trailer without brakes - max weight

[donn12]

It looks like 3000 GVW and above is where most companies install brakes on their trailers. I am thinking about a 6x14 single axle without brakes for ATV UTV etc transport. This would be below the 3000 lb threshold but how comfortable are you towing 2500 without brakes? is there a max weight without brakes you are ok with occasionally? thinking of a Gladiator or full size Ram tow vehicle. I could see a 20 or 40 mile trip for repairs with a total weight of 2500 or less. I could also see a 3 mile trip on my back road to moms house fully loaded once or twice in the next few years.

 

[RustyA]

Ordered a Hillsboro 78x12 ATV/utility trailer. 2990 gvwr single axle. Not a concern with no brakes with 3000lb behind our trucks. If the tow vehicle weighed 3500 lb I would consider brakes more important.

 

[OzKioti]

FWIW Most states in Australia impose a GTM limit (Gross Trailer Mass) for unbraked single-axle trailers of 750kg = 1653 lbs.

 

[Beeenvenue]

Texas is 3000 before brakes are required.

I’ve hauled my old boat at 2500 all over the place without trailer brakes on an old f150. But I put the brake controller on when I topped out at 6800 lbs for trailer+tractor when I got my 3510

 

[MechanicalGuy]

It really depends on how heavy your Tow vehicle is, if I'm towing something like that with a 2500 truck I'd feel pretty confident, but if I'm towing a 3000 pound boat with my sedan, I'm going to want trailer brakes.

But if you're gonna make it a habit, brakes are the way to go. I towed my 3200lb boat with my sedan for several years and then I finally bought a kodiak brake kit for it.

 

[Root Cause]

single axle, 3500 max weight- no brakes required
dual axle or more- brakes on trailer required.
What is pulling it is not a part of the equation for DOT regulations.

 

[nikerret]

From a physical safety standpoint, I prefer all trailers to have brakes.

 

[RandyT]

Personal experience. Towing 6x12 single axle no brakes behind new at the time 2011 Ram 1500 loaded with three riding mowers. Two turned sideways and one facing front to back. Coming up to intersection with 4 way stop and intersection is known for loose pea type gravel so was proceeding slowing toward stop sign(10-15 mph). Truck hit loose material and 4 wheel antilock decided I was slipping the tires and let go. When the vehicle stopped I was driver window to driver window to the car on the other side of the intersection. Trailer got upgraded to 7x14 tandem axle with brakes on both axles like the following week.

 

[Root Cause]

FYI, your example exceeds the limits of the trailer you have described.

Factor 100 lbs for every foot of trailer length. Your example = 1400 lbs
Toys= 2500 lbs
Total - 3900 lbs

That is 400 lbs over the axle max limit of 3500 lbs.

 

[3Ts]

Different states have different requirements. Idaho is 1500#, some states don't specify a weight but do specify a stopping distance.

State brake requirements

 

[nyone]

A 6x14ft trailer prob weights in about 1,200lbs and will prob hold 3 500-600lb quads. Your really looking at more like 2,700lb for trailer weight alone. Then you have to factor in the fact that in the truck you will most likely have 3 people and 3 peoples worth of gear. I think your asking far to much out of the vehicle brake system..just to save $300-400 on a trailer with brakes. Most full sized trucks come with brake controllers now.

I have a 6x12ft that I put a 3,500lb axle under with 15in wheels and electric brakes. It's a joy to tow even over my 18ft car trailer with dual brakes.

 

[Jstpssng]

State law here is anything over #3000 needs brakes on all axles, regardless of tow vehicle.
My Colorado manual says any trailer over 2000 pounds needs brakes.

 

[RandyT]

FYI, your example exceeds the limits of the trailer you have described.

Factor 100 lbs for every foot of trailer length. Your example = 1400 lbs
Toys= 2500 lbs
Total - 3900 lbs

That is 400 lbs over the axle max limit of 3500 lbs.

I am assuming that you are talking about my riding mower trailer in the post prior to yours. In my case the trailer was a 6x12 single GVWR 2990 with a cargo rating of 2090 so the trailer according to the sticker on the trailer was 900 lbs. The three riding mowers at most weighed 1600 lbs. So I am at 2500 lbs which is 490 below the trailer cargo rating and 1000 lbs under axle rating since it had a 3500 lbs axle.

My current mower trailer is a 7x14 tandem axle cargo weight of 5300 lbs and the trailer according to the sticker is 1700 lbs.

 

[PILOON]

I am to believe that 1000 lbs is our maximum without brakes here in Quebec and that there is no axel specs.
Mine is 5 ft X 10 ft and dual axels but no brakes and it is plated.

One friend tried to plate a used trailer buy recently and they demanded a certified weight.
Kind of silly to weigh a 4 x 8 single axel when plates are at a fixed lifetime rate.

In my area there exist a great many DIY small single axel trailers.
Folks simply need them to haul yard trash and stuff to the recycle depot as cities are more and more limiting what they will pick up at the curb.
For a while they collected bagged leaves in the fall but it now is up to the owner to haul them to the recycle center.
Same for electronics as they claim the stores will pick your old when you buy new. OK that's nice
but what if you simply wish to trash that old beer fridge and not replace with new.
Or being in cottage country few buy new fridges but rather bring their older city one to the cottage.
Yep, lot's of trailers around.

 

[sandman2234]

Seriously, what is the value you put on the occupants of your tow vehicle? Brakes on trailers to offset the additional weight become invaluable during an emergency situation. Remember, you are dealing with the motoring public, and they have been known to do things that make me glad i bought trailer brakes!
The trailer brakes aren't there for you, as you will learn to stop with what you have, they are there to protect you and your family from the rest of the world!
David from jax

 

[MechanicalGuy]

I am assuming that you are talking about my riding mower trailer in the post prior to yours. In my case the trailer was a 6x12 single GVWR 2990 with a cargo rating of 2090 so the trailer according to the sticker on the trailer was 900 lbs. The three riding mowers at most weighed 1600 lbs. So I am at 2500 lbs which is 490 below the trailer cargo rating and 1000 lbs under axle rating since it had a 3500 lbs axle.

My current mower trailer is a 7x14 tandem axle cargo weight of 5300 lbs and the trailer according to the sticker is 1700 lbs.

I think he was talking to the op. Toys was referring to the utv.

 

[Jstpssng]

I am to believe that 1000 lbs is our maximum without brakes here in Quebec and that there is no axel specs.
Mine is 5 ft X 10 ft and dual axels but no brakes and it is plated.

One friend tried to plate a used trailer buy recently and they demanded a certified weight.
Kind of silly to weigh a 4 x 8 single axel when plates are at a fixed lifetime rate.

In my area there exist a great many DIY small single axel trailers.
Folks simply need them to haul yard trash and stuff to the recycle depot as cities are more and more limiting what they will pick up at the curb.
For a while they collected bagged leaves in the fall but it now is up to the owner to haul them to the recycle center.
Same for electronics as they claim the stores will pick your old when you buy new. OK that's nice
but what if you simply wish to trash that old beer fridge and not replace with new.
Or being in cottage country few buy new fridges but rather bring their older city one to the cottage.
Yep, lot's of trailers around.

Many towns now charge to get rid of white goods, furniture and tires. Some even require you to buy bags for household waste disposal.
That cuts into people's beer money though, so rather than paying they just take their trash out and dump it on the side of the road.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Agree with everyone about the value of brakes. Just want to be sure we don't lose sight of the fact that lots of trailers, especially boat trailers and smaller enclosed trailers, have SURGE brakes. The ones on a couple boat trailers I've owned in the past worked great too. Ever see someone trying to back a trailer uphill and its brakes lock up? Surge brakes.

Just wanted to mention that there are lots of trailers with brakes that don't require a brake controller and electric input to help manage the slow-down. Surge brakes are a viable option and common on lighter trailer couplers. Easy to think there's no brake system when there is . . .

 

[MechanicalGuy]

Agree with everyone about the value of brakes. Just want to be sure we don't lose sight of the fact that lots of trailers, especially boat trailers and smaller enclosed trailers, have SURGE brakes. The ones on a couple boat trailers I've owned in the past worked great too. Ever see someone trying to back a trailer uphill and its brakes lock up? Surge brakes.

Just wanted to mention that there are lots of trailers with brakes that don't require a brake controller and electric input to help manage the slow-down. Surge brakes are a viable option and common on lighter trailer couplers. Easy to think there's no brake system when there is . . .

I love my surge brakes on my boat trailer. True hydraulic reservoir and hydraulic lines...most trailers have electric brakes that are not as good.

Mine have a reverse lockout and a mechanical stop if needed.

 

[donn12]

FYI, your example exceeds the limits of the trailer you have described.

Factor 100 lbs for every foot of trailer length. Your example = 1400 lbs
Toys= 2500 lbs
Total - 3900 lbs

That is 400 lbs over the axle max limit of 3500 lbs.

The 2500 is a total estimate including the trailer. I ordered a Polaris Ranger 570 and i figure that at 1200 - dry weight is listed at 1070