Buying new truck - Do we need trailer brakes?

[dodge man]

Make sure your truck has adequate payload. There is a sticker on the drivers door that lists payload, which includes fuel but no driver or passengers. Depending on how you load the trailer you tongue weight could be 1200 lbs, through in some people and other stuff and you need 1600 lbs of payload.

Almost all half tons have a 5000 pound hitch weight limit, 500 pound torque weight limit unless you use a weight distribution hitch. You are well over the limit and need one.

You have to be careful when looking at towing limits for vehicles. They often list the highest possible numbers, which is usually a regular cab two wheel drive with few options. Most trucks have less than these published numbers.

 

[Hay Dude]

Hi Everyone,

My husband is looking at a new Ram 1500 Rebel to tow our tractor to the property, but the truck he likes doesn't have the trailer brake control option. Does he need that option? We would only be towing it about 10-15 miles. Can a dealer install it easily? It costs $295 from the factory, but would it cost more installed by the dealer?

Weight for tractor and trailer/attachment would probably be about 9,000 lbs.

“ I would only be towing it about 10-15 miles “

When I hear this (and Im not picking on you graziaka) I kind of chuckle. 10-15 miles (distance) would mean nothing to me. What means everything to me is the topography/terrain of the towing. Is it 10-15 miles of interstate highway? Or is it 10-15 miles of steep mountain passes where you are pulling it up a steep hill, boiling the transmission fluid, then hoping the truck brakes will stop the 9000lb load coming down the other side? THAT should determine what truck and what trailering package you need. I can heavily damage a under rated truck climbing one mountain and coming down the other side whether it be by overheating the transmission fluid or destroying the brakes, or possibly losing control with over heated brakes and then it could be a tragedy. Always build in some safety margin. Take it from a guy who has lived on the edge and relies on operator expertise :laughing: to get heavy loads safely delivered.

Also and just as importantly, how many times will you make this tow per year? If its only once/yr, then maybe just take it slow with a 1/2 ton and a 10k hitch with 2 axle trailer with both axles having brakes.
If its once/week, then Id be in a 3/4 ton with a full towing package (integrated trailer brakes) with 10,000lbs.

Before you make your 1st loaded run, take the trailer out on a few “ dry runs “ to make sure everything works properly. Remember to turn up the brake intensity on the loaded trailer if you opt for the integrated trailer towing package.

 

[fried1765]

Retrofitting a pickup with a trans cooler and brake controller is not a big deal, usually. But there can be some "gotchas." Some manufacturers (like Honda) have the trailering package as a dealer installed option.

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According to the net, an MX5800 weights 3,735 lbs. A double-axle trailer is around 1,200 to 1,400.

The model they are looking at has a tow rating of 7,100 lbs. We didn't own a truck with a brake controller until 2015 and still managed to tow sailboats up and down the east coast for 20 years without bursting into flames. The trailers had hydraulic surge brakes, the later ones with disk brakes.

Most older trailers still have hydraulic surge brakes anyway. The electric controllers and brakes work better and seem more reliable, but properly-maintained hydraulic surge systems worked just fine.

"A double axle trailer is around 1,200 to 1,400"
Yah think?

My 14K equipment trailer weighs 3,300 lbs.
A 10K equipment trailer....maybe 2,300 lbs.
A 7K trailer.... maybe 1,800 lbs.
The OP needs at least a 10K trailer (with an electric brake controller, and an Equal-i-zer hitch)

 

[skipperbrown]

My 14' cargo trailer weighs 2200# (7,000 rated), my 14' open trailer weighs 1900# (7,000 rated), and my 20' equipment trailer (12,000 rated) weighs 2300#.

I have used both integrated factory installed brake controllers and 3rd party add-ons. The factory installed units are so convenient, nicely mounted, and even display on the dash that it is working and the setting/braking applied. That said, most pickups come with a plug in module under/near the dash for e z plug in of an after market controller. If it was me, I'd get a truck with a tow package and integrated controller especially if you are routinely going to be hauling 4,000+ pounds.

 

[Binx]

Thank you for all the responses and advice. You guys gave us so much more information that we never thought to ask about. We will definitely get the trailer brake control added by the dealer or get an aftermarket one.

I have looked up the answers to your concerns and advice:
Per the RAM website, the truck will haul 11,400 lbs, has a 1,500 lb payload and it's a 4WD. It has a Class IV receiver-hitch, 7-pin wiring harness, and 3.92 rear axle ratio.
The trailer has 2 sets of wheels on each side (dual axle) and weighs ~2,000 lbs and will tow 10,000 lbs (per the dealer). It does have trailer brakes.
The MX5800 has loaded tires, FEL and will either have an 1,100 lb brush hog or a 900 lb chipper (hopefully an EA grapple in the future), so I think I'm close with the 9,000 lb tractor/trailer weight estimate.
The drive to the property is primarily flat with only a few curves on the back roads.

We will definitely be doing an unloaded dry run with the trailer and be sure to level out the load. Do you have any recommendation on trailer hitches besides getting a Class IV and 10,000 towing weight?

 

[Hay Dude]

Thank you for all the responses and advice. You guys gave us so much more information that we never thought to ask about. We will definitely get the trailer brake control added by the dealer or get an aftermarket one.

I have looked up the answers to your concerns and advice:
Per the RAM website, the truck will haul 11,400 lbs, has a 1,500 lb payload and it's a 4WD. It has a Class IV receiver-hitch, 7-pin wiring harness, and 3.92 rear axle ratio.
The trailer has 2 sets of wheels on each side (dual axle) and weighs ~2,000 lbs and will tow 10,000 lbs (per the dealer). It does have trailer brakes.
The MX5800 has loaded tires, FEL and will either have an 1,100 lb brush hog or a 900 lb chipper (hopefully an EA grapple in the future), so I think I'm close with the 9,000 lb tractor/trailer weight estimate.
The drive to the property is primarily flat with only a few curves on the back roads.

We will definitely be doing an unloaded dry run with the trailer and be sure to level out the load. Do you have any recommendation on trailer hitches besides getting a Class IV and 10,000 towing weight?

What is the GVWR of the trailer? If its 10k and empty trailer weighs 2k, your payload is 8k. You’d be 1,000lbs over on a 9k tractor. Look for a tag on the neck of the trailer. There you should find GVWR.
Also a class IV hitch is rated at a max of 10,000lbs, UNLESS you add a weight distributing hitch set up. So with a 9,000lb tractor and a 2,000lb trailer, you are 1,000lbs over a class IV hitch, unless you add weight distribution hitch to it.

 

[Topzide]

Haul vs tow are 2 different numbers. Think you might need to double check the numbers. Most if not all 1500's, 150's can only tow 7500lbs. The price you'd pay for a half ton to tow that much, you could get a 3/4 ton!

 

[fried1765]

Thank you for all the responses and advice. You guys gave us so much more information that we never thought to ask about. We will definitely get the trailer brake control added by the dealer or get an aftermarket one.

I have looked up the answers to your concerns and advice:
Per the RAM website, the truck will haul 11,400 lbs, has a 1,500 lb payload and it's a 4WD. It has a Class IV receiver-hitch, 7-pin wiring harness, and 3.92 rear axle ratio.
The trailer has 2 sets of wheels on each side (dual axle) and weighs ~2,000 lbs and will tow 10,000 lbs (per the dealer). It does have trailer brakes.
The MX5800 has loaded tires, FEL and will either have an 1,100 lb brush hog or a 900 lb chipper (hopefully an EA grapple in the future), so I think I'm close with the 9,000 lb tractor/trailer weight estimate.
The drive to the property is primarily flat with only a few curves on the back roads.

We will definitely be doing an unloaded dry run with the trailer and be sure to level out the load. Do you have any recommendation on trailer hitches besides getting a Class IV and 10,000 towing weight?

The appropriately weight rated Equal-i-zer brand hitch (etrailer.com) will give you good sway control, as well as good weight distribution.

 

[3Ts]

Another thing you have to be concerned about is tongue weight. It needs to be between 10% and 15% of the weight being towed. So if we're talking 2000# trailer and 9000# tractor total 11,000 pounds, you need between 1,100# and 1,650# which comes out of your payload numbers, you're not going to be putting anything in the bed when towing this. You are very close to exceeding the ratings of the truck.

By the way, less than 10% is not good, it leads to trailer sway and loss of control of the truck and trailer.

 

[Dougeye]

Youæ±*e already towing a big load with a marginal tow vehicle. You absolutely need trailer brakes.

I agree. I wince every time I see a half ton pulling a tandem axle horse trailer, a loaded car trailer, a full dump trailer, etc. They are enough for a tent trailer or a small boat, but not much else.