Dual Axle trailers

[Duffster]

Is that 3K trailer weight empty or 3k gross with payload?

Typically it would mean GVWR

 

[George2615]

State laws vary.. NY does require brakes on all axles with a registration weight over 3,000lbs

Technically not correct. According to NYSDMV law form MV529C trailer requirements if the trailer is over 1000 lb. unladen or over 3000 lb. gross weight it must have brakes. It does not specify brakes must be on all axles. If it did there would be a lot of illegal trailers in NY.

My own trailer does have brakes on both axles but typically they come with brakes on one. I bought mine in PA but asked that it have brakes on both when I ordered it.

When I called NY DMV they would only confirm the above and not say brakes were required on both and referred me to the trailer requirement form I mentioned.

 

[slowzuki]

Brakes required on all axles here. Sure helps a lot in a panic stop.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Around here most 7K trailers only have brakes on the rear axle. I have 2 currently and both only have brakes on one axle. As mentioned before once of 10K they put them on all axles.

Chris

 

[wallace]

Is that 3K trailer weight empty or 3k gross with payload?

Registered weight.

 

[mjonesnh]

My 16' 7000 lb trailer has brakes on both axles. Having made two panic stops in the 4 years I have owned the trailer I am glad that I went with this option instead of just one axle.

 

[Skyco]

Ditto- personally I would not own a tandem trailer with brakes on only one axle.
I descend some pretty steep roads in the NC mountains, so beside the peace of mind, the single axle brake setup overheats much sooner too.....

 

[Reg]

Typically do dual axle trailers have brakes on both axles? I'm replacing the axles on a 16' landscape trailer. The existing axles didn't have brakes. I plan on getting 2 3500lb axles but not sure if they both need brakes.

Thanks

I wouldn't have a tandem axle trailer with brakes on only one axle.
I haven't shopped for one in a long time, but I doubt they are still made and may be illegal in some places.

Oh Ohh, this may start a flame war (-:
I believe (as in; it is largely faith based, so it guides my actions) that a properly loaded tandem axle trailer;
a) Has its center of gravity ahead of the front axle
b) Has slightly more of its load on the rear axle than the front
If these seem inconsistent with each other, consider that ball height is a factor in b above.
If you have ever locked up the brakes on a (properly loaded) 4 brake trailer you may have noticed that the front lock up sooner/easier than the rear.

Brakes on ONLY the front axle probably mean that you get less than 40% of the braking power you could/should get.
Lowering the ball to get more load on the braked axle... ??? is likely to lead to stability problems, e.g. a tendency to sway.

OK, so it is faith (& SOME experience) based.

One more thought; 2 axle brakes that allow you to stop 4ft short of a collision are a lot cheaper than 1 axle brakes that only allow you to stop 2ft INTO a collision.

IOW, this is NOT a good place to scrape a few bux of perceived "savings".

 

[Maxamillion]

If it was mine I would put brakes on both axles. I would also look at putting on heavier axles like 5000 pound ones. They should not be that much more in price but may have a six hole rim instead of a five. Just my two cents.

 

[lostcause]

here's the commercial vehicle information from the state of maine. if bored read section 7 - it's about brakes.

http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/commercial/CVPamphlet.pdf

basically is says brakes on all wheels of all axles of trailers. exceptions that would apply are trailers under 3000lb.

there is one other vague exception that might allow single braked axle trailers: any vehicle meeting the motor carrier safety regulations, accepted by the us dot does not need brakes on all axles. basically i take this to mean that the manufacturer may have aproval for certain models to be acceptable with only brakes on one axle, but you'd have to figure out exactly what specific ones this applies to.

though, even commercially built trailers i have seen always have both axles braked, but i can't say i've closely inspected every one out there.