To Brake or not to Brake...

[jcmseven]

We are looking at a new small tractor for my dad, who would like to pull it behind his 2007 F150 pickup. My dad does not tow much but would like to pull his potential new tractor to and from his place in the NC mountains from his "regular" home. The distance is about 70 miles one way and does have some climbing going and descending coming back. Mostly two lanes that are not heavily traveled. No stop and go driving and he really would have no need to take the machine elsewhere. My dad owns a trailer, but most likely would need an upgrade to a slightly larger one (either a 14 or 16' to keep the load balanced) for either of the small tractors he is considering. My dad's truck does not have a TBC on it, and he really does not want one unless absolutely necessary. (I am for it, personally--but dad can be stubborn). I do realize that many factors exist to delineate when and why one needs trailer brakes, but from our 1/2 ton towers out there, what is the AVERAGE highest limit one could tow safely without the addition of trailer brakes and an aftermarket TBC on this size truck which is newist and is good working order (i.e., not a jalopy)??? For information, I have roughly calculated my dad's perspective load at either just north of or just south of 4000 pounds(trailer included) depending on the machine he chooses. That number might be generous, but I tried to calculate a little high if anything. Thanks for the help.

John M

 

[xlr82v2]

I don't know what NC regulations are, but I wouldn't be afraid to hook up 4000 lbs to an F150 without trailer brakes here where I live in the rolling hills of Illinois. Granted, I haven't seen what kind of hills you have over there, but if it's long, steep grades, I'd definitely go for trailer brakes... I don't think a trailer brake controller is that expensive.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

if he's upgrading trailers, why not getone with hydraulic (surge) brakes instead of electric? then he doesn't need a controller.

 

[john_bud]

Many states require brakes on trailers of 3000-3500# weight or more.

I have surge brakes one one trailer and they work quite well. Only complaint is the slam when the truck takes off and the trailer slides back. Most trailers will have electric brakes as they cost less to put on.
jb

 

[dqdave1]

Put the controller in the truck. Not very hard to do and trailer brakes are very useful when you need to "stop" or have an emergency (panic) stopping situation. 4000 lbs is more than the weight of the truck. For a liability standpoint, get trailer brakes. Get them on all trailer axles also. Once the controller is installed and adjusted, you will not even know it is there.

 

[Renze]

I have surge brakes one one trailer and they work quite well. Only complaint is the slam when the truck takes off and the trailer slides back.
jb

Then you might need to replace the gas strut in the coupler slider...

 

[Stimw]

Once you have towed a trailer with brakes you will never want to be with out them! And one panic stop will make them priceless!
I bought a Reese Controller at Wallymart for under $60. It needs 4 wires hooked up, ground, 12 volt, brake light switch and wire to trailer plug to activate brakes. The controller has a manual lever for using trailer brakes only. It has a setting for how much pressure you want applied when stepping on the brakes.(turn it up when loaded, down empty) It also has a how much delay setting before trailer brakes apply.
I have a 12' two axle trailer with brakes on one axle and it will slide the tires empty.
I prefer electric over surge. With electric I have more control and ajustment and no slop when taking off.

 

[Runner]

I have an F150 and have towed a 3,000 lb ski boat trailer with no brakes and a 5,000 lb cuddy cabin boat with surge brakes. The difference is dramatic and I feel much better with the brakes. In fact, there have been MANY occasions where I know I couldn't have even thought about stopping the smaller trailer in time if an emergency happened. Therefore whenever I'm towing the non-braked trailer, I'm ultra conservative on the stopping distance I allow.

In my opinion, I wouldn't go over 3,000 lbs without some kind of trailer brakes, and even 3,000 would feel much safer with brakes.

 

[Bird]

Many years ago, one of the federal "warrants", as they called them back then, was a recommendation that states have a law requiring brakes on any trailer that weighed more than 40% of the weight of the towing vehicle.

Some states have pretty simple statutes, I guess, and most (including myself) think brakes should work on all wheels, but in Texas:

ｧ 547.401. BRAKES[0] REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer[0], semitrailer, pole
trailer[0], or combination of those vehicles shall be equipped with
brakes[0] that comply with this chapter.
(b) A trailer[0], semitrailer, or pole trailer[0] is not required
to have brakes[0] 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, ｧ 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


ｧ 547.402. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF BRAKES[0].
(a) Required brakes[0] 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[0], semitrailer, or pole trailer[0] 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[0]
operate on both wheels of the rear axle.

So, if North Carolina is anything like Texas, he doesn't have to have brakes if he goes slow enough.

 

[brandoro]

My .02, I had a single axle trailer before without brakes. Scared myself a couple of times with that trailer even though it was within the limits legally. The trailer I have now has two axles, brakes on all four wheels. It is soo much nicer to pull with the double axles and keeps me in the comfort zone of knowing I can stop with unladen vehicles in traffic. The very first time I pulled that trailer with the tractor and roto tiller on it a guy walked right out in front of me, don't think he had turned his brain on yet that day. I am convinced that I would have hit him if I had been using the old trailer with no brakes. When I pounded the brake pedal and locked 8 wheels the rig stopped in a few feet, this was in the city and I was already slowing to turn the corner the guy stepped out from. Parked vehicles had prevented me from seeing him until he stepped in front of the truck. That one instance made the brakes worth having, every easy stop since then has been a bonus.