Thank you for the feedback. I understand how important brakes are especially when you get to a certain point of weight being towed. What I’m really trying to figure out is what is that total weight amount If it was behind a Jeep Gladiator or Dodge Ram 1500? The trailers are in completely different weight classes and price points. with availability issues it could be 3500 plus for tandem with brakes and 1500 for small single. Yes i understand 2990 total. for ATV UTV this will be transport to and from dealer for warranty repair if needed. Other than that maybe some very light weight runs to goodwill etc. So I concede that brakes are better at a certain point. The question is what is the limit for you without them?
I think a lot of it has to do with your driving style and which vehicle you are pulling it with. I have a friend who is a very aggressive driver, tends to push things to the limit. However, adding trailer brakes to a trailer he is towing, simply adds to his ability to get a little closer to the car in front before backing off. Pulling a trailer without brakes isn't something I haven't done, because I have, many times. However, what really matters is your driving awareness when doing it. Behind those two vehicles, I would think I would start worrying at around 2000 pounds behind my half ton Chevy.
Many years ago, I lost the air compressor on a tractor trailer. I was pulling a load of Mail, plus I had appointments the next morning, and was 65 miles from home. I got another driver to charge up my air tanks and I drove the 65 miles, several traffic lights, and turns to the terminal where it could be repaired. I knew that if I touched the brakes, it would stop, however, I also knew that I only had 1 or MAYBE 2 at the most chances of stopping before the brakes locked down and the whole rig was planted where I was at. I never touched the brakes, simply downshifted and coasted up to every intersection where I might have to stop. It took a lot longer to get back than it should have, but made me realize that we depend on brakes a lot! If you drove like you didn't have any brakes at all, then driving without trailer brakes wouldn't matter as much.
I think the driver is more of a consideration than the weight, but in most cases, the weight is all we can control, because very few of us see flaws in our own driving. ME INCLUDED!!
David from jax