Should I install trailer brakes

[plztellme]

I have a 16' fiberglass boat with a 50 H.P. O.B. I travel about 10 miles to a state launch by traveling a secondary road at 50 M.P.H. My tow vehicle is a 2012 Chevy Impala and have no problems with towing, launching or retrieving. My question is: In case of a panic stop, would the the tow vehicle brakes be adequate. Or should I install electric brakes on the trailer to help in stopping in an emergency situation. You guys are so helpful and I value your opinions (good or bad) greatly. Thanks

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

How much would you guess the boat and trailer weigh together? I would bet you're right on the edge between needing them and not. In Illinois, I think you have to have brakes if the combined weight is over 3000 lbs. This page reports similar info for other states:

http://www.roadkingtrailers.com/brakelaws.htm

 

[plztellme]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

I would estimate that with a full tank of gas and the usual fishing gear is maybe 2,000 lbs????????

 

[SWD]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

You should get it weighed and then see what your state requires.

 

[plztellme]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Where would be a place located for weighing?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

A recycling center or scrap yard would have a scale. Probably a small charge.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Your question about would it be enough cannot be answered.... If grandma trips and falls 200 feet in front of you and your stopping distance is 190 feet then yeah the brakes are ok but if she falls 150 feet in front of you then you would absolutely need trailer brakes.....

soooooo you MAY not be required to have them and you MAY or MAY NOT need them depending on how lucky you (and grandma) are....

My suggestion... if you can afford to put brakes on the trailer then yes, of course, add them...

 

[Travis91]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

if your going 10 miles on a back road i think id just take it easy, keep my distance from other drivers, and save up for a truck of some sort to pull it with..

 

[oldandintheway]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

No.
Just don't let the trailer pass you.

 

[shag766]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

"Or should I install electric brakes on the trailer"
i don't like the idea of electric brakes on a boat trailer as they get submerged in water. as for whether you need them or not, you should have them. your weight ratio for the weight of the car and the weight of the boat is probably 50-50. if you had to stop quick the 3000lb boat is pushing a 3000lb car around instead of helping it slow down. the brakes on the car are made to stop the 3000lb's not a 6000lb total.
if the car was a much bigger vehicle, maybe for the 10 miles. keep an eye out for another used trailer with surge brakes and sell the one you have. they are out there. tip: if you do put elec on it, pull the plug before unloading and re-loading. there wont be hydro under water that will eventually screw up.
-
old truck driver just chirppin

 

[Travis91]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Surge brakes are a joke on a boat trailer.. They give no help on a ramp, or towing in hilly areas. Electric brakes are not a problem being submerged if the electrical connections are sealed properly.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

"Or should I install electric brakes on the trailer"
i don't like the idea of electric brakes on a boat trailer as they get submerged in water. as for whether you need them or not, you should have them. your weight ratio for the weight of the car and the weight of the boat is probably 50-50. if you had to stop quick the 3000lb boat is pushing a 3000lb car around instead of helping it slow down. the brakes on the car are made to stop the 3000lb's not a 6000lb total.
if the car was a much bigger vehicle, maybe for the 10 miles. keep an eye out for another used trailer with surge brakes and sell the one you have. they are out there. tip: if you do put elec on it, pull the plug before unloading and re-loading. there wont be hydro under water that will eventually screw up.
-
old truck driver just chirppin

Do you need them? probably not. Will they help? YES

Why does everyone think they should unplug their lights and brakes before launching their boat?
Makes no sense. Do you disconnect the brakes and brake lights before driving through a puddle or in a rain storm?


You can add a nice set of electrics for between $350 and $500, depending on your trailer, and the system you buy.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Your question about would it be enough cannot be answered.... If grandma trips and falls 200 feet in front of you and your stopping distance is 190 feet then yeah the brakes are ok but if she falls 150 feet in front of you then you would absolutely need trailer brakes.....

soooooo you MAY not be required to have them and you MAY or MAY NOT need them depending on how lucky you (and grandma) are....

My suggestion... if you can afford to put brakes on the trailer then yes, of course, add them...

+1^^^ I heard recently on the radio that a "grandma got run over by a reindeer" and I have to believe that animal can stop faster than your Impala.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Do you need them? probably not. Will they help? YES

Why does everyone think they should unplug their lights and brakes before launching their boat?
Makes no sense. Do you disconnect the brakes and brake lights before driving through a puddle or in a rain storm?


You can add a nice set of electrics for between $350 and $500, depending on your trailer, and the system you buy.

A really good point! After I installed electric brakes, I went through the unplugging/plugging routine every time I launched. Totally unnecessary. Now I just dunk it, drop the boat, and pull it out. There's enough stuff to do when launching; no need to add extra steps that don't accomplish anything.

Jim

 

[shag766]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Surge brakes are a joke on a boat trailer.. They give no help on a ramp, or towing in hilly areas. Electric brakes are not a problem being submerged if the electrical connections are sealed properly.

you know what travis91 you are probably right about todays electric's. i should of probably maybe put my brain in gear before i engaged my mouth. i have trailers with both but the 2 boat trailers are surge. i keep them maintained and set, ie; tongues sliders well lubed and weight distribution pretty good. i am just old school i guess. me thinking would be if you need trailer brakes on a ramp the boat is to big for what you are pulling it with. and as for the hilly areas i go back to maintenance. sorry to chirp when i guess i don't know. just an older driver with a couple of million miles behind him. again sorry for hitting that nerve. rick

jeez friendly place here ain't it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

jeez friendly place here ain't it.

Don't let one nub's tongue lashing sour you on this group...A more helpful bunch you won't find and he'll likely calm down in a few months. lol

He's right about electric brakes being fine in water but wrong about surge brakes not working in hills..... tho surge brakes and engine braking don't go well together...

I put electric brakes on my 30'er and LOVE that I can use em to hold the truck on the ramp when I push in the clutch to start the engine.... 10,000 lbs of boat and 9,500 lbs of truck is a bit much for the parking brake alone

I'm old trucker trash myself and when I did a 6 speed manual swap on my powerstroke auto truck I used the column shifter and cable to make a trailer brake lever for my electric brake controller..... even added a "not for parking" knob on the end of the lever.

 

[plztellme]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Good one Taz:laugh:

 

[JB]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Good one Taz:laugh:

Absolutely!!!

 

[alldodge]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

Oh no another electric/surge trailer break thread. I'll just go for the where to weight the boat right now.

Stop at about any truck stop with a scale. Tell the folks inside what you want to do, and you want time to separate the trailer from the car. Move the car and trailer on the scales, note the locations of the different sections and park the car and trailer between two sections. Disconnect the trailer by just taking it off the ball. Notify the desk through the intercom, they will tell you when it's done. Reconnect the trailer and then drive over and go inside. They will had you a paper which will list truck, steer axle and such. Doesn't cost much

I did this pulling my cruiser the first time and found out like I though, I had to much weight on the hitch.

 

[I`mNotMe]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

I'm from the new school who doesn't believe in braking "laws". Laws are for folks who don't use common sense. For example, in CA, any trailer above 1,500 lbs needs brakes. Does a little utility trailer weighing 1,520 lbs behind a large V8 Hummer need trailer brakes? CA law says it does. And in my area, the trailer braking law is 3,000 lbs. Can a V6 mini van towing trailer at 2,800 lbs safety stop? My local law says it can. I can tell you NOT. Like I stated above, Trailer braking laws don't make sense to me....

For me, use a very simple formula. What is the "cargo capacity" of the Vehicle? For my vehicle, its 1,200 lbs. Anything weighing more that 1,200 lbs is over taxing Tow Vehicle's factory brakes. More above this number and more over taxing. My attached boat trailer weighs 2,800 lbs and I installed my own electric brakes under it. My local law says my Tow Vehicle combo doesn't legally need brakes. After towing with trailer brakes, I can vouch that my TV + Trailer combo DOES need trailer brakes. Before and after comparison is like night and day comparison.

Since your Impala Tow Vehicle and 16ft boat trailer combo is near same cargo capacity as my combo, I highly recommend Trailer brakes. We'll worth the cost in the long run... Safety 1st. Enjoyment 2nd.