To Brake or not to Brake

That vehicle should stop the boat easily but the rule of thumb with trailer brakes is you don't need them until you really need them. High speed stopping you'll wish you had them when that boat comes around on ya.
 
I say if you need to depend on your trailer brakes then you need a larger truck. NO Brakes for me but I have 2 trailers with them but I have 12 others without, which some had they crapped out so they were gutted. Go Brakeless. I am installing brakes on a trailer i'm currently building but it's a 20' tandem with 2' dove tail, overall is 32' with electric brakes on both axles. but the axles are 5200 lb axles and 6000 lb springs. frame is built of 6 inch 1/4 thick Channel.
 
Trailers with brakes are more controlled at high speeds especially when you are running down hill. If you tow any distance worth the money and time to fix so you dont kill someone or yourself on the road, plus here its the law.
 
regidog said:
the rule of thumb with trailer brakes is you don't need them until you really need them. High speed stopping you'll wish you had them when that boat comes around on ya.
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EGGZACKLEE!!...my last hi-speed (65) emergency incident, those brakes kept the trailer in line where it's supposed to be...


Also, trailer brakes allow me to drive a more economical truck when not towin'...if I had an F-250, no, I wouldn't need brakes...I also couldn't afford a boat, cause of gassin' a hungrier truck...I like the combination I got
 
Looks like the ONLY legally brakeless v20 east coast states are:

Mass Unlimited
RI 4000
DE 4000
DC (not Maryland) 10000
NC 4000

If your rig weighs over 4000lbs (boat, motor, trailer, gear, fuel) then only MA and DC are safe havens for trailers w/o brakes.

Maybe Hammer can tell us what happens to people who get into an accident while towing a boat that are in violation of the law.
 
bigshrimpin said:
Looks like the ONLY legally brakeless v20 east coast states are:  

Mass                     Unlimited
RI                          4000
DE                         4000
DC (not Maryland) 10000
NC                         4000

If your rig weighs over 4000lbs (boat, motor, trailer, gear, fuel) then only MA and DC are safe havens for trailers w/o brakes.

Maybe Hammer can tell us what happens to people who get into an accident while towing a boat that are in violation of the law.  
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In NC, you would only get in trouble if the Trooper that showed up at your crash was a Comercial Motorcarrier Enforcement Trooper.  He would be the only one with the scales to weigh you and know the laws enough to charge.

Of course if you run into the back of someone you will get charged with "Following too close" or the catch all "Failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision"
 
A real concern is god forbid you get in an accident and you injure someone. They hire a lawyer who would look to see if your tailer is legal ( had brakes). They got a good law suit, and your insurance could drop coverage based on the fact your trailer is not legal. Now your paying out of your pocket.
 
Thanks for the input. With my luck I have been having lately I have decided to put on brakes.
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