Towing trailer with brakes

[wired13]

Hello,

I am involved in a boy scout troop that is going to buy a cargo trailer to haul camping equipment. The trailer will be a single axle trailer and have GVW of less then 3,000 lbs - probably in the range of 1,700 lb fully loaded. Some of the vehicles that will be towing the trailer have break controllers and 7 pin connectors while others have simple 4 pin connectors.

The question: Can a trailer that has electronic brakes be towed on a vehicle without a brake controller and just be towed as if it was a brakeless trailer?

Thank you for you help,

Andy

[Grit_dog]

Prolly in the minority here, but a little 3klb cargo trailer will tow fine behind any full size vehicle with decent brakes with no problem.

I've never been hasseled on my 3500lb single axle enclosed sled trailer (no brakes from the factory). I mean I've gotten popped for a couple speeders over the years with the trailer (gotta get to the hill early on a powder day!) and the 5-0 never asked about the brakes.
Yes, a 4 pin to 7 pin adapter will work just fine. $20 plug and play to get the lights working.
I would not reccomend a surge brake system to anyone who is not prepared to maintain it regularly. Have had 2 boat trailers with surge brakes. Garaged, protected, maintained and they still require work. Either the shock goes bad, or the actuator, or the brake fluid gets rusty from sitting. If you got surge brakes, plan on sucking out the brake juice at least once a year out of the reservior to keep it relatively fresh and keep a cover over the reservior cap. They will weep in moisture. Not sure why, but surge brakes just seem to be finicky.
Besides, they are easier to burn up the brakes if you dont know how to drive with them. Downhill braking frequently requires steepin on hte go pedal to extend the actuator and keep from continually applying a little brake pressure while going downhill.
Surge brakes also dont have the capability for a manual over ride to pull a swaying trailer back in line.
IMO, surge brakes will jsut turn into NO brakes in a couple years on a "community" trailer.

[mkirsch]

wired13 wrote:
Some of the possible towing vehicles (cross overs, mid-size SUVs) have notices in their owners manuals that say "All trailers towed by this vehicle over 1000 lbs must have brakes" but have rated towing capacity is in excess of 3000 lbs. Is this the manufacturer just covering their tails or is there real reasoning behind these statements?

It is the manufacturer covering themselves, but there is likely more to it...

There may be concerns that the towing vehicle is not heavy enough to keep its rear end firmly planted in a hard braking situation, with the full weight of the trailer pushing on it. Especially if the car and trailer are not perfectly straight.

When the rear end cuts loose there is the distinct possibility of a jackknife.

There may also be concerns that even if the tow vehicle is heavy enough to maintain control, the stopping distance may be too great without assistance from trailer brakes.

Brakes may not be legally required but it doesn't hurt to have them and use them.

[RCMAN46]

wired13 wrote:
I am going to start by looking into surge brakes.

I have heard many stories of cross-overs and mid-size SUVs towing over 1000lbs without problem.

Thanks again,

-Andy

If as you said the trailer will be towed by many different vehicles, yes get the surge brakes. They have been used for many years with good results on boat trailers.

As for towing without problems does not mean it is the thing to do. All it takes is an idiot that will pass you on a crowded two lane highway then but on the binders and make a turn in front of you. You have a 1700 lb trailer behind you and without brakes you have no chance in stopping before you rear end him. But you will be at fault in most cases. Plus a chance of serious if not fatal injury. When I purchased my utility trailer brakes were not required in my state. But I was going to tow the trailer with a car so I got the electric brakes and wired the car for them. One time with an older pickup I had to get on the binders hard and then the brake pedal went to the floor. I used the over ride lever on my Prodigy to stop my rig with the trailer brakes. Almost hit a truck towing a TT in front of me. The master cylinder had failed on the truck.

[mowermech]

Keep in mind that some states require brakes on trailers based on UNLADEN weight (often 1000 or 1500 lbs), and some require brakes based on GVWR (often 3000 lbs or more). Reciprocity usually does not apply to braking requirements.
IMO, most "ratings" are based on lawyer input, often due to stories like the one about the person who set the cruise control, then went back to get a cup of coffee. After the accident, a lawsuit was filed because the Owners Manual did not state that the cruise control was not an auto-pilot! Fake story? Probably. However, lawyers think like that!
As previously stated, the best bet would likely be to get the trailer fitted with surge brakes. That would solve the problem!

[Hamops]

houstonstroker wrote:
I was in charge of buying and outfitting a new cargo trailer for my scout troop. I decided to outfit our trailer with surge brakes. That way anyone with a trailer hitch could tow the trailer and we did not have to worry about who had brake controllers installed in their vehicles. Surge brakes have a master cylinder installed on the tongue. When you stop the pressure on the tongue sends fluid to the brakes. I liked the system. Mike

Getting a trailer with Surge Brakes is probably your best bet if they are available on trailer that you intend to buy. With Surge Brakes, you have the flexibility of allowing another Scout Trooper leader to be able to pull it for scouting purposes with a minimum of fuss. Unless the GVW is under 1000#, I would not recommend pulling any trailer without some kind of braking system.

[wired13]

Wow, Thank you for all the responses! All very helpful. I am going to start by looking into surge brakes.

Just to add more details from my original post. I am in MA and would be towing the trailer in MA and neighboring new England states ( NH, ME, CT, RI, VT). All these states seem to not require brakes for trailers under 3000 lbs.

So it stands to reason, that if we have a trailer that is 1700 lbs and had brakes that they don't need to be connected to be legal. However, the smart thing would be to use them if they are available.

Some of the possible towing vehicles (cross overs, mid-size SUVs) have notices in their owners manuals that say "All trailers towed by this vehicle over 1000 lbs must have brakes" but have rated towing capacity is in excess of 3000 lbs. Is this the manufacturer just covering their tails or is there real reasoning behind these statements? I have heard many stories of cross-overs and mid-size SUVs towing over 1000lbs without problem.

Thanks again,

-Andy

[beermanjoe]

It`s legal here in Pa. also. I have a 5x10 trl rated at 2999lbs with no brakes. I believe in Pa 3000lbs and over need brakes. You`ll be ok pulling it(as long as it`s legal in your state). I would recommend pulling it with a large suv or truck to help with stopping.

[Goose2448]

Yes, you just need an adapter. I have done it a few times when I owned my Burb. Our scout troop has a 8x12 double axle with brakes. It weighs about 5K for weekend trips and pushes 6K for summer camp, we take another trailer loaded with everyones stuff as well. Our trailer is also only hauled by one person, 99.9% of the time. I can only recall 2 times in the 10 years(10 trips a year) I have been involved with the troop that someone else has pulled it, and both of those times they had a similar truck.

I'd also take the time to outfit it properly. We built some shelves in ours for everything we needed. EVERYTHING has a place. Its custom built, so everything fits right.

[Terryallan]

wired13 wrote:
Hello,



The question: Can a trailer that has electronic brakes be towed on a vehicle without a brake controller and just be towed as if it was a brakeless trailer?

Thank you for you help,

Andy

It can in NC. Both safely, and legally. It's done every day. In fact. "most" popup campers in NC are sold WITHOUT brakes. Besides tractor trailers. I never pulled a trailer with brakes, Until I got my first TT. None of the 5 popups I owned, or any of the boats I towed, had brakes.

[houstonstroker]

I was in charge of buying and outfitting a new cargo trailer for my scout troop. I decided to outfit our trailer with surge brakes. That way anyone with a trailer hitch could tow the trailer and we did not have to worry about who had brake controllers installed in their vehicles. Surge brakes have a master cylinder installed on the tongue. When you stop the pressure on the tongue sends fluid to the brakes. I liked the system. Mike

[mbopp]

To the original question - yes you can tow it, if you make / buy a 7-pin to 4-pin adapter for tow vehicles with 4-pin connectors. No brakes, but the lights will work.
Legal? Advisable? Probably not.

[skipnchar]

Depends on the laws in your state. MOST states have their own idea of the maximum weight that can be towed without the use of trailer brakes.

[carringb]

PS - I suspect the vehicles without their own brake controller are probably driven by folks who don't normally tow trailers? This is probably the person you don't want pulling a trailer with no brakes.

[carringb]

Tekonsha has a solution for this kind of situation. I have used it and it works great, with the exception that using flashers when going slow up a hill will pulse the brakes. It does need a 7-way, but any parts store will have a 4-way to 7-way adapter, and you will need to run a temp charge with to the battery (or even cigarette lighter). The other two wires on the adapter (trailer brake and reverse lights) don't need to be connected.

http://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90250.html


http://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Hopkins/HM47200.html