2 axles no brakes

[dpw-ct]

I am looking to buy a trailer for my 1996 cobalt 220 (22ft), Boat weight is 3,140.
I need to trail the boat just 2 miles 2x per year.


Couple of questions -

1. can I trail this with a double axle trailer without brakes or are brakes necessay

2. I have a subaru outback hitch with 2700 lb limit could I pull this safely out of the water and for 2 miles without damaging anything.



Thanks

Cobalt 220
Centerline . .21? 11?
Beam . . . . .8?5?
Weight . . . . .3140lbs
Deadrise . . .20?
Fuel Cap. . .55gal.
Draft* . . . . .17?
Freeboard . .34? fwd
Freeboard . .25? aft
Transom ht. .42?
Bridge cl. . . .54?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

I would bet all twin Axel trailers originally had brakes.

And you could pull it home with a Lawn Tractor if you were willing to go slow enough.

Can you do it? Probably!
Is it Recommended? Probably Not!
Are you going to do it anyway? Probably!

Go slowly, go when no one is looking, don't get caught, and don't screw up!

 

[dpw-ct]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

Thx

Used Calkins trailer seller asking 1,000 told me it never had brakes?
How would iI make sure it can fit my boat - (all the trailer vin and model numbers are faded away)

I would bet all twin Axel trailers originally had brakes.

And you could pull it home with a Lawn Tractor if you were willing to go slow enough.

Can you do it? Probably!
Is it Recommended? Probably Not!
Are you going to do it anyway? Probably!

Go slowly, go when no one is looking, don't get caught, and don't screw up!

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

A twin axle trailer will be rated for at least 4000 lbs.
All but 3 states require brakes on 4000 lbs loads.
Your little Subaru is going to require a long time to stop a 4000lb load.
Above 35 mph your brakes may overheat and fade before you get it stopped.

Offer to pay someone with a real truck to pull it for you.

 

[1947dodge]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

Yes thats a lot of weight for that car but only going 2 miles but like Uncle Willie said go slow...

 

[tpenfield]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

Find out what is required by your state laws, and what your vehicle is rated to tow, etc., and go about it that way.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

I am looking to buy a trailer for my 1996 cobalt 220 (22ft), Boat weight is 3,140.
I need to trail the boat just 2 miles 2x per year.


Couple of questions -

1. can I trail this with a double axle trailer without brakes or are brakes necessay

2. I have a subaru outback hitch with 2700 lb limit could I pull this safely out of the water and for 2 miles without damaging anything.



Thanks

Cobalt 220
Centerline . .21’ 11”
Beam . . . . .8’5”
Weight . . . . .3140lbs
Deadrise . . .20?
Fuel Cap. . .55gal.
Draft* . . . . .17”
Freeboard . .34” fwd
Freeboard . .25” aft
Transom ht. .42”
Bridge cl. . . .54”

Boat is 3140#. add 1200# for the trailer and #1000 for fuel and gear. that is 5340#. your towing capacity is 2700# with trailer brakes (1000# without trailer brakes). your over capacity PERIOD.

plus at the combined weight of 5340# you will need to add brakes.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

I wouldn't be as worried about the brakes as what is going to happen the the hitch and unibody when you try to pull 4400lbs + up the ramp (I think we can assume that hes not going to load it full of 1000lbs of fuel and gear to tow it to the lake once)

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

I would bet all twin Axel trailers originally had brakes.

Incorrect. Tandem axle trailers without brakes are fairly common.
Sadly, the dealer who sold me my boat sold me a tandem-axle trailer without brakes.
Brakes are required on trailers over 3,000 pounds in 33 states.
One of those states, is Minnesota, where i bought my 3,400 pound boat, and 880 pound trailer.
In other words, they sold me a rig that was ILLEGAL to tow down the road.
In addition, the trailer they sold me had axles rated at 2,000 pounds each.
So not only was the trailer illegal, it was unsafe, and way over its ratings.

I have replaced the wimpy axles with dual 3,500 pound axles with electric brakes. Cost me about $1,300.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

Incorrect. Tandem axle trailers without brakes are fairly common.
Sadly, the dealer who sold me my boat sold me a tandem-axle trailer without brakes.
Brakes are required on trailers over 3,000 pounds in 33 states...

Would you accept...

"I would bet all twin Axel trailers originally had brakes, or should have, and had them added shortly thereafter."

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

I think going 2 miles is safe..... you dont have to go over 20 mph if you are only going 2 miles!!!!

I think the biggest issue might be the ramp...it best be perfect!!! you cant be dealing with a trailer tire in a rut on the ramp!!

you have to look at your route and think about the places that might cause you trouble... all pavement? how many stops? how many hills?

no mud or sand, no sloping curves!!

i cant believe you dont have a friend with a truck...

it seems so easy huh????

of course it will be illegal.....

good luck

bob

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

I wouldn't be as worried about the brakes as what is going to happen the the hitch and unibody when you try to pull 4400lbs + up the ramp (I think we can assume that hes not going to load it full of 1000lbs of fuel and gear to tow it to the lake once)

He will likely get it up the ramp.
The 500 lbs of tongue weight will give the rear end plenty of bite if the rear suspension doesn't break and the front end stays on the ground.

 

[drrpm]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it. The hitch, brakes, unibody and transmission will all be overstressed. You'll either get away with it or have a catastrophic failure. How much are you willing to risk? How hard could it be to find a friend with a pick up or SUV to tow the boat 2 miles? I'd do it for just about anyone I didn't actively dislike.

 

[briangcc]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

Like the others said, your Subaru is not designed to pull that kind of load for ANY kind of distance. What happens if you need to do a panic stop during your 2 mile jaunt to the launch? Or if you need to suddenly accelerate to avoid a collision? Or swerve? You have to think of all the intangibles that could happen during your trip. And with that size boat, any sway and you're in for a heck of a ride.

Get the right vehicle to tow your boat. Heck, go to U-haul/Budget/etc and rent a vehicle for a day to tow with.

As for the trailer, with that size boat I'd be looking for something with brakes.

 

[smoedog]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

Am I reading all this right??? I thought people on here were supposed to be professional?

Why are there so many people telling this guy to go ahead and attempt to pull a 5000lb load up a ramp and to his house with a station wagon that is only rated at 2700lbs? Even if he could get the boat out of the water, by the time he got to the top of the ramp his clutch packs would be smoked, as well as his center diff because I would be willing to bet that all that weight on his hitch, going up a ramp, he is gonna get front wheel spin.

Now lets talk about braking. We have a car trying to stop DOUBLE its towing capacity with no trailer brakes...really, and you guys thank this is a good idea? My 05 Expedition with tow package can tow 8600lbs. I was a 24ft pontoon on a tandem axle trailer. When loaded down ready for the lake we are pushing 5000lbs, and while I can stop it without trailer brakes, I will be putting them on in the future.

This guy came here asking this because he wants to tow this, but probably thinks its a bad idea. So now you got guys on here telling him to go ahead... I'm glad you can't use advice from an internet forum as a defense in court lol

 

[spdracr39]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

You could probably give someone at the launch 50 bucks to pull it home for you. In the end it would be a better idea. Can you do it? Yes if you can get it out of the water (unlikely). Should you do it? Absolutely not.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

A twin axle trailer will be rated for at least 4000 lbs.
All but 3 states require brakes on 4000 lbs loads.
Your little Subaru is going to require a long time to stop a 4000lb load.
Above 35 mph your brakes may overheat and fade before you get it stopped.

Offer to pay someone with a real truck to pull it for you.

Depending on the state at least one axle if more then 3000lbs

www.roadkingtrailers.com/brakelaws.htm

EDIT:
If the op chooses to do this, would you be so kind as to take pictures of the launching fiasco that your going to be in when the brakes on your vehicle won't stop the load when backing down the ramp.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

EDIT:
If the op chooses to do this, would you be so kind as to take pictures of the launching fiasco that your going to be in when the brakes on your vehicle won't stop the load when backing down the ramp.

What he said.
You'll be on someone's video on the Internet and be paying to get the boat, trailer and car hauled out then have all those fixed for more than paying someone, or better yet buying an older vehicle that can tow your package, to do it for you.

Mark

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

ADVICE comes from all kinds of sources......some of it comes from " the sky is falling" prophets, some comes from 93 year old retied women, some comes from people that just made it happen and some comes from people that got burned.... The OP could always just sell the boat and never boat again...because EVERYONE knows a boat is a hole in the water where you throw extra money..and you might die in a boat as well.... its a fact, people die in boats every year!

I loaded my 1/2 ton F150 with 2000 lbs of top soil three times and drove 20 miles each time...

look at these people:

i doubt he does this every weekend

id load that boat up and drive it home if i didnt have any obstacles i previously mentioned on the way ( all 2 miles of it) ( a runner can travel that distance in less than 10 minutes!!!)

but I wouldnt say that the others have bad advice....

of course my professional thought is if you own a subaru, you probably arent the type of guy that should be trying this trick!!!! sorry...just being honest! ha ha

bob

 

[rschap1]

Re: 2 axles no brakes

IF...
If something goes haywire,
think of what your insurer will be doing.
Washing their hands to ever knowing you , your boat, your car, your trailer, and/or anyone or anything that you hurt or damage.
If you were to injure some innocent bystander due to your towing an unsafe set up ALL the liability would be on you.

I never used to think of such things but after seeing so many "freak" accidents happen while the limits were being pushed I am AWFULLY glad I was as lucky as I was. But I also realize that sooner or later luck runs out.

I don't wanna be on the wrong end of a lawsuit AND have a stupid mistake hurt somebody by my own being cheap.