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Lightweight trailer brakes; yes or no?

J

JimS

Member
I am building a communications trailer out of an old
light trailer that never had brakes. It will be way under
the weight requirement to legally have brakes.

Would I be smart to install brakes anyway with a
deadman breakaway?
 
Depends on your tow vehicle and your towing speed. At highway speeds, if the loaded trailer weighs over 50 percent of the tow vehicle weight, I want trailer brakes.
 
If.. your towing a 2000 lb trailer with a 7000 lb truck... no.. if your towing a 3000 lb trailer with a 5000 lb car.. definitely yes with sway bars. Would only tow with two breakaway chains on it either way.
 
Are you sure it's really that light? 1,500# is the threshold for the brake requirement im most or all places. 1,500# isn't much unless it's pretty flimsy.
 
cant see it, unless your towing it with a volkswagon or quad. got to think ahead and know you do have a load behind you is another thing. and if a 1/2 ton cant stop with a small trailer something is wrong then.
 
Yep. Under 1000 empty. With the Honda generator, batteries and solar panels, Ill be 1300-1800.
Definitely under the 3500 limit.

It should be noted the original engine and generator were removed. This is the hollow shell of the light
trailer. It was mainly wanted for the boom. Ive installed slide out flat drawers that will hold the radios.
We are in CA so seldom see rain.
 
california? better install brakes. they are nitpick happy about that kinda thing in your state
 
If you look in the owner's manual for your tow vehicle, it probably says brakes are needed for trailers over 1500 pounds. But realistically, trailer brakes aren't going to be very effective on a trailer that light. Even a mid-size SUV will have brakes that are massive compared to the brakes on a single-axle trailer. Unless you use surge brakes, trailer brakes require a brake controller on the tow vehicle and a battery on the trailer. Plus there's additional maintenance required with brakes. And if you have greaseable hubs, grease can contaminate the brake drums, making the brakes useless. In short, I wouldn't bother with brakes on a trailer that's not legally required to have them. Which is 3000 pounds in most states.
 
(quoted from post at 01:50:45 09/22/23) california? better install brakes. they are nitpick happy about that kinda thing in your state
Click to expand...

Not a thing they can say or do about it, if the trailer is under the weight limit. As if they are going to stop him and weigh it in the first place.

Frankly I've towed small trailers with no brakes 1000's of miles and never had a concern. Anything from a tiny 4x8 harbor freight trailer up to a 6x10 enclosed.

I mean if you're stupid and put all the weight behind the axle, brakes aren't going to save you.

Brakes on a small trailer can be a problem. Getting the gain set low enough to not skid the tires because the trailer is so light, yet still provide some braking.
 
(quoted from post at 17:44:33 09/21/23) If.. your towing a 2000 lb trailer with a 7000 lb truck... no.. if your towing a 3000 lb trailer with a 5000 lb car.. definitely yes with sway bars. Would only tow with two breakaway chains on it either way.
Click to expand...

Who tows with less than two breakaway chains? Do you think we're monsters? Two safety chains is a legal requirement.

3000lb is the threshold for brakes in most states. That's why you'll see these single-axle landscape trailers like the ones at Tractor Supply rated for "2990lbs."

A 7000lb truck is easily into 3/4 ton territory. According to the load sticker on my 1/2 ton it weighs about 5500lbs (7200GVWR - 1725lb payload on the "do not exceed" sticker) Do you really think you need a 3/4 ton truck to tow a little landscape trailer with a lawn mower on it safely? That's ridiculous.
 
Jim, its your trailer and your choice, but I (owned, used, bought and sold a ton of them over 50 years) would NOT mess with installing elec brakes, brake controller and break away on a light trailer.

John T
 
(quoted from post at 00:31:40 09/22/23) Yep. Under 1000 empty. With the Honda generator, batteries and solar panels, Ill be 1300-1800.
Definitely under the 3500 limit.

It should be noted the original engine and generator were removed. This is the hollow shell of the light
trailer. It was mainly wanted for the boom. Ive installed slide out flat drawers that will hold the radios.
We are in CA so seldom see rain.
Click to expand...

1300-1800 isn t enough information. In California the requirement for trailer brakes is 1500 lbs. gross weight. So you need to get some accurate weights to answer your question.

This post was edited by brooktre on 09/22/2023 at 05:37 am.
 
If you decide to do brakes,, check your axles to see if they have the flanges on them to mount the brakes(backing plate assy). usually a square flange with 4 holes in it... And what are you pulling it with?? Small car, yes get the brakes.. Sense you have a generator you already probably would have a battery for a break-away set up. If you have flanges, you can add elect brake kits easily. de n5csc
 
(quoted from post at 18:05:23 09/21/23) I am building a communications trailer out of an old
light trailer that never had brakes. It will be way under
the weight requirement to legally have brakes.

Would I be smart to install brakes anyway with a
deadman breakaway?
Click to expand...

Install brakes or always wish that you had . Some people here are cheap .They also believe they can foresee then overcome any emergency that would affect less talented people . Often the same people that claim winter tires are not required .
Sometime when somebody cuts you off in traffic . You will be thankful for the 30-100ft shorter stopping difference .
 
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