Buying new truck - Do we need trailer brakes?

[Garandman]

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

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.

 

[Ortimber]

Not really a question in my mind. You definitely need trailer brakes for that kind of load.

 

[4570Man]

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.

They said the trailer and load was 9,000 pounds. And surge brakes counts as having brakes. The only trailers I’ve ever seen with them are boat trailers and u haul trailers. Most equipment trailers don’t have them.

 

[Deere 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.

$295 is a good deal as it will be engineered built in. Skimp on the radio but not the brakes. Besides it make a pull much more relaxing knowing you have good brakes.

 

[paulfun9]

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.

I would say you calculations are not taking into account, loader, fuel, any attachment or added ballast like filled tires, no chains or binders and personally I wouldn’t tow a tractor of that size with a cheep 1200 lbs trailer. My trailer is well ver 2k and having used those cheep trailers in the past I quickly learned the are not worth my time or money. Basically a light wieght landscape trailer with better axels is still only qualified to carry my light wieght mower and won’t ever see my tractor.

You realize there is a reason we don’t see surge brakes as the hot ticket for new trailer sales! I would laugh the sales man right back into his office and anyone who has towed for any reasonable amount of time with them and then tried a trailer with decent brakes and a good controller who is being honest with themselves would agree it’s a much better set up and is safer.

I have some old trailers and the one thing they all have in common is they no longer have surge brakes. All of them even the ones we sold got upgraded as soon as things became affordable. By the way the last time I towed with surge brakes was in the 80’s and people tell me I’m stuck on the old ways?

 

[mrmikey]

I used a Tekonsha P3

That's what I put on my Frontier for hauling my water trailer. Easy to set up and you can set it for multiple trailers, easy to disable when backing up. It's only 3,000lb and I was hauling it without brakes but didn't feel comfortable. I added brakes to my torqflex axles and added the controller. As someone said, plug and play, most difficult part was drilling a hole in the bumper for the receptacle................Mike

 

[RandyT]

Personal story, I have a 2011 Ram 1500 with the brake controller, but at the time owned a 12 foot single axle landscape trailer without brakes. I had three riding mowers loaded on the trailer, which is about a 1800 pound load plus the 900 pound trailer. Was coming up to 4 way stop and the intersection in the country has loose gravel and while approaching the intersection at less than 20 miles per hour the truck hit the loose gravel, and anti lock brakes kicked in and I got stopped finally on the other side of the intersection from the truck brakes thinking they were locking up and the loaded trailer with no brakes pushing me through the intersection. Total stopping distance probably over 100 feet from 20 mph. I towed that same trailer with a 96 Dakota from 2002 to 2011 and never had an issue. The difference was the Dakota had rear anti lock only, and the new 2011 was 4 wheel anti lock brakes.

Shortly afterwards the trailer got sold and I purchased a 14 foot tandem axle with brakes on both axles.

 

[RandyT]

Correct. Most but not all states require brakes on all axles for trailers over 3k lbs. A few only require it on one axle (which is kind of stupid IMHO). It's not only the law it's a matter of safety & not cooking the brakes on your truck.

My Tacoma was marginal stopping a 6.5k lbs trailer with a controller & brakes on both axles. Not to mention generally being marginally all around towing at its 6.5k limit (which prompted a beater F250). Don't skimp on being able to stop & prevent a crash.

You need a brake controller to make those brakes work (ignoring the much less common surge brakes). Inertia based controllers are very good & reasonably priced. I used a Tekonsha P3 on my Tacoma & F250. Most trucks are pre-wired for brake controllers these days so it's not a hard install. Most newish 3/4 & heavier trucks like my 2014 F350 have an integrated controller (which is equal or superior to any aftermarket ones).

My state requires at least one brake axle for 3001-5000# license plates and all axles from 5001+. but the problem is they will license a 7000# tandem axle utility trailer without brakes with 3000# plates.

 

[crazyal]

I would rethink your whole plan. First get a vehicle rated to tow more than your intended load. If you say 9,000 lbs then I would want a model that states 10,000 lbs. As others have said you don't need the factory brake controller option but I would find out what else is included. Usually it'll be a part of something like a "tow package" that will include things like a transmission cooler. Your plans on towing a short distance might make it tempting to skimp but if things go wrong you could be facing people getting injured and an expensive lawsuit (that your insurer may not cover).

Here's my story when it comes to Dodge (they may make better parts now, I don't know). I had a 94 1500 with the 318 in it. I was towing a small trailer withe 3 dirt bikes on it. If it weighed 2000 lbs I would be surprised. It was about 50 miles of mostly interstate driving at 60ish mph. When we got home the back of the truck and everything on the trailer was covered in oil. Where I parked there was fluid leaking out of the front of thee tranny. It was still under warranty and they replaced it and the torque converter but warned me that they wouldn't cover it again. Needless to say I traded that truck in and have never bought another Dodge. My point is not to bash Dodge but that it's not just stopping. I can assure you that replacing the transmission in a new truck will cost you well over $2k.

 

[two_bit_score]

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.

Better yet step up to at least a 2500 w/ towing package.