Electric Breaks and the law

[jarata1]

I live in Massachusetts and just bought a used trailer.The weight of the travel trailer is 1600 pounds.I do have electric breaks but the suv I'll be towing them with doesn't have the setup for them.
My question is I brought the trailer into a dealer to go through it.He said if you have electric breaks on camper they must be hooked up and you must also have a battery backup or you will get pulled over and ticketed.
Looking at mass law they say a trailer is required to have electric breaks if it's over 3000 pounds my trailer isn't even close to that
So who's right do I have to get them hooked up like dealer says?

[Bobbo]

Nate1979 wrote:
1460lb is a very strange GVWR for a trailer. Are you sure?

I think he is quoting the dry weight, not the GVWR. Very different numbers.

[Nate1979]

1460lb is a very strange GVWR for a trailer. Are you sure?

[navegator]

You can install a brake controller on the vehicle that pulls the trailer, they are cheap to install in comparason to an accident or a law suit and you will be legal in all the States.

navegator

[Dandy_Dan]

Bobbo wrote:

jarata1 wrote:
I live in Massachusetts and just bought a used trailer.The weight of the travel trailer is 1600 pounds.I do have electric breaks but the suv I'll be towing them with doesn't have the setup for them.
My question is I brought the trailer into a dealer to go through it.He said if you have electric breaks on camper they must be hooked up and you must also have a battery backup or you will get pulled over and ticketed.
Looking at mass law they say a trailer is required to have electric breaks if it's over 3000 pounds my trailer isn't even close to that
So who's right do I have to get them hooked up like dealer says?

This trailer, Scamp 13' trailer is 1500 pounds. Compare its size to yours.

Check your states trailer laws to know for sure. I am in Ohio and no brakes are needed if under 3000#

[JaxDad]

Double check the fine print, some jurisdictions have a little twist in there that's says any safety equipment on the trailer must be operational.

In the case of electric brakes some LEO's will say a TV with no brake controller means the brakes are not operational.

Of course the other wild-card in this day and age is lawyers looking into accidents. A TV with no break controller would make any shady lawyers mouth water.

[jarata1]

For the people that gave good advise thank you

[jarata1]

bikendan wrote:
i find it hard to believe a 1500lbs. TT unless it's a fiberglass one like the Scamp or Casita.

Don't find it hard to believe you have one right above you that's 1500 pounds thanks though for doubting

[jarata1]

Jim-Linda wrote:
A travel trailer that only weighs 1600 lbs??? I would seriously doubt that. Did you look on the sticker/label on the left front of the coach? What is the brand and how long is it?

Jim

I would think I know the weight of my own trailer its 1460 pounds it's a 15 foot prowler Lynx but thanks for your concern

[wa8yxm]

There are two sets of laws.. Now in most states a trailer under 2,000 pounds is NOT required to have aux brakes (Not necessarly electric) but may be so equipped.

Depending on the state however trailers as light as 1500 pounds may need brakes,, in other states 3999 pounds does not but 4K and up do.

(Moral your millage (Weight limit) may vary)

The other law is civil

Having brakes on the trailer can make a BIG difference in your skid distance. So if you are sitting there, steam coming off your busted radiator, And I'm in front of you with a dent in my truck.. You better hope your have brakes on your trailer. It's that simple.

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

3oaks wrote:
A whole bunch of preachers, but no one answered the question. :R

jarata1, I would contact your state department of transportation or vehicle licensing agency to get the right answer. 😉

x2. The laws vary by state and sometimes those websites that have condensed versions of the law aren't quite accurate. For example, the AAA digest suggests that Oregon has no trailer brake requirements as long as you can stop within a certain distance. That's not quite true. Oregon says that if the trailer came with brakes, they must be operational and hooked up. Massachusetts may be similar. Only your DOT will know for sure.

Besides, if you want to take the trailer to neighboring states, they may have different laws that require brakes. Just because you comply with your home state laws doesn't mean you're legal towing that trailer in another state without brakes. So unless you plan on camping only in Massachusetts, you have a few phone calls to make.

If it were me, I'd get the brake controller installed. Then you know you're legal.

[Executive45]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
The dealer is wrong. The police can not pull you over just to see if you have working brakes or a battery on your trailer. Even if they pull you over for speeding, they have no reason to ask if your brakes are working on the trailer./snip/



Good luck!

Fred.

Wow! Fred, being from California, I'm surprised at your statement. If a LEO looks at your trailer and notices it's not hooked up correctly, it's certainly his prerogative, even his responsibility, to stop you and check it out. Whether you get a ticket or not is up to the officer. I've stopped many trailers and cited for incorrect equipment, inadequate chains, etc. etc.

To the OP...it depends on your State's requirement. The fact that the trailer HAS BRAKES indicates the mfg felt it was a safety issue. Given the cost of the braking system, they certainly wouldn't put it on if they didn't have to. Remember too, as a SAFETY issue, just because it's not required in your home State doesn't make it legal in other ones....Dennis

[Golden_HVAC]

The dealer is wrong. The police can not pull you over just to see if you have working brakes or a battery on your trailer. Even if they pull you over for speeding, they have no reason to ask if your brakes are working on the trailer.

However if the trailer breaks away from the car, and does not come to a stop on it's own, then they will begin asking that question. A 2,000 pound utility trailer would not cause much damage without the brakes not working. It is a 5,000+ pound travel trailer that can go for hundreds of feet without brakes, damaging anything in it's path.

I think the mechanic was trying to upsell you something, and causing excess worry. Sure it is a 'good idea' to have brakes on your trailer, and it will help you stop faster. But legal requirement? No. Chances that you will ever get asked about it randomly by a police officer? None. Chances about the Police inspecting your car and braking system if you are in a accident? Pretty good.

Good luck!

Fred.

[RinconVTR]

jarata1 wrote:
I live in Massachusetts and just bought a used trailer.The weight of the travel trailer is 1600 pounds.I do have electric breaks but the suv I'll be towing them with doesn't have the setup for them.
My question is I brought the trailer into a dealer to go through it.He said if you have electric breaks on camper they must be hooked up and you must also have a battery backup or you will get pulled over and ticketed.
Looking at mass law they say a trailer is required to have electric breaks if it's over 3000 pounds my trailer isn't even close to that
So who's right do I have to get them hooked up like dealer says?

NO. You cannot tow this trailer without the brakes operational.

It doesnt matter what it weighs right now, it matters what the Gross weight rating is, and how its registered with the State. So yes, you must have the brakes connected when towing.

Regarding the break-away cable RoyB was mentioning...his statements are not accurate. You could tow a trailer with electric brakes and still have the cable hooked on to the TV and as long as their is a charged battery on the trailer...the break away switch will activate the trailer brakes when pulled.

As for a "LEO" just casually driving by, the odds they are looking for your break away cable and being able to see it as a driver going 55-65mph on your left side...is highly unlikely!

Heck, even if the break away switch didnt work (no power, broken, no wiring, or whatever)...why would you not connect the cable anyway? What else would you do with it?

Anyway...while you could tow this light TT without brakes, it would be a little risky if you did happen to have an accident without functional trailer brakes...and you knowingly avoided connecting them.

[db7512]

From a ex LEO I would stop by your local state police office and they should be able to look up the correct answer. Take note of the regulation number if they say it not required just in case you get questioned at a later date by a LEO.