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ajdec77's avatar
ajdec77
Explorer
Oct 13, 2016

Travel Trailer Brakes

Hi - I'm new to this blog (and travel trailer ownership). Actually, we are picking up the used travel trailer we purchased this weekend! I have a question about brakes. The trailer we are buying does not have electric brakes. It is 22' long. My dad, who has a lot of trailering experience form the 70s, 80s, and 90s, learned this and he implied that must not be accurate. Do all trailers have brakes? I am in Michigan and our laws say that anything over 15,000 pounds must have brakes. So given this trailer is well under that weight, it isn't required by law. I guess I'm just confused about the whole brake situation! Any info or thoughts would be appreciated for this newbie! Thanks in advance!

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  • hohenwald48's avatar
    hohenwald48
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2016
    ajdec77 wrote:
    Hi - I'm new to this blog (and travel trailer ownership). Actually, we are picking up the used travel trailer we purchased this weekend! I have a question about brakes. The trailer we are buying does not have electric brakes. It is 22' long. My dad, who has a lot of trailering experience form the 70s, 80s, and 90s, learned this and he implied that must not be accurate. Do all trailers have brakes? I am in Michigan and our laws say that anything over 15,000 pounds must have brakes. So given this trailer is well under that weight, it isn't required by law. I guess I'm just confused about the whole brake situation! Any info or thoughts would be appreciated for this newbie! Thanks in advance!


    If we knew the specific year and model of the trailer we might be able to offer more information.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Oct 13, 2016
    US DOT Safety laws which are enforceable are involved here so if it is going to be used on US Public Roads it must have some kind of approved trailer brakes being used.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2016
    Any trailer over 3000 lbs in MI has to have brakes, by law. I doubt your 22' trailer is not equipped with brakes. Look on the tongue of the trailer for an emergency break-away switch. It should have a metal cable that attaches to the tow vehicle.
  • ajdec77's avatar
    ajdec77
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2016
    So maybe that is where my confusion is...that the camper doesn't have electric brakes but another type. I'm going to ask the seller to see what I can find out.
  • yankee_camper's avatar
    yankee_camper
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2016
    Just googled it http://traveltips.usatoday.com/trailer-towing-laws-michigan-55044.html. 3000 ponds = brakes
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Oct 13, 2016
    Keep in mind there are different kinds of brakes... Electric brakes is only one of a few different types. This trailer may be equipped with surge type brakes.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Oct 13, 2016
    I agree with SoundGuy. Where I am, I think the requirement is 3000#s or more has to have working brakes. When the trailer weighs 2 times more than a tow vehicle, you could not stop in an emergency situation.

    Jerry
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2016
    ajdec77 wrote:
    Do all trailers have brakes? I am in Michigan and our laws say that anything over 15,000 pounds must have brakes. So given this trailer is well under that weight, it isn't required by law. I guess I'm just confused about the whole brake situation!


    You're confused alright ... no way this "law" you're referring to is correct. Regulations do vary somewhat from one jurisdiction to another but 3000 lbs is pretty common as the threshold at which brakes are required, including here in Ontario. Certainly I know of no 22' trailer that wouldn't have brakes.

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