Thinking about adding brakes to my trailer

[zopperman]

Hey everyone

I have a 1960's something painted steel trailer in pretty good shape. I was thinking baout adding breaks -- how much easier do they make towing? is it worth it? how difficult are they to install? do they save MPG's?

thanks,

Zak

 

[lncoop]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Brakes do not save MPGs. They don't make towing any easier, but they do make stopping easier. Whether it's worth it depends on what you're towing and what you're towing it with. In most states they're required for trailers over a certain GVWR.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Adding "breaks" is not what you want to do. Adding "brakes" is what you want to do if you want the rig to stop better. They do not increase MPG nor does it make the rig easier to tow as was pointed out. If makes the rig safer. Sorry about the play on words. Couldn't resist.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

It was early in the am :facepalm:
Yeah, it's a req. for some larger trailers, but I thought it might make my rig ride easier.. it's about 3000 lbs total

 

[lncoop]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

It was early in the am :facepalm:
Yeah, it's a req. for some larger trailers, but I thought it might make my rig ride easier.. it's about 3000 lbs total

Fair enough. We'll give you the "no coffee" pass. Anyway, breaks are what you're trying to avoid by adding brakes, right? They're fairly simple to install and they do come in handy. If your rig is right at 3k pounds there's a chance they're required, but again, since trailer regs are administered on a state level they vary. The only way to be sure is to call NJ highway patrol. If they're not required by law you just have to weigh the initial outlay and ongoing maintenance costs against your current level of comfort towing without them.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Well, I'm comfortable towing it as is, I just thought it might make it easier stopping on the big hills by my house and near the lakes.. They didn't seem TOO expensive initially, but what is maintaining them like?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Do you launch in salt water?

 

[zopperman]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Never have, doubt I will. The Hudson is an estuary so there's some salt, but the salt content is very low. Either way i'd flush everythign wish fresh water

 

[lncoop]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

The maintenance burden shouldn't be too heavy then provided they're installed properly. Basically you just need to keep an eye on the fluid level in the coupler reservoir and refill/bleed if it drops. You'll periodically have to replace parts (wheel cylinders, pads, etc.), but that's not a big deal. I recently learned a lot about trailer brakes thanks to my iboats buddies' invaluable help getting me out of a jam with mine.

 

[guy74]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

At 3000lbs, seems you are right on the line of NJ's requirements for brakes. I have thought about adding them to my trailer, thinking pretty seriously about doing it over the winter. I have to change the axle on mine to add brakes though, as no one makes diskhubs for my bearing setup. I think the addition of brakes is a nice safety factor, you never know when you might need the extra stopping force.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Yeah. I have plenty of going force, but stopping gets tough sometimes. I guess I'll think baout it, thanks guys!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Your boat is nowhere near the "needing brakes" category. Save yourself the headache.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Your boat is nowhere near the "needing brakes" category. Save yourself the headache.

Good, that was really the answer that I was looking for

 

[guy74]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Your boat is nowhere near the "needing brakes" category. Save yourself the headache.

Well, that might be true, but the state of NJ seems to think the 3000lbs requires brakes, and the OP states, "stopping gets tough sometimes". So that is why I vote for brakes, that is all, PEACE

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

What is your tow vehicle? A light TV could be overwhelmed during braking. And you could spend the money on up-grading the TV brakes.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Well, that might be true, but the state of NJ seems to think the 3000lbs requires brakes, and the OP states, "stopping gets tough sometimes". So that is why I vote for brakes, that is all, PEACE

He's not near 3000 pounds.

 

[guy74]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

He's not near 3000 pounds.

He said it was around 3000lbs, I have no idea what his rig weighs, only what he says. I mean no disrespect, but we all have to share the roadways, and it is good to be able to stop when you need to.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

He said it was around 3000lbs, I have no idea what his rig weighs, only what he says. I mean no disrespect, but we all have to share the roadways, and it is good to be able to stop when you need to.

I'm not picking a fight, honest. I went back and checked his resto thread because I was pretty sure he had like a 17' bowrider with an outboard.

 

[guy74]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

I'm not picking a fight, honest. I went back and checked his resto thread because I was pretty sure he had like a 17' bowrider with an outboard.

I just know that my little boat and trailer weigh close to 2K, and most boats are bigger and much heavier than my little Glastron. I tow in alot on hills, and alot behind my 5th wheel, so I think brakes would always be a good thing. I know you aren't picking a fight, just as opinionated as I am :facepalm:

 

[zopperman]

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

Re: Thinking about adding breaks to my trailer

It's an 18 ft bowrider with a 70 horse chrysler, the rig itself probably weighs close to 2k and the trailer might be 700? I really have no idea what it weighs, but it's pretty heavy... took 6 of us just to lift it and move it when we picked the boat up.