To Brake or not to Brake

[bobby2400]

I just bought a 76 v20 with a Johnson 112 on a loadrite roller trailer with no brakes. I will be towing with a 06 Expedition and was wondering if it would be a good idea to install trailer brakes. The previous owner towed with a pathfinder with no problems. Any thoughts?

[lumberslinger178]

long distance???? or just to the ramp and back??

[Mac_Attack]

Expedition will stop it! Long distances - high speeds,surge brakes would be in order. Billy Mac ;D

[bobby2400]

Most trips over 50 miles. Sounds like brakes are the way to go. Eastern marine has a disk kit for around 400 bucks.

[Airslot]

Plan on $500 to do it right. Go to the how to section to see how it done :)

[Skools Out]

don't worry that truck will stop it no need for brakes just another thing to work on and cause you problems when you only want to fish.

[chumbucket]

To Brake or not to Brake

Not! ;)

[THEFERMANATOR]

Shoot, I use a JEEP CHEROKEE and I don't use brakes. But then again, I'm NUCKING FUTS!!!!!

A REAL man isn't afraid of MARY KAY pink.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t271/THEFERMANATOR/HPIM0046.jpg

[macojoe]

NO BRAKES!!

[bigshrimpin]

Check your state laws . . . Most states require brakes

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/laws.asp

Also check with your insurance company . . . to see what happens if you get into an accident without brakes installed on your trailer.

[reelapeelin]

DO NOT BUY/INSTALL TIE-DOWN DISC BRAKES!!...Mickey Mouse brakes if ever there were some!! Tie-Down's Model 6600 acctuator/coupler is GOOD, but get Kodiak brakes...you can probably get by w/brakes on front axle only of tandem trailer(check state law)...I understand all the ''no brake'' posts, but I like 'em...they've saved my butt ;)...I'd put 'em on...uh...I DID put 'em on ;) ...

Kodiak has model w/ CERAMIC pad-backing plates...won't rust... :D ...

[spareparts]

reel, were the tie down brakes you used the vented, or non vented rotors? I know hey offer the vented rotor brakes in a heavier application. I'm going to put brakes on my trailer, and I can get a good deal on the vented heavy duty Tie Down's, didn't know if the vented rotor brakes were as bad as the standard

[reelapeelin]

reel, were the tie down brakes you used the vented, or non vented rotors? I know hey offer the vented rotor brakes in a heavier application. I'm going to put brakes on my trailer, and I can get a good deal on the vented heavy duty Tie Down's, didn't know if the vented rotor brakes were as bad as the standard


Granted, mine were the early, non-vented discs..that's not the problem...call Tie-Down and ask for SERVICE...there is none!!...all I'm sayin' is if yer gettin' started, start w/a company that appreciates it's customers better than TD ;) ...

[C YENSEN]

Dont need them.......just something else to fix. ;D

[Airslot]

Byt CY ;), you use your trailer twice a year. I may drag my trailer 5 or 6k this year....I like my brakes ;)

[randlemanboater]

You wont need brakes until you NEED brakes.

If you go without, go out and do some emergency braking practice to get use to how the rig handles in that situation. Take note of you stopping distances at different speeds and file that away for when you are towing. Make some quick lane changes to get the feel of that. You don't want your first experience of the different handling to be in an emergency situation.

Travel slower on roads where there is the posibility of Granny pulling out in front of you. Double your following distance on roads with stop and go.

[reelapeelin]

You wont need brakes until you NEED brakes.

If you go without, go out and do some emergency braking practice to get use to how the rig handles in that situation. Take note of you stopping distances at different speeds and file that away for when you are towing. Make some quick lane changes to get the feel of that. You don't want your first experience of the different handling to be in an emergency situation.

Travel slower on roads where there is the posibility of Granny pulling out in front of you





All that's some good stuff...you may have 'em for years and need 'em in a split second...

...wasn't Granny, but ''blinged-out'' Old Caddy nearly got me...and I SURE he didn't have any insurance...glad I had some(brakes>insurance)
;) ...

[Stillrunning]

I go without because it just another thing which I would have to maintain. The problem for me is that maintian part would be when they seize up and I can't get the boat in the water. We put some on my buddies trailer a couple years back and this year he took them off. I don't think its an issurance issue but you should check with your agent.

[macojoe]

Travel slower on roads where there is the posibility of Granny pulling out in front of you. Double your following distance on roads with stop and go.


Its Granny that better watch out, and anyone else in the way!
Or they getting 11,000 pounds of meanness right up there A$$

[reelapeelin]

Its Granny that better watch out, and anyone else in the way!
Or they getting 11,000 pounds of meanness right up there A$$



If it's a 80,000lb truck he won't even notice you goin' up his a$$ ;) ... meanness and all ;D :-* ... we'll miss ya ;D ;D ...

[regidog]

That vehicle should stop the boat easily but the rule of thumb with trailer brakes is you don't need them until you really need them. High speed stopping you'll wish you had them when that boat comes around on ya.

[Skools Out]

I say if you need to depend on your trailer brakes then you need a larger truck. NO Brakes for me but I have 2 trailers with them but I have 12 others without, which some had they crapped out so they were gutted. Go Brakeless. I am installing brakes on a trailer i'm currently building but it's a 20' tandem with 2' dove tail, overall is 32' with electric brakes on both axles. but the axles are 5200 lb axles and 6000 lb springs. frame is built of 6 inch 1/4 thick Channel.

[regidog]

Trailers with brakes are more controlled at high speeds especially when you are running down hill. If you tow any distance worth the money and time to fix so you dont kill someone or yourself on the road, plus here its the law.

[reelapeelin]

the rule of thumb with trailer brakes is you don't need them until you really need them. High speed stopping you'll wish you had them when that boat comes around on ya.


EGGZACKLEE!!...my last hi-speed (65) emergency incident, those brakes kept the trailer in line where it's supposed to be...


Also, trailer brakes allow me to drive a more economical truck when not towin'...if I had an F-250, no, I wouldn't need brakes...I also couldn't afford a boat, cause of gassin' a hungrier truck...I like the combination I got

[bigshrimpin]

Looks like the ONLY legally brakeless v20 east coast states are:

Mass Unlimited
RI 4000
DE 4000
DC (not Maryland) 10000
NC 4000

If your rig weighs over 4000lbs (boat, motor, trailer, gear, fuel) then only MA and DC are safe havens for trailers w/o brakes.

Maybe Hammer can tell us what happens to people who get into an accident while towing a boat that are in violation of the law.

[randlemanboater]

Looks like the ONLY legally brakeless v20 east coast states are: *

Mass * * * * * * * * * * Unlimited
RI * * * * * * * * * * * * *4000
DE * * * * * * * * * * * * 4000
DC (not Maryland) 10000
NC * * * * * * * * * * * * 4000

If your rig weighs over 4000lbs (boat, motor, trailer, gear, fuel) then only MA and DC are safe havens for trailers w/o brakes.

Maybe Hammer can tell us what happens to people who get into an accident while towing a boat that are in violation of the law. *

In NC, you would only get in trouble if the Trooper that showed up at your crash was a Comercial Motorcarrier Enforcement Trooper. *He would be the only one with the scales to weigh you and know the laws enough to charge.

Of course if you run into the back of someone you will get charged with "Following too close" or the catch all "Failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision"

[Airslot]

I like DC @ 10,000#'s. Where in DC would ya want to tow anything without brakes? Good gawd mon ;D

[reelapeelin]

I like DC @ 10,000#'s. Where in DC would ya want to tow anything without brakes? Good gawd mon ;D




10,000lbs of BLOW...right to the mayor's office :o ...

[regidog]

A real concern is god forbid you get in an accident and you injure someone. They hire a lawyer who would look to see if your tailer is legal ( had brakes). They got a good law suit, and your insurance could drop coverage based on the fact your trailer is not legal. Now your paying out of your pocket.

[bobby2400]

Thanks for the input. With my luck I have been having lately I have decided to put on brakes.
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u183/bobby2400/schlep.jpg