Towing questions and suggestions

[BillBaker]

I've decided to put a Curt HD hitch on my truck and invest in a 5'x10' tandem axle utility trailer to haul masonry supplies. How effective are the electric brakes on these things? Should I be concerned about getting extra braking power with an exhaust brake? My loads may be a couple of tons at times, sparingly. Truck is a 98 2500 12V. Thanks for any input.

 

[Wiredawg]

I've decided to put a Curt HD hitch on my truck and invest in a 5'x10' tandem axle utility trailer to haul masonry supplies. How effective are the electric brakes on these things? Should I be concerned about getting extra braking power with an exhaust brake? My loads may be a couple of tons at times, sparingly. Truck is a 98 2500 12V. Thanks for any input.

You will be fine, just might go through brakes faster. Sounds like 5Klbs is the high weight you're talking about. I have a 20ft enclosed car hauler I haul my 5Klb 4wd tractor with backhoe I pulled with a 2003 Ram 2500 without one just fine. That's about 7Klbs.

Not to say you wouldn't have better results with one, but you don't need it.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, Ron

 

[GAmes]

The exhaust brake was the first upgrade I did to mine when it was new, well worth the cost IMO. However, I don't have an automatic which would require other modifications and I tow a lot heavier trailers than a couple of tons. You can buy a lot of brake pads for the cost of an EB.

 

[BillBaker]

The exhaust brake was the first upgrade I did to mine when it was new, well worth the cost IMO. However, I don't have an automatic which would require other modifications and I tow a lot heavier trailers than a couple of tons. You can buy a lot of brake pads for the cost of an EB.

This truck was set up by previous owner/tdr member and had an EB and torq Lok on it as he also had a 5ver on it but all has been removed as my plan was to retire the truck from abuse BUT I've since re-commissioned it now. 5k is tops (I'd like to think) that I'd haul. Who can explain all these fancy numbers in layman's terms?

 

[GAmes]

That's the same hitch I have. It is rated for trailer weights up to 16,000 pounds if you don't use a weight distribution hitch. Tongue weight rating is 2400 pounds with or without a weight distribution hitch. With a W/D hitch you can pull trailers up to 17,000 pounds. It does not reduce the need for a weight distribution hitch when the tongue weight is high because a W/D distributes the load to the front axle and the trailer axles. It just won't fail like my stock receiver did when I overloaded it, the bracket steel literally tore on the stocker.

If you still have the EB you might as well reinstall it. If you don't have it any longer I wouldn't try to convince you that you need one.

 

[BillBaker]

That's the same hitch I have. It is rated for trailer weights up to 16,000 pounds if you don't use a weight distribution hitch. Tongue weight rating is 2400 pounds with or without a weight distribution hitch. With a W/D hitch you can pull trailers up to 17,000 pounds. It does not reduce the need for a weight distribution hitch when the tongue weight is high because a W/D distributes the load to the front axle and the trailer axles. It just won't fail like my stock receiver did when I overloaded it, the bracket steel literally tore on the stocker.

If you still have the EB you might as well reinstall it. If you don't have it any longer I wouldn't try to convince you that you need one.

Ahh ok, I do not have the EB anymore. Sold it on Fleabay. Any suggestions on an EB brand?... just in case. Previous one was a BD unit that I never even used.

 

[GAmes]

Mine is a Jacobs brake from Cummins. I don't think they sell them any more. I don't recall any complaints from the other brands.

 

[Wiredawg]

Bill, I stand by my first answer... if you feel better getting one, I would get one. Do you need it, nope. I often buy things I don't need and wanting them is good justification.

Let us know what you decide.

Cheers, Ron

 

[BillBaker]

Bill, I stand by my first answer... if you feel better getting one, I would get one. Do you need it, nope. I often buy things I don't need and wanting them is good justification.

Let us know what you decide.

Cheers, Ron

Yes, it doesn't sound like I need one unless I was going really heavy. I'll pass on one for now.

 

[Larry Willard]

Make sure the trailer has brakes on both axles, I have seen them sometimes with on trailers that size with brakes only on one axle.

 

[TFucili]

I have towed heavier with trucks far less capable than yours. With functional trailer brakes, and a common-sense/defensive approach to driving you are A-OK.

 

[BillBaker]

Make sure the trailer has brakes on both axles, I have seen them sometimes with on trailers that size with brakes only on one axle.

Good point, I will inquire on that before I sign on the dotted line.

 

[NIsaacs]

Good point, I will inquire on that before I sign on the dotted line.

Where do you find a 5'x10' utility trailer with two axles? Generally, two axle trailers start at about 6'x12' w/5-7k gvw and one brake. Your truck will run off and hide with a 5'x10'. Most 5'x10' utility trailers are one axle, 2950 gvw and no brakes.

 

[BillBaker]

Where do you find a 5'x10' utility trailer with two axles? Generally, two axle trailers start at about 6'x12' w/5-7k gvw and one brake. Your truck will run off and hide with a 5'x10'. Most 5'x10' utility trailers are one axle, 2950 gvw and no brakes.

Texas trailers in Gainesville Fl is going to make one for me. There's a Big Tex trailer near me who kind of told me that a 5'x10' is unavailable in a tandem axle and smallest size was ONLY available in a 6.5'x12' but after some searching I see there surely is 5'x10's in a tandem axle out there. I'm in southern Georgia so have to travel a few hours to get it, no biggie. They quoted me just under $2,100.

 

[BillBaker]

5'x10's are available.....

 

[BillBaker]

Make sure the trailer has brakes on both axles, I have seen them sometimes with on trailers that size with brakes only on one axle.

Good thing you mentioned this. I inquired and they said "no brakes"?. Aren't they standard on at least one axle on a tandem axle trailer? Waiting on a reply for additional cost to add brakes but now wondering if I can get trailer as is and install them....

 

[GAmes]

Aren't they standard on at least one axle on a tandem axle trailer?

IIRC, trailers over 3000 lb GVWR are required to have brakes. It doesn't really matter how many axles they have.

 

[Wiredawg]

Good thing you mentioned this. I inquired and they said "no brakes"?. Aren't they standard on at least one axle on a tandem axle trailer? Waiting on a reply for additional cost to add brakes but now wondering if I can get trailer as is and install them....

Sir. I WOULD NOT buy a trailer without brakes. I thought there was a law trailers with 3K lbs or more had to have brakes at least on one axle. Although one of my trailers is a 5.5ft by 10ft single axle trailer without brakes, but even though it has a 3Klb axle is rated at 2.8Klbs.

Is this a home made trailer? Except for specialty trailers for hauling generators, I don't recall ever seeing a dual axle trailer this small.

Bottom line: Check before buying. Don't get it without brakes.

Cheers. Ron

 

[BillBaker]

Sir. I WOULD NOT buy a trailer without brakes. I thought there was a law trailers with 3K lbs or more had to have brakes at least on one axle. Although one of my trailers is a 5.5ft by 10ft single axle trailer without brakes, but even though it has a 3Klb axle is rated at 2.8Klbs.

Is this a home made trailer? Except for specialty trailers for hauling generators, I don't recall ever seeing a dual axle trailer this small.

Bottom line: Check before buying. Don't get it without brakes.

Cheers. Ron

This is what they sent, saying it would be this except with tandem axles. Yeah this is what I find as far as brake requirements....

 

[NIsaacs]

Good thing you mentioned this. I inquired and they said "no brakes"?. Aren't they standard on at least one axle on a tandem axle trailer? Waiting on a reply for additional cost to add brakes but now wondering if I can get trailer as is and install them....

Trailer manufacturers/dealers are everywhere, some use questionable sales tactics so they can advertise a low price. Then in the fine print they add options that are/should be standard. It should be cheaper to have them install brakes than to do it yourself.