Brakes on Trailer

[Smartgene]

How important are brakes on an open trailer - say a 6x12 with one walk behind on it? That's not a whole lot of weight.

[keifer]

Depends on what is pulling it. If it was a yugo i would get some brakes.

[Jimbo]

I would use the brakes. I have the same size trailer and my mechanic recommends brakes. The trailer brakes will save the brakes on your tow vehicle, save your butt in an urgent stop situation, and if the trailer ever starts to sway you can tap the brake controller to get it under control.
I should also note that I pulled my 6x12 several times with one walk-behind and a push mower (no brakes), But now that I put my Z-turn on brakes are a must.
I would get brakes either way...hope this helps.

[wxmn6]

When I was deciding whether to get the brakes on my 6 1/2 x 12 trailer or not, I decided to go with the brakes. I am not required to have brakes, but I would rather be safer than sorry. I am pulling JD GX325 so the brakes will be helping alot.

If you are only pulling one walk behind now, you should still get the trailer with brakes. Because what if in future you are expanding your business and you have more equipment to pull on your trailer? It costs less to buy a trailer with brakes than buying trailer without it and have the brakes added later.

[fastlane]

A load of mulch or firewood ? you never know. Better safe than sorry.

[Mid Rivers]

Can you add brakes to a trailer? What does it take other than money?

[lasher66]

I got brakes on my trailer but I am not sure if they work. If you have brakes on a trailer, do they have a seperate plug that you have to attach to on the truck. I have an emergency wire that connects to my hitch that will engage the brakes if the trailer gets loose from the truck, but does that mean I can use them for normal stopping? I have a double axle 16' trailer and the disc brakes are just on one axle.

Lasher66

[wxmn6]

lasher66,

What type of plug do you have on your TRAILER? If your trailer have brakes, it should be a round plug with 6 sockets (for trailer without backup lights on it) or 7 sockets (for trailer with backup lights on it).

What type of plug do you have on rear of your TRUCK? It should be the same as the plug on trailer. Do you have brake controller in your truck under your dash?

I will need to know these informations before I could help you any further.

The wire that you talked about is only for emergency only. If the trailer should ever disconnect from your truck hitch, the wire will be pulled and when that happen, it pulls the pin out of little box on the trailer, engaging the battery on the trailer to put the brakes on.

[darryl gesner]

I have a 6 1/2 X 12 without brakes pulling a 48 walkbehind and push mover. Stopping it with my 1985 3/4 Chevy is never a problem. My gross trailer weight loaded for mowing is only 3/4 of a ton. I haul 1.5 tons in the bed and still stop it fine. I think it's overkill and one more thing to go wrong. Also, adding a brake controller to my truck is a PITA.

[Brickman]

After pulling many a trailer, some with brakes, and some without if there is any way there will be brakes on the trailer. I have pulled light trailers, heavy trailers, semis, no way would I not have brakes.
On a 8 or maybe a 10 footer no, but any thing over that absolutely.
Just my opinion.

[Grasshog]

It looks like you may not have ele brakes, if they are surge brakes they will still help a little.
Best to call who ever you bought the trailer and ask what kind of brakes you have.

[Michael Fronczak]

When I started out I had a 4x8 traler with a 48" walkbehind on it. Towed with '85 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4. Had to stop one time trailer actually pushed truck rear end almost jack-knifed on busy road. Scared the **** out of me. Know the limits of what your doing & your equip.

[MOOSE]

OK, I got pulled over other day in MICHIGAN. They said if GVWR is over 10,000 lbs. Well my truck is 6800 & trailer is 3500 tandem axle. So you do have to have brakes on a tandem but not on single, but if over certain weight u do. They asked me about a comercial drivers license too, and a medical card. Plus they wrote me a ticket for no vecihle lettering. They told me it's the law. Well I've been pulling trailer for 10 years and nothing. I think they needed someone to pick on.
How are u suppose to know laws, state never informed me or anyone else. So that means u find out when u get pulled over. And some of these tickets are not fix-it tickets. so that means u PAY.
NOT FAIR TO US.

[Brickman]

MOOSE you NEED to find some body that knows what the law is and see if the cop was even right. I have a CDL and from what I understand I think he is FULL of the brown stuff. I think the law is if your trailer is over 10K. GCWR over 26K, but I could be wrong.
I don't claim to know it all, but I would be finding me somebody that knows and seeing if I can't fight that ticket in court.

Back of my license reads
Class A -- combined vehicles 26,001 lbs. GCWR or more; towed vehicle greater than 10,000 lbs.

[Turfdude]

I know in NJ, if you have a trailer w/ brakes, they must be on every axle. Also, make sure there is a "brake-away" system inplace - make sure the battery is on a trickle charger. I don't want to name trailer company, but when I purchased my 6X16 dual axle, I paid extra for the electric brake option. Don't you know the guys never wired a "constant hot lead" to my trucks because the trailer had no trickle charge. Anyhow, troopers pulled over driver to inspect trailer only - brake-away system failed. Guess who had to go to court and pay fines????:eek:

Bob

[kbcjlc]

I ordered one last month and got it last week.. the trailer is 6.5 x 18 ft. double axles g.v.w.r is 7,000 lbs. I pull with Dodge 3/4 ton It has electric brakes on both axles, however have not ever have one in my truck yet. I was driving fast around 55mph and almost lost control and i think the trailer is too heavy to pull or too much weight for Dodge 3/4 ton..... When remove the trailer, I realize i could not even lift the trailer... My old one 6 x12 i can pick the trailer up and move but not the new one that i have....Looks like either something wrong with my trailer the axle or maybe I will need more weight on truck.

Keith Cook......Want to see a pix of trailer?

[Smartgene]

Hey Moose,

I don't cut in Clarkston but I find myself therer periodically. I bet that was an Oakland County cop that wrote you up/ What an A- hole! What was that about vehicle lettering, I've never heard of that one.

[MOOSE]

Smartgene, I live in Clarkston but work in Bloomfield Hills. It was a Bloomfield Hills cop on Woodward Ave. He was cool but I think they were training that day. 3 cops in one car.

And yes it is law u have to have business name,city/state & phone on truck in 3in. letters.

I'am also gonna fight it in court. 10 years and nothing.. Seen lots since that day without brakes & lettering.

Will let all know what happens.

[Smartgene]

I use the Bloomfield Hills Post Office directly next door to the Police Station - I know those SUV's well! Keep us updated Moose.

[SCAPEASAURUSREX]

Well in NJ, any vehicle used to transport tools , equipment or materials for use in a business must be registered commercially, and commercial vehicles are required to have lettering on both sides and must be a minimum of 3" hi... COmpany name, town/municipality, and phone #.... Same with pest info, # must be 3" hi...... Can be permanently lettered onto vehicle or magnetic signs, unless you go into NY city.. then lettering must be permanent... ( at least that s what I heard ? )

CDL is for vehicles with GCWR of 26,001 lbs... or over, and the vehicle being towed ( trailer ) is ovver 10K lbs... thats class A,

then class B is any vehicle with a gross weight of 26,001 or more or a truck of 26,001 or more pulling a trailer of 10K or less

Class C is 26,001 or less transporting haz mat or people 8 passengers or over if I read it correctly,

This is from the Drivers manual for NJ...There are more details to them , but thats the gist of it..

You should get the manual from the DMV in your state so you know what the requirements are for the CDL... and in NJ when you have a CDL you have to have that medical record or card and have physicals yearly I believe to keep with the regs....

[Turfdude]

Hey Scapeasaureu - "What Exit??" - I'm by #3 -168!

Bob