Do I really need trailer brakes?

[N80]

For whoever said they can't tell the difference with the trailer brakes, I'm guessing your brake module is not set right. I can always tell. I can tell even more if I leave the module set for a loaded trailer and then pull it empty. The brakes will lock.

 

[Gary Fowler]

When I bought my 20 Foot car hauler trailer, I paid an extra $150 to have brakes installed on the second axle. It came with one axle brakes standard. I was surprised that the cost was so little. I guess the trailer market is so tight that the extra $150 would be a deal breaker for lots of folks who would not know better and go for the $150 savings. That is the same "savings" with spare tires that aren't included with many trailers. Who wants to pull a trailer or drive a vehicle without a spare tire?
The brakes on my trailer will stop everything with just light pressure on the pedal if I set the controller high. I usually set it so I feel the trailer tugging on the truck when normal brake pressure is applied.

 

[DFB]

For whoever said they can't tell the difference with the trailer brakes, I'm guessing your brake module is not set right. I can always tell. I can tell even more if I leave the module set for a loaded trailer and then pull it empty. The brakes will lock.

Even brakes on one axle makes a huge difference!
I always test my brakes when I hook up because I set them different when loaded or empty.
My Reese Controller has manual application lever, amount of braking pressure adjustment and slow-to fast application adjustment.
It really does feel a lot safer towing with the brakes.

Just what they said

I have done a lot of towing with several sized tractors over time in 4 New England states and definitely wouldn't tow a larger dual axle trailer without having activated trailer brakes even on the back roads never mind being in traffic. Its always the other guy right? You never know what who will carelessly pull right out in front of you or stop quick in the road to turn without signaling ahead.

For more than over 15 years I never had a second glance from traffic enforcement officers while towing but just this past Friday oddly enough while towing my empty trailer with my Durango, (VT reg on both) I was pulled over by a Massachusetts State Trooper who quickly looked over the trailer, came to window and wanted to know if I had a brake controller installed which I did of course. Once he was assured of that he bid me good day.

I was just called in to work to tow my boss's tractor from one farm to the other 15 miles apart later today. He has a Ford F450 dually dump that I put a combo pintle hitch on to use with my trailer. He has no electric brake controller installed. For the most part even with the JD 4720 loaded you don't even notice but I will definitely have to have a talk to him about that today.


I don't know how updated this link is but laws really do vary state to state.

Trailer Brakes - AAA Digest of Motor Laws

 

[buickanddeere]

How much will your wreck and the crippled or killed people cost vs a set of brakes ?
If you can afford a 2004 2500 Cummins diesels, a heavy 18" deckover trailer and L3200with loader and backhoe...................You and others who think like you can afford brakes.
This is almost as bad as those people who think saving money with all season tires or summer tires to drive on ice and snow is ok if they are careful.

 

[RandyT]

I suspect people that are towing heavier trailers without trailer brakes are towing with older rear antilock brake vehicles. Try putting that same no brake trailer behind one of the newer 4 wheel antilock vehicles, and see how it handles differently when approaching intersections with loose material.

Personal experience I had a 12 foot landscape trailer single axle no brakes that I towed behind a 96 Dakota, and worked fine, but could slide the truck tires on loose material, that truck was replaced with a 2011 Ram 1500 and was towing that trailer with two riders totaling around 2100 pounds, up to that same intersection, the truck hit that loose material, the antilocks kicked in and that small no brake trailer proceeded to push me all the way to the other side of the intersection.

Shortly after that incident that trailer was replaced with a 14 foot tandem axle with brakes on both axles. People don't realize how a light trailer can push a decent size vehicle around

 

[N80]

How much will your wreck and the crippled or killed people cost vs a set of brakes ?
If you can afford a 2004 2500 Cummins diesels, a heavy 18" deckover trailer and L3200with loader and backhoe...................You and others who think like you can afford brakes.
This is almost as bad as those people who think saving money with all season tires or summer tires to drive on ice and snow is ok if they are careful.

The OP is just asking. He's not defending the practice. Better to ask than not. I remember asking this same question a few years ago after getting some bad advice (elsewhere) and pulling without trailer brakes. I had no issues but I'll never do it again.

 

[Fallon]

I pulled my 3,500lbs 17' travel trailer home behind my 2009 Tacoma TRD Sport just fine. I could tell it had brake issues, but the Taco had no problems picking up the slack & I had acceptable stopping distance. Job number #1 when I got home was a brake job. At least 3 of the liners on the brake shoes fell out when I pulled the drums. I wouldn't ever leave knowing I had bad brakes on that trailer, but know I could make it home safely if they failed again.

Same Tacoma (6,500lbs tow rating) was very marginal stopping (among other things) my 16' tilting deck trailer with my L3200 on it (total 6,500lbs). Trailer had good brakes on it. After a tow or 2 like that (30 minutes on sliw back roads) I got my beater F250 farm truck for such work.

You can be underpowered & still tow safely If you are at all under braked, you are a rolling death trap that can't stop. NEVER SKIMP ON BRAKES!

 

[N80]

I have no real knowledge about this but I'm guessing the biggest issue is jack-knifing. In most trucks the brake bias is in the front so in hard braking the nose dives and the rear gets lighter. A trailer without brakes is going to push the truck and unless it is perfectly level and flat it is going to push either left or right and there won't be enough traction on the rear wheels to keep it all going straight. At that point you are just a passenger. So the chance of staying in the correct lane or even on the road are slim.

 

[RalphVa]

Depends on whether you want the ability to stop reasonably quick. We've towed Uhauls between Oklahoma and California a couple of times. Takes A LOT longer to stop with that trailer back there. One tow car was a 1957 Olds. It had lousy brakes without the trailer. Dad 180ed it once. Think I did it once.

Ralph

 

[Stimw]

My trailer and an awful lot I see for sale only have brakes on one axle. According to the the AAA link (Thanks Qapla) "GEORGIA Every trailer of 3,000 lbs. GVWR or more must be equipped with brakes on all wheels."

So my trailer is not legal? How hard is it to add brakes to that axle? Just replace the whole axle?

If the axle has the 4 bolt hole flange for the backing plate to bolt up to you can convert your axle.
If you don't have hubs with drums you will need them too.