Should I install trailer brakes

[shag766]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

now this is thinking outside the box---good one, especially with the knob. lol

"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."

not to hi-jack a thread but, why the tranny swap?

back to the original topic, yea you should probably have brakes on that combo. the car wasn't engineered to pull nothing let alone something of comparable weight. a small utility trailer for dump runs or moving lawn mowers etc probably ok. without brakes i wouldn't think pulling anything that is close to comparable or exceeds your weight should be pulled without brakes. as for what kind of brakes, thats your call, it should have brakes.
i just bought another boat, like i need another one, lund tyee loaded, with no brakes on the trailer. my truck, f350 dually will handle it no problem but i am going to put brakes on it just be comfy and it would let me be comfy if i want to use the escalade for a more comfy outing. its pre-wired for brakes and i will definitely be checking out todays electrics. thanks for the insight on that. rick

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

My auto died a horrible death and I wanted the reliability of the manual.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Should I install trailer brakes

While laws regarding this might seem silly and arbitrary, there is another way to tell. See what Chevy says in their owners manual. Get it weighed. If it were me, and the boat+trailer weight exceeded the payload capacity of the vehicle, then for sure I'd put brakes on it. I don't know the numbers but lets say that the Impala weighs 3500 lbs and its payload capacity is 800 lbs. The Gross Vehicle weight rating is then about 4300 lbs. Thats as much weight as the vehicle brakes are adequate to stop. If the boat and trailer+ load in the car weighs more than 800 lbs (you have to include whatever you put in the car ie you, whoever else is riding, luggage, etc) then you need brakes. You are exceeding what GM says is the rating of the brake system. See its really not that complex. Trailer brakes are cheap insurance. Yes they are a pain, and yes I keep mine working in the worst environment, salt water because they are NEEDED in many cases.

When I bought my old Four Winns, I towed it with my 98 Grand Cherokee. The trailer had no brakes and everyone I spoke to said they are a headache, forget it here in the salt. The Jeep's curb weight is about 3900 lbs and the payload capacity is 1130 and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is about 5100 lbs. So 5100 lbs is what Chrysler thought those brakes could safely stop. Well imagine trying to stop the Jeep (4000 or so) + boat (3800 or so) for a total close to 8,000 lbs. It was scary as all hell I will tell you that. I towed it maybe twice and immediately had a new axle made and put on a surge drum system. Worked great.