Looking at buying this trailer --- No brakes

[Bob Ha]

It's a 20 ft two 7lb axle trailer. I haven looked at it yet but talked to the owner. She told me it didn't have brakes witch is hard to believe. I absolutely want pull a trailer this size without brakes especially if my 7,000lb tractor is on it. Assuming she痴 correct how much trouble is it to add brakes to the current axle(s). I noticed Northern tools have some 12" brake kits for around $300. It that something an average handy person can do or does the axles need replacing? I have a 2008 Silverado which I think has about a 8,000lb tow rating. Below are some pictures and the trailer is a little different but I'm going to use it for multiple purposes and will never put over 8,000 lbs pulled by my truck on the highway. Anyone seen a trailer like this or is it home made? I sure do want it but the brake issue is causing me to hesitate. Thanks, Bob

 

[windy acers]

IF the wheels are mobile home axels don't bother.they will carry the load but not easy to put brakes on.If it has a auto bolt pattern then mabe. Over all just to keep safe find a used factory made double axel with 4 brakes 6 lugs rated at 9999 lbs with a 2 5/16 hitch.

 

[Bikewanderer]

It's a 20 ft two 7lb axle trailer. I haven looked at it yet but talked to the owner. She told me it didn't have brakes witch is hard to believe. I absolutely want pull a trailer this size without brakes especially if my 7,000lb tractor is on it. Assuming she痴 correct how much trouble is it to add brakes to the current axle(s). I noticed Northern tools have some 12" brake kits for around $300. It that something an average handy person can do or does the axles need replacing? I have a 2008 Silverado which I think has about a 8,000lb tow rating. Below are some pictures and the trailer is a little different but I'm going to use it for multiple purposes and will never put over 8,000 lbs pulled by my truck on the highway. Anyone seen a trailer like this or is it home made? I sure do want it but the brake issue is causing me to hesitate. Thanks, Bob

I've got a trailer with mobile home axles and it's a nightmare. Don't buy it unless you plan on converting. I'd make sure you're getting a deal with those axles - the tube can be saved and new backing plates and wheel hubs installed on your spindle with conventional stuff. It'll cost a grand to do it.

 

[BruceWard]

Strange looking trailer.

I would need to understand what materials the frame is constructed from to make any recommendations. It looks like the sides may be large pieces of angle iron with C channel or I beams underneath a metal floor. I wonder if there are additional frame members that run the length of the trailer. If the frame does not have additional members running the length of the frame then it may not be capable supporting your 7K tractor.

This trailer certainly weighs more than 2K pounds, possibly 3K or more. The weight of the trailer combined with your 7K tractor certainly exceeds the 8K tow capacity of your truck.

I can not tell if it has mobile home axles from the picture. MH axles typically are rated for 6K although some are rated for 7K. If they are MH axles the cheapest, easiest way of getting brakes would be to buy two mobile home axles with brakes. Cut the MH axles and weld them at the correct length. Swap the new mh axles for the old then wire it up. I have done this in about half a day with a retired welder helping.

MH axles in my area cost around $75 each for axles with brakes, tires with rims are $25. I picked up two almost new tires for my trailer on friday. They were Duro tires and said they were for tailer or mobile home use.

 

[blueriver]

I don't know about your State ... here mobile home axles are illegal on the road.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Like others have said the MH axles are one thing and if they do not have backing plate mounts you are in a can of worms. I would say even if it has everything needed to add brakes its going to weight about 3,000# to 3,500# empty. Way too much for your 1/2 ton GM with the tractor in tow. No trailer is going to allow you to put a 7,000# tractor on a trailer and keep it in your tow rating.

Chris

 

[BruceWard]

I don't know about your State ... here mobile home axles are illegal on the road.

Can you provide any documentation that mobile home axles are illegal in Oklahoma? I have heard similar claims about other states but never seen any documentation.

 

[lostcause]

I don't know about your State ... here mobile home axles are illegal on the road.

a little over 10 years ago i ran into the same thing. i got three mobile home axles and six good tires out from under a double wide for the total of $100. i had to crawl under and get it all unhooked and out without doing any damage to the landscaping and such, but it was well worth the effort.

anyways, i went to a well-known local trailer dealer to buy a shackle and equalizer kit, and the guy asked me what i was using for axles. when i told him i had mobile home axles he got all huffy and told me they were illegal and that i needed to use commercial ones like he had there for about $1000 (4 tires, 2 axles). he further pointed out two trailers in his yard that he said had been pulled from the road by the police in because they had been cited as unsafe for the axles. both trailers looked like they had been through a twister, underbuilt, misused and abused, and one didn't even have fenders. needless to say, i wasn't buying anything that day.

the next day i went to the state police commercial vehicle enforcement office to get the story straightened out. the police told me that anything is legal for use on the road unless it specifically says: "not for highway use". even the tires for mobile homes that say "for mobile home use only" are perfectly legal to use because they are intended for highway use.

granted, every state has different laws, and they change from year to year, but i suspect that they are fairly similar in your state too. i hate to make any assumptions, but i'm thinking that the trailer dealer may have stretched it a little when telling me those traielrs were taken off the road because of axles. possibly for the bald tires, twisted frame, cracked welds, lack of fenders, and broken lights. many people get a little antsy about legality and safety, but i'd get it straight from the people who enforce the laws before i believe it - maybe you did, and i'm wrong, but i'd be surprised to find they are illegal.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Around here they are not allowed. Not sure if you could beat it or not in a court but every MH axle I have ever seen clearly state "MH use only" and then something like "limited use only". That is the nail in the coffin for our law men.

Chris

 

[BruceWard]

The original mobile home axles and the newer ones installed last year on my trailer do not say anything about their intended use. The bearings are replaceable. The wheels center and torque fine. I often tow heavy loads at 65 and empty it works just fine at 80. The brakes work great. The easiest and cheapest way to repair the brakes is to go get two newer axles, cut and install.

I cannot find any reason to spend $1k or more to replace perfectly good axles and start paying more for tires.