivers on the road don't realize that you can't start or stop on a dime, make tight turns, make NASCAR lane changes, fit into poorly designed gas stations, etc. when towing a trailer. Brakes just make the road sharing idiots a little easier to process mentally.

 

[square1]

OK, so it's 3:45 in the morning, I've been working all night (last night shift of my career)

Not to hi-jack the thread, but a big Congratulations cat fever!
EDIT: Oops, read last shift of career not last night shift of career. So congratulations anyway, but as Big of a congratulations.

 

[motownbrowne]

As others said, it's safer, makes for a much more pleasant towing experience, and will reduce the wear on your truck brakes. Lots of pros, no cons.

 

[ovrszd]

OK, so it's 3:45 in the morning, I've been working all night (last night shift of my career) and your post put a big smile on my face.:laughing:

To the OP, I agree with the majority here, get the brakes working.

Just paying you back for the pics you post of your property that make me smile!!

 

[KennyG]

I continue to be amazed that there are double axle trailers out there without brakes. I bought my 7K trailer used from a dealer. It had no brakes and I made him add brakes to one axle as part of the deal. After I had it a year, I added brakes to the other axle and wished I had done it on day one.

 

[lpigott]

Years back I had more than one near death experience due to pulling trailers with no trailer brakes. I won't pull anything without them now.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Every double axle trailer I have ever run has brakes. Most of them have them on one axle. Even with that knuckle heads will still pull out in front of you. Trailer brakes are a must IMHO on double axles trailers. I think here in NC 3000# is the limit for not having them. Defensive driving goes a long ways in safely towing anything. The problem is a driving public that is devoid of sanity.

 

[fried1765]

I continue to be amazed that there are double axle trailers out there without brakes. I bought my 7K trailer used from a dealer. It had no brakes and I made him add brakes to one axle as part of the deal. After I had it a year, I added brakes to the other axle and wished I had done it on day one.

I have a 14K tandem equipment trailer with brakes on both axles.
I also have a 7K tandem cargo trailer with brakes on both axles.
I check and cross the chains, and check the break away batteries (charged).
I have a 14K Equal-i-zer hitch that I use on both trailers (love that hitch!).

All that said: I have a 7K 24' tandem aluminum boat trailer, that when loaded weighs in a 6300 lbs.
That trailer never gets towed more than 15 miles, but is ALWAYS ONLY dunked in salt water.
I took the brakes OFF that trailer many years ago.
I would have liked to keep the brakes, but they would need replacing every six months.
The only reasonable option for me, is to stay under 40 mph, and do not tailgate.
I know that I have some risk, but it seems like having brakes that obviously did not work, would present a similar risk.
Locally, other folks do the same.

 

[George2615]

I just bought a 16ft tandem axle trailer to tow my tractor and brush hog out to my land. The trailer will be a little project as it needs completely rewired for lights, needs a new deck, etc. I figured after I remove the deck boards, I壇 go ahead and rewire the lights. Wondering if I should go ahead and wire it for trailer brakes or not. The seller said the front axle had electric brake, but they壇 never hooked it up. My tractor weighs about 4000lbs and my brush hog is a 5ft Standard Duty Howse. I知 pulling it with a 2016 F150 that already has integrated brake controller. I only tow my tractor to the property about 2 to 3 times a year and the property is 25 miles door to door from my house.

Rewiring the standard lights would be no problem, but I have no experience wiring trailer brake or even how to adjust them, etc. Do I really need the electric brake or will I be ok without?

FYI, my state doesn稚 say it痴 mandatory. Only on gooseneck/5th wheel trailers or trailers hauling over 3000lbs of hazardous materials. So legally I知 not required to have them.

Your truck has the built in brake controller.

The previous owner said he never hooked up the trailer brakes so if he bought it new, the brakes should be new.

All you should need to do is make sure the blue trailer brake wire is properly wired into the 7 pin trailer plug and connect to your truck. Brakes should work. You may need to adjust the star adjuster on the trailer brakes for proper tension. It works the same as it would on a car with drum brakes. Then you can adjust how much trailer braking you want with the truck controller. Very easy to do.

It may not be required in your state but is much safer to have the trailer brake when the vehicle does.