Safe weight w/o trailer brakes

[Archive]

A buddy of mine has asked me to haul some gear down to LA for him next week. The only potential hitch is that the trailer has no brakes. We are looking at a small flat bed trailer with a load of approx. 4,500 lbs. Is this safe? What is a ballpark figure of what is safe without trailer brakes?



BTW I am leaving from the SF Bay area, so the only hill of consequence is THE hill. The grapevine.



Thanks in advance.

 

[BCFAST]

According to the DOT regs, any trailer with a GVW of more than 3500lbs must have brakes on all axles. You will be able to do this favor just fine; remember to look far ahead, leave extra room and brake early!

 

[Archive]

In other words, I will be "extra legal", but as long as I am careful to leave a lot of braking distance, I should be fine. Forgive me if I am being too specific, but I want to be sure. \



Thanks again.



BTW I guess I answered some of my question... Here is the VC



26303. Every trailer coach and every camp trailer having a gross weight of 1,500 pounds or more, but exclusive of passengers, shall be equipped with brakes on at least two wheels which are adequate, supplemental to the brakes on the towing vehicle, to enable the combination of vehicles to comply with the stopping distance requirements of Section 26454



Now the question is, would it be safe?

 

[NVR FNSH]

I thought that in CA trailers over 1500lbs required brakes.



Brian

 

[Eric_77]

hmm that law does not seem to apply to boat trailers or utility trailers. I would think there is a law somewhere else that does I remember something of around 3-3. 5k as BCFAST said.

 

[klenger]

An exhaust brake would be a good idea.

 

[DHatfield]

I would not want to tow over 2000 lbs without trailer brakes and/or an exhaust brake especially towing down steep mountain grades as extra brakes give you better peice of mind and safety incase someone pulls out in front of you and to help save the truck brakes.

 

[WestTN]

safe weight

Check with your Department of Motor Vehicles to see if it is legal to tow that much weight without brakes. In many states it is not. You could be liable for much more than you are willing to pay if you should have a problem.

 

[Powder Extreme]

The laws vary from state to state, but in just about any state 4,500 lbs without brakes would be considered a sick bird Now for the real question, yes the Dodge will handle the load just fine! I pulled a rental trailer with a loader on it weighing around 9k with my old 2500. The joker at the rental place assured me all was fine. Something didn't feel quite right, crawled under the trailer, the brake lines had been ripped apart! Anyway I pulled the trailer several hundred miles over some pretty steep hills, granted not as long as the Grapevine (drove a semi over that toooo many times) If you drop a gear or two going down hill, the truck will hold it back no problem. Just stay back and watch for the dreaded "moron in the car slamming on his brakes for no reason" syndrome.



Be carefull and you won't have any problems.

 

[Archive]

That's funny Powder Extreme! I too drove a big truck over that hill far too many times. Thanks for the advice! I already forwarded all of the info on to my friend who is now searching for a trailer with brakes. Thank you all for your helpful input.



Dan

 

[NVR FNSH]

Here's what I found in the Ca Vehicle Code:



26302. (a) Every trailer or semitrailer, manufactured and first registered after January 1, 1940, and having a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or more and which is operated at a speed of 20 miles per hour or over shall be equipped with brakes.



(b) Every trailer or semitrailer manufactured and first registered after January 1, 1966, and having a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more shall be equipped with brakes on at least two wheels.



(c) Every trailer or semitrailer manufactured after January 1, 1982, and equipped with air brakes shall be equipped with brakes on all wheels.



(d) Brakes required on trailers or semitrailers shall be adequate, supplemental to the brakes on the towing vehicle, to enable the combination of vehicles to comply with the stopping distance requirements of Section 26454.



(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any vehicle being used to support the boom or mast attached to a mobile crane or shovel.



26303. Every trailer coach and every camp trailer having a gross weight of 1,500 pounds or more, but exclusive of passengers, shall be equipped with brakes on at least two wheels which are adequate, supplemental to the brakes on the towing vehicle, to enable the combination of vehicles to comply with the stopping distance requirements of Section 26454



Not sure why there is a difference between trailer/semi-trailer and trailer coach/camp trailer.



Also figured out that I need a Recreational Trailer Endorsement on my Class C license for towing my 10K lb 5th wheel. The Endorsement doesn't appear to be anything more than a written test.



Brian