Unbraked trailer, towing limitations
Hey folks, I’m looking for a new tow vehicle for a rig coming in at 2700 lbs, loaded, per the scale. I decided to trade down to a more modest unibody suv like the highlander, telluride or similar wit...
Forum Discussion
For what it's worth, GM recommends brakes for trailers over 2000 lbs in my 1500. Which, is about the max payload of the truck. Brakes it's 6700 or so.....blown that number out of the water. Identical V8 it's around 11,000 braked. My OM pages 9-70 to 9-100 or there about
I'll stick to my earlier, if the trailer puts you much over the manufactures GVW, say max 500-1000 lbs, best to have brakes on it, no matter the vehicle.
Here in WA St. Brakes in trailers varies from 1000-4500 lb. Or 40% of tow vehicles gvwr, which ever is lowest. Generally speaking, for a truck based rig that is paid for tonnage.
For me, that is 8000 x .4 = 3200 lbs from a legal standpoint. Not sure I would want to tow that much with this rig. My 8 lug rigs in the past empty, generally not a big deal. But my R3500 dually did have a rear ender at 20mph, brakes on the 3500 lb axel trailer DID help cut brake distance down on ALL the rigs that towed it, excepting maybe my Navistar .
Having had surge brake trailers, not worth it. Unless the truck is huge vs the trailer. If the trailer is approaching 75% or more of TV wight, the trailer can over run the TV, as the braking spring will not get pushed inward so the hydraulic mechanism works. Nor can you hit the trailer brakes if you get a bit of sway, to stop that side to side fish tail sway!
Marty
I'll stick to my earlier, if the trailer puts you much over the manufactures GVW, say max 500-1000 lbs, best to have brakes on it, no matter the vehicle.
Here in WA St. Brakes in trailers varies from 1000-4500 lb. Or 40% of tow vehicles gvwr, which ever is lowest. Generally speaking, for a truck based rig that is paid for tonnage.
For me, that is 8000 x .4 = 3200 lbs from a legal standpoint. Not sure I would want to tow that much with this rig. My 8 lug rigs in the past empty, generally not a big deal. But my R3500 dually did have a rear ender at 20mph, brakes on the 3500 lb axel trailer DID help cut brake distance down on ALL the rigs that towed it, excepting maybe my Navistar .
Having had surge brake trailers, not worth it. Unless the truck is huge vs the trailer. If the trailer is approaching 75% or more of TV wight, the trailer can over run the TV, as the braking spring will not get pushed inward so the hydraulic mechanism works. Nor can you hit the trailer brakes if you get a bit of sway, to stop that side to side fish tail sway!
Marty
