trailer without brakes - max weight

[MechanicalGuy]

Does anyone stomp the brakes when loaded to see what happens?

I always test my brake setup.

 

[Dan Almashy]

It looks like 3000 GVW and above is where most companies install brakes on their trailers. I am thinking about a 6x14 single axle without brakes for ATV UTV etc transport. This would be below the 3000 lb threshold but how comfortable are you towing 2500 without brakes? is there a max weight without brakes you are ok with occasionally? thinking of a Gladiator or full size Ram tow vehicle. I could see a 20 or 40 mile trip for repairs with a total weight of 2500 or less. I could also see a 3 mile trip on my back road to moms house fully loaded once or twice in the next few years.

I thought I should reply on the towing weights issue. I had to look into that when I first started towing a car behind my RV. It's been 3 years since so I dont have the website handy but, there are laws about weights and how much before brakes are mandatory to tow legally on the highways in each state. The average in most is 3000. A few are 2500. So I bought a b re making system for the car I towed. You have to add that weight of your load onto the weight of the trailer. If you have 1000 more on top of a 2900 lb trailer. You are trying to stop 3900 lbs. Check your state laws.

 

[sunbeam67]

Braking System Requirements By State and Province | Hitchsource.com

 

[Jstpssng]

Does anyone stomp the brakes when loaded to see what happens?

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

 

[4570Man]

Does anyone stomp the brakes when loaded to see what happens?

In my 750 no because then the load would go flying into the headache rack lol. My ton truck doesn’t have that kind of stopping.

 

[4570Man]

yep. most of us learn the hard way that you should err on the side of more front weight.

Load all of it on the front. Only part way kidding.

 

[JWR]

FWIW Most states in Australia impose a GTM limit (Gross Trailer Mass) for unbraked single-axle trailers of 750kg = 1653 lbs.

I consider a 1653 lb limit absurd.

 

[JWR]

Trailer brakes are independent of the tow rig, it doesn’t matter what the tow vehicle is in regards to brakes. Just this past week coming up the hill there was an accident involving a small enclosed single axle trailer. It broke loose from a large van and decided to go downhill hitting cars which brings up another point, a breakaway device to apply those brake should the trailer breakaway. As the man says 1500 lbs in California with a breakaway device.

This is not a matter of ”if you can”. It’s a matter of law and safety for you and others on the road.

I disagree. It is mostly a matter of good judgement, the driver AND It matters a LOT what you are towing with. Clearly the weight and braking capacity of the towing vehicle is THE MAIN FACTOR in whether or not you need trailer brakes. We TBN readers do not get to reinvent or change physics. Breakaway devices are rarely if ever used on smaller trailers and are mostly supplied with ones over 10,000lb GVW.

 

[JWR]

CHECK YOUR STATE TRAFFIC LAWS! Unfortunately they differ from state to state. In addition to service brake requirements, many states have break-away requirements where the trailer brakes apply automatically if the trailer uncouples from the tow vehicle. In Nevada you can (and probably will) be criminally charged if you are involved in a serious accident while towing and the accident investigation team determines that your GVW (trailer plus load weight) meets the trailer braking requirement and you don't have proper brakes or they are not functional. Also some states require brakes on ALL axles, not just one. I'm near the borders with California and Oregon so I need to make sure my equipment is legal in all of those states.

While on the subject, some states (such as Nevada) also check tire ratings against the vehicle's GVW in the event of a traffic stop or accident. I tend to run Load Range E tires just to be safe. Plus they are more stable on winding roads. But remember, the ACTUAL rating (not just what's on the tire sidewall) is dependent upon tire pressure. A Load Range E tire filled only to 65 psi is down rated to Load Range D. Understandably a trailer that is generally used for light service might best run on lower pressures to save center tread tire wear, but if you're heavily loaded, such as hauling a tractor or backhoe, you should bring all your tires up to their rated pressures.

Avoid a ticket and avoid an accident. Check with your highway patrol or DMV for the regs that apply to you.

If we try hard enough and look up all the states I doubt the trailer will have the capacity to haul all the regulations.

 

[4570Man]

I disagree. It is mostly a matter of good judgement, the driver AND It matters a LOT what you are towing with. Clearly the weight and braking capacity of the towing vehicle is THE MAIN FACTOR in whether or not you need trailer brakes. We TBN readers do not get to reinvent or change physics. Breakaway devices are rarely if ever used on smaller trailers and are mostly supplied with ones over 10,000lb GVW.

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.

 

[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.