Trailer brakes Yay or nay

[BigA972]

Looking at buying a 24ft starcraft pontoon. My question is this for a 24ft pontoon will I need brakes? The tow vehicle will be 2008 f150 fx2. 95% of the time my trips will be about 40 one way trips in Texas.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

Not sure about Texas. Most states require brakes on trailers over 3000 pounds. With a bigger boat like that even if you aren't required to have them it wouldn't be a bad idea. Makes towing easier.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

at least from my experience, that setup wet and ready to go is going to be pretty much right at 3000#'s... some pontoon trailers are tough to put brakes on though, they like to use tiny tires that are far too small to get a brake inside of.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

Looking at buying a 24ft starcraft pontoon. My question is this for a 24ft pontoon will I need brakes? The tow vehicle will be 2008 f150 fx2. 95% of the time my trips will be about 40 one way trips in Texas.

Go here. You will find the answers to your question

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

 

[rallyart]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

I have always found that being able to stop well was a useful thing, even if being able to stop well is not required by law.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

The answer is a YES a 24 foot toon is a duel axle trailer and it will be well over the 3000 pound limit. The break point on toon trailers is around a 20 footer those dont have breaks their single axle, When you go over that it goes to a duel axle and needs breakes.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

Lol stopping is occasionally usefull. that's why I bought a big a** truck. Can always do fixed object braking. :facepalm:

 

[drrpm]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

I've got to say YAY! for brakes.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

The short answer is yay. The long answer is as follows. Don't know where you are since it's not in your profile, but trailer braking regulations are administered on the state level, so if you want to know for sure call your state's highway patrol. My guess is they will tell you that any rig over 3000 pounds, which yours definitely is, is required to have them. The person that tells you that may or may not be correct as the requirement is often based on the trailer's GVWR and not the weight of the rig, but even in that case brakes would still be required based on the 3000 pound threshold. So, are they required? Probably, but you'll have to find out for sure on your own. Are they necessary? Yep. Good luck. Welcome to iboats.

 

[1216bandit]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

When its all said and done, brakes really are not all that costly, and I cant remember ever hearing anyone say they regret having brakes on the trailer. Just do it...money well spent and you will feel better!

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

are trailer brakes a bad idea probably not, but that being said I pulled my 28' lowe pontoon on a single axle hustler pontoon trailer 50 miles one way in city traffic with my nissan frontier 4x4 that trailer doesn't have brakes on it and I never had an issue. The truck stopped it and the brakes never over heated.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

If you are not legaly required to have them it's your choice. I don't have brakes on my trailer and never have a problem but if you are not sure or your tow vehicle is smaller or older and mayby not as reliable it would certainly be a good idea. But as said previously its never a bad idea. You will certainly want to check the regs and get an accurate wieght on the boat trailer and gear first because this whole discussion is void if they are required anyways.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

I decided to add brakes to my trailer. To do it myself, the parts were $400 online, but shipping was like $150! To buy locally - and be able to return/exchange a part - would cost a little more. Eventually, as boating season rapidly approached, I decided to have the local hitch store do it all. Cost me $930 (including 9% sales tax) but it was worth it. These guys are pros - but it took them a full day. And now I know that I have done all I can to make sure I'm in control of that trailer, and not the other way around.

Dave

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

Hibbert did you go with electric or surge? As long as they are on and working and your happy with your experience I say it's all good. Not everybody has to do everything themselves all the time.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

I went with surge brakes. The weird thing is, the next day my car mechanic told me that my minivan wasn't going to handle my new (bigger) boat in the 100 degree July 4th weekend upcoming. So I bought a used Suburban. Definite overkill, but the price was right. However, other than the trip home from the Hitch Store, I never got to feel the brakes work - the Suburban would've handled this boat even without brakes. But I'm glad I got them, nevertheless.

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

It never hurts to have them even if you don't need them. Even if you only ever realize you need them once in an emergency situation for that one time you'll really feel they were worth it.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

Also, it helps to remember that trailer brakes keep the trailer straight during hard braking. A non-braked trailer will try and overtake the tow vehicle!

TII

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

Yeah that is never fun when you get passed by your trailer for any reason.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

You definitely made the right call, on the brakes and the Burban. You're all set partner.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Trailer brakes Yay or nay

I think you would be glad you had them. A relatively minor investment in the boating world.