Thanks guys. Nice to here from those who have experience. I figured that one would get the job done, but ... Actually I was under the impression that brakes were required on all axles here. Guess I was wrong. Seems that one for so much weight is all that is required. Made some more calls today. I'll go with brakes on both.
One brake axle OK??
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Bird
Rest in Peace
My parents used to have a 21' travel trailer with brakes on only one axle. Like the other guys said, it's better than nothing, but having brakes on all axles is preferable. And of course, there are probably state laws in all states specifying what is required in the way of brakes. I don't know what is required in other states, but in Texas . .
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( § 547.401. BRAKES REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or combination of those vehicles shall be equipped with
brakes that comply with this chapter.
(b) A trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is not required
to have brakes if:
(1) its gross weight is 4,500 pounds or less; or
(2) its gross weight is heavier than 4,500 pounds but
not heavier than 15,000 pounds, and it is drawn at a speed of not
more than 30 miles per hour.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
§ 547.402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
BRAKES. (a) Required brakes shall operate on each wheel of a
vehicle except:
(1) special mobile equipment;
(2) a vehicle that is towed as a commodity when at
least one set of the towed vehicle's wheels is on the roadway, if
the combination of vehicles complies with the performance
requirements of this chapter; and
(3) a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer with a
gross weight heavier than 4,500 pounds but not heavier than 15,000
pounds drawn at a speed of more than 30 miles per hour, if the brakes
operate on both wheels of the rear axle.
(b) A truck or truck-tractor that has at least three axles
is not required to have brakes on the front wheels, but must have
brakes that:
(1) operate on the wheels of one steerable axle if the
vehicle is equipped with at least two steerable axles; and
(2) comply with the performance requirements of this
chapter.
(c) A trailer or semitrailer that has a gross weight of
15,000 pounds or less may use surge or inertia brake systems to
satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a).
(d) Brakes shall be maintained in good working order and
adjusted to operate on wheels on each side of the vehicle as equally
as practicable.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
)</font>
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( § 547.401. BRAKES REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or combination of those vehicles shall be equipped with
brakes that comply with this chapter.
(b) A trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is not required
to have brakes if:
(1) its gross weight is 4,500 pounds or less; or
(2) its gross weight is heavier than 4,500 pounds but
not heavier than 15,000 pounds, and it is drawn at a speed of not
more than 30 miles per hour.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
§ 547.402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
BRAKES. (a) Required brakes shall operate on each wheel of a
vehicle except:
(1) special mobile equipment;
(2) a vehicle that is towed as a commodity when at
least one set of the towed vehicle's wheels is on the roadway, if
the combination of vehicles complies with the performance
requirements of this chapter; and
(3) a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer with a
gross weight heavier than 4,500 pounds but not heavier than 15,000
pounds drawn at a speed of more than 30 miles per hour, if the brakes
operate on both wheels of the rear axle.
(b) A truck or truck-tractor that has at least three axles
is not required to have brakes on the front wheels, but must have
brakes that:
(1) operate on the wheels of one steerable axle if the
vehicle is equipped with at least two steerable axles; and
(2) comply with the performance requirements of this
chapter.
(c) A trailer or semitrailer that has a gross weight of
15,000 pounds or less may use surge or inertia brake systems to
satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a).
(d) Brakes shall be maintained in good working order and
adjusted to operate on wheels on each side of the vehicle as equally
as practicable.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
)</font>
wushaw
Elite Member
My 16' tandem pipe trailer only has brakes on the rear axle and worked just fine with my previous tow vehicles.
As far as I know in the state of GA if you pull a dual axle trailer on the interstate you must have brakes on both axles...its called being DOT approved.
A local plumbing company had bought a trailer from us years ago that had brakes on only one axle, they trail their TLB package with it. Anyway, they got stopped twice within one week and both times received tickets...needless to say they have a new trailer now!
A local plumbing company had bought a trailer from us years ago that had brakes on only one axle, they trail their TLB package with it. Anyway, they got stopped twice within one week and both times received tickets...needless to say they have a new trailer now!
Joe1
Platinum Member
Smart move. Better safe than sorry.
Interesting. I see that for Georgia it says brakes on all wheels if over 3000 lbs. So, since the trailer probably weighs in at 2000 lbs, then they are legal. I asked if single axle brakes were legal with DOT, and I was told yes. One would think that a manufacturer would have to be in compliance with DOT. Surely they are checking... I hope.
Anyway, I had never even considered a single. However, I've now had two different dealers make an offer on such a unit. Therefore, I'm going to crawl under and do an inspection myself before I take delivery. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Anyway, I had never even considered a single. However, I've now had two different dealers make an offer on such a unit. Therefore, I'm going to crawl under and do an inspection myself before I take delivery. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Soundguy
Old Timer
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My 16' wood deck car hauler is tandem with 1 brake axle.. works fine. i've had it loaded to the hilt before and have those brakes save my bacon when some (lady) putting on makeup came into my lane.. course.. it didn't help my shorts any.. nor the chunk missing out of my seat when my cheaps clamped down /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif to brace for impact...
Soundguy
Soundguy
Whatever dealer told you that a dual axle trailer intended to tow a tractor could be equiped with single axle brakes should be fined by the DOT!! The statutation on that link read...
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Independent braking system required with a *GW of 3,000lbs.or more Every trailer over 3,000lbs. **GVWR must be equipped with brakes on all wheels. )</font>
The way I understand it is that GVWR on the trailer is measured by the axle ratings and how much they are rated to tow. Most trailers have two 3000lbs axles. Therefore the GVWR would be somewhere around 6000 pounds and therefore would have to have brakes on both axles. I could be wrong about this, but this is the way I understand the law and the way we have had Georgia State Patrol read us the law!
Either way though I agree, when pulling it would be beneficial to have dual brakes and a breakaway box.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Independent braking system required with a *GW of 3,000lbs.or more Every trailer over 3,000lbs. **GVWR must be equipped with brakes on all wheels. )</font>
The way I understand it is that GVWR on the trailer is measured by the axle ratings and how much they are rated to tow. Most trailers have two 3000lbs axles. Therefore the GVWR would be somewhere around 6000 pounds and therefore would have to have brakes on both axles. I could be wrong about this, but this is the way I understand the law and the way we have had Georgia State Patrol read us the law!
Either way though I agree, when pulling it would be beneficial to have dual brakes and a breakaway box.
SnowRidge
Elite Member
It costs roughly $300 retail in parts to equip a trailer axle with brakes. It costs a lot less if the trailer manufacturer buys brake equipped axles in the first place. Since the cost isn't that high, and single brake tandems are not 50 states legal, which potentially leaves a customer open to citations, it tells me that someone building them that way is doing it on the cheap. I don't want a trailer built on the cheap. There is no telling where else they cut corners.
