how big a trailer before you need trailer brakes?

[89sandman]

had a customer come into the shop today needing the tailights fixed on her 34 foot horse trailer. got to checking the wiring and only had one tailight working and no trailer brakes at all. told her she would also need the wiring to her trailer brakes checked, she stated she had owned the trailer for sometime and the brakes had never worked and she didn't need them???????WTF!!! wow this totally blew me away, how many horses can you put in a trailer that big? what must the weight be with the thing fully loaded??? can never believe people who are willing to risk the lives of everyone on the road because they think they are a "SAFE" driver. asked her what she was gonna do when some young mother pulls out in front of her and she is unable to stop, was she willing to live with the guilt of possibly killing a young mother and her child because she believes that her little trailer doesn't need brakes. refused to continue to repair her trailer and told her she would have to go somewhere where money is more important than public safety. i always figure when you hook up a trailer its your responsibility to make sure it is in a safe working manner, and if you own a 34footer i strongly believe you need trailer brakes!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

had a customer come into the shop today needing the tailights fixed on her 34 foot horse trailer. got to checking the wiring and only had one tailight working and no trailer brakes at all. told her she would also need the wiring to her trailer brakes checked, she stated she had owned the trailer for sometime and the brakes had never worked and she didn't need them???????WTF!!! wow this totally blew me away, how many horses can you put in a trailer that big? what must the weight be with the thing fully loaded??? can never believe people who are willing to risk the lives of everyone on the road because they think they are a "SAFE" driver. asked her what she was gonna do when some young mother pulls out in front of her and she is unable to stop, was she willing to live with the guilt of possibly killing a young mother and her child because she believes that her little trailer doesn't need brakes. refused to continue to repair her trailer and told her she would have to go somewhere where money is more important than public safety. i always figure when you hook up a trailer its your responsibility to make sure it is in a safe working manner, and if you own a 34footer i strongly believe you need trailer brakes!!!!!!!!!!!!

good on you sandman, I would have made her tow it off the lot with a wrecker(as a safety requirment) and you are right that trailer would require at least 2 axle trailer brakes to be legal..obviously she never thought about how bad she is killing the brakes on the tow rig...trailer brakes are cheap compared to truck brakes...

 

[skibreeze]

Most mfg's recommend brakes starting at 2k lbs depending on the model. It's amazing that she refused to admit that they are a good idea at all.

You should have reported her to the popo, I'm sure that they would cite her for unsafe vehicle with your testimony.

 

[Blk88GT]

I think skibreeze is right, it's around 2k and you can actually get cited for not having them.

If it's got more than one axle, it probably needs brakes.

 

[ArcticBoy]

I think here in WA you need brakes if it's 2 axle or more at the very least. Good for you Sandman.

 

[oregunrmk]

Hey Ron, was it an old aluminum trailer getting pulled by a newer Dodge dually?

 

[Gimpster]

When I built my gooseneck, DOT requirements for brakes were only required for break-away purposes. Other than that, no axle brakes, I had to have a safety chain to the 5th wheel plate.
Every state has different DOT requirements when it comes to brakes on trailers, they may be different than truck or trailer manufacturers recommendations.

----- Gimpster -----

 

[Blu Du]

i should know this but i think anything over #10,000 gvw or what it is lisenced for needs breaks on 1 axial in mn

 

[94fordguy]

I think here in WA you need brakes if it's 2 axle or more at the very least. Good for you Sandman.

For Washington I believe you are correct. If it has 2 or more axles it must have trailer brakes as well as break-away brakes, single axles do not have any requirements as far as I know since you can't get that much weight on a single axle.

 

[buck50]

When I built my gooseneck, DOT requirements for brakes were only required for break-away purposes. Other than that, no axle brakes, I had to have a safety chain to the 5th wheel plate.
Every state has different DOT requirements when it comes to brakes on trailers, they may be different than truck or trailer manufacturers recommendations.

----- Gimpster -----

sure, but what is law and what is just common sense aren't always the same. something of that size ABSOLUTELY should have trailer brakes. with that thing fully loaded, it would take forever to stop with no trailer brakes. note to self, don't ever buy that lady's truck!!!!!!!

 

[89sandman]

it was a 3/4 ton dodge, but not a dually. the thing that really blew me away is this lady was from alabama, said she had driven it just like it was from there to here in oregon get tired of seeing things like this, have a couple of peeps a year come in driving with hardly any brakes or no brakes and just using the e-brake to stop. man when i think these peeps are coming up behind you at a stop light just makes me mad

 

[anchorman]

Oregon law says that anything rated 3000# and above requires brakes. Brake axles are only required on one axle in Oregon up to a point. (I know it is over 7K). Idaho is the same. Washington requires 2 brake axles on any trailer with tandem axles. Brake away is required on everything with brakes.

I get people all the time asking for things like 4-place sled, atv or jetski trailers without brakes (to save them some $$). Most reply that they have a "big pickup" and don't need them. Bull.

The other item that I get a request for is surge brakes on sled trailers. I know some have them, but I think it's insane. They work great for boats because there is always a decent road for the tow vehicle to generate braking force on. How many times have you hit the brakes in the winter and you started sliding, even just a little bit. If you are towing a 5000# sled trailer down a hill and have to get on the binders a bit, you'd better have trailer brakes even if your pickup is sliding a bit. Otherwise you are nothing better than a self-propelled battering ram!

 

[DRD]

According to a quote in my Princess Auto flyer, anything over 2000 lbs GVW needs it's own brakes.

 

[Dam Dave]

Thanks for trying sandman I gave ya some good rep, thanks

 

[triple]

Imagine how nice it would be to happen along an accident scene with a trailer full of horses in various states of dismemberment because the goofball was too stupid to keep her trailer safe. Worse, they run into another family out on a sunday drive. Good job on letting this woman know of the dangerous situation that she is putting herself as well as every other driver on the road in.

 

[mmsports]

I think I need them

 

[zr600]

Another thing is these people driving around without tying down there load on open trailers. I seen an accident on interstate yesterday it was a ford superduty with a trailer with a skid steer on it. I'm not sure what happened but they skidded out of control bounced off a guard rail jacked knifed busted the hitch or ball and the skid steer beleive it or not stayed on the trailer because it was tyed down with the right size chain and binders. I know in town people think they are fine but your not.

 

[johnsodo]

in mt it is 3500#