utility trailer brakes yes/no?

[txsurfer]

I have a tandem axle 16' utility trailer that I use to haul my P1000. It does not currently have brakes and by law doesn't require them but I was thinking about adding them. I'm probably at about 3,000 lbs all in (trailer and cargo). My question to the group is if it's really necessary? I tow it with a Tundra and a Class A motorhome.

 

[Admin]

 

[CumminsPusher]

Not necessary as you already know but I’d say yes if you were already considering. Less wear and tear on the truck and more control. Always nice having more brakes

 

[Ragnar406]

I have a 14' tandem axle with brakes - but the brakes went out and it was about 6 months before I got around to finding the short... I immediately thought I should have gotten them fixed sooner but I live in a hilly area. Definitely nice to have

 

[BWAF]

Not necessary as you already know but I’d say yes if you were already considering. Less wear and tear on the truck and more control. Always nice having more brakes

Yes more brakes is good

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[Mudder]

Thinking brakes required 16+ foot where I live. Have them (dual axles) and are very good. Cost of upgrade, vs sell and rebuy?? Also consider expense of brake controller on tow vehicle.

 

[Neohio]

I plan to add brakes to my single axle trailer. I am guessing I will be right around $100 per tire to add brakes. Probably another $100 or so to rewire it.
I towed my setup to Takeover without issue using my little Trailblazer, now that I passed my truck down to my wife, and stepped up to a larger tow vehicle, I am not terribly concerned about the brakes anymore. But I am planning a $300 investment will tremendously help in the future.
I'd guess the same on your tandem. $100 a wheel plus wiring. Roughly $500. You could always do brakes on one axle though.

 

[snuffnwhisky]

Nice to have trailer brakes if you get trailer sway. Always good to have your brake controller mounted for easy access for the manual lever also. Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller is pretty awesome.

 

[sharp]

I plan to add brakes to my single axle trailer. I am guessing I will be right around $100 per tire to add brakes. Probably another $100 or so to rewire it.
I towed my setup to Takeover without issue using my little Trailblazer, now that I passed my truck down to my wife, and stepped up to a larger tow vehicle, I am not terribly concerned about the brakes anymore. But I am planning a $300 investment will tremendously help in the future.
I'd guess the same on your tandem. $100 a wheel plus wiring. Roughly $500. You could always do brakes on one axle though.

I agree, one axle will be fine for that trailer. Set the gain where the trailer stops the trailer and the truck stops the truck, although a lot of people turn the gain up on the trailer a tad to relieve the truck breaks

 

[txsurfer]

thx gents will kick it around

 

[JTW]

What vehicle are you pulling with? Personally, wouldn’t bother with no more weight than that. It’s more important how you distribute the weight.

 

[Hondoman]

I have a tandem axle 16' utility trailer that I use to haul my P1000. It does not currently have brakes and by law doesn't require them but I was thinking about adding them. I'm probably at about 3,000 lbs all in (trailer and cargo). My question to the group is if it's really necessary? I tow it with a Tundra and a Class A motorhome.

I tow my p1k5 on an 18' dovetail trailer with a tundra. Brakes are so good on the tundra i dont use the electric brakes on the trailer.

If i still drove a gm truck i would definitely use the trailer brakes.

 

[ToddACimer]

I think 3000lbs is a pretty good limit for needing vs not needing brakes. Anything over should have them especially if the trailer is more than 50% the tow vehicle weight.

 

[Tramguage1]

If you every get in a rainy/icey situation, you will wish you had trailer brakes. Trailer brakes are one of those must haves for me. You may not need them now but what if you haul something heavier.

 

[JTW]

If you every get in a rainy/icey situation, you will wish you had trailer brakes. Trailer brakes are one of those must haves for me. You may not need them now but what if you haul something heavier.

Do they even have rain and ice where you’re from?

 

[Plumber32]

Do they even have rain and ice where you’re from?

Just on tv

 

[CumminsPusher]

Do they even have rain and ice where you’re from?

They get enough rain to sometimes take boats to the store.

 

[popeye]

Even if you have the best of tow rigs, trailer brakes are needed during that oh-$h!t moment when some jerk pulls out in front of you on a county hwy, and your doing 65 because you are in a hurry, and with out trailer brakes, it’s now starting to come around on your truck. 95% of the time you can get by with out them, but for the little cost in maintaining them, it’s worth it for that 5% you will need it.


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[popeye]

Also might be apples to oranges, but any one who has had their brake pedal start to go soft on them, after lots of applied braking and the road signs say there’s still five more miles of 8% grade befor the bottom of the hill knows what I’m talking about. I thought the wife and I were not gonna make it. Nothing like hanging out on a runaway truck route, waiting for your brakes to cool down. Sitting in front of the small sign on the pic saying “no parking, high avalanche danger”

 

[joeymt33]

I bought a brake kit at tractor supply and it was cheap and easy to install. That was maybe a decade ago?? I’ve never serviced them and they still work great. It’s on a single axle 3500lb 6.5’x10’



It is nice to have for sure. Now I need to install a brake controller on the pioneer since this trailer doubles for off road use as well

 

[snuffnwhisky]