Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? #971847
04/12/11 11:20 AM
04/12/11 11:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 757
Northern VA
B
bulletpruf Offline OP
super stock
bulletpruf  Offline OP
super stock
B

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 757
Northern VA
Fellas -

I have a flatbed car trailer, 2008 model, that about 23' from tail to hitch and is supposed to weigh 1,800 pounds (5,000+ pounds GVW when loaded). It's dual axle trailer with electric brakes on a single axle. I got pulled over in MD this past weekend and the cop said that he thought I needed breakaway brakes, which was news to me.

Trailer is used frequently for moving cars across several states - right now, I have cars in Ohio (resto), Virginia (current house), North Carolina (paint jail), and bringing one to Columbus, GA (new house) this weekend. Tow vehicle is 2003 Excursion with 7.3.

In doing a search, here is what I believe to be true - if your trailer is required to have brakes by state law, then it is required to have breakaway brakes. I've only been questioned about this once, but I don't want to thumb my nose at the law and invite more scrutiny.

Anyone have thoughts on the above? Any ideas on how much it costs to have breakaway brakes installed? I'm a good mechanic, but might let a pro handle this one.

On a related note, should I go to 4 wheel brakes? Any ideas on how much $ I would spend here?

Here's something I copied from a horse website:

"Thirty one states require brakes on at least one axle (2-wheel brakes) on trailers over 3000 lbs. GVW and 11 states require brakes
on both axles (4-wheel brakes) on trailers over 3000 lbs. GVW. In addition, 3 of those states that require brakes on trailers over 3000 lbs., require 4 wheel brakes on trailers over 4,000 lbs. (No matter how light your trailer is, when it is loaded with horses it will weigh 3000 lbs. or more!) The remaining states that do not require brakes per se have regulations that require the ability to stop the combination without sway from a specified speed over a specified distance."

Thanks,

Scott


Please Check Out My YouTube Channel for Vintage Musclecar and Truck Rescues and Builds -- https://www.youtube.com/@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE/videos
Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? [Re: bulletpruf] #971848
04/12/11 11:27 AM
04/12/11 11:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,907
U.S.S.A.
JohnRR Offline
I Win
JohnRR  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,907
U.S.S.A.
Should be easy to add on your trailer with electric brakes , a switch with a pull cord , a small battery and wire it into the brake wire . That's what it looks like on my trailer anyway ...

Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? [Re: bulletpruf] #971849
04/12/11 11:27 AM
04/12/11 11:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 904
Berwyn, IL
M
Moparlar Offline
super stock
Moparlar  Offline
super stock
M

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 904
Berwyn, IL
Electric Breakaway brakes only consist of a switch with a cable going to the tow vehicle and a battery box with a battery in wired into the brake system to apply battery power to the brakes if the cable pulls the switch.

Like here
Trailer brake setup

Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? [Re: JohnRR] #971850
04/12/11 11:37 AM
04/12/11 11:37 AM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
The village idiot's idiot
dIc dOc Deity !  Offline
The village idiot's idiot

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation

Last edited by tboomer; 04/12/11 12:03 PM.
Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? [Re: bulletpruf] #971851
04/12/11 02:15 PM
04/12/11 02:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
1_WILD_RT Offline
Management Trainee
1_WILD_RT  Offline
Management Trainee

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 27,347
Today? Who Knows?
FWIW The stuff is so cheap I see no reason not to have it... I use my local trailer parts supplier but just to give an idea how cheap this stuff is.....

Brake assemblies
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-DEXTER-...ors_RV_Trailer_

Break away kit
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Trailer-E...otors_RV_Traile


"The Armies of our ancestors were lucky, in that they were not trailed by a second army of pencil pushers."
Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? [Re: 1_WILD_RT] #971852
04/12/11 02:27 PM
04/12/11 02:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,030
Wisconsin
A
Aero426 Offline
I Live Here
Aero426  Offline
I Live Here
A

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,030
Wisconsin
I upgraded my 18' open trailer from 2 to 4 wheel brakes and it made a HUGE difference in stopping power. Even if you have a trailer shop do it for you, it's cheap. Every once in a while, you'll get in a situation where you REALLY need to get stopped safely. You'll be glad you made the upgrade.

Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #971853
04/12/11 02:29 PM
04/12/11 02:29 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
The village idiot's idiot
dIc dOc Deity !  Offline
The village idiot's idiot

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
Quote:






Hi Ted !

Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? [Re: bulletpruf] #971854
04/12/11 02:37 PM
04/12/11 02:37 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
Pendleton NY
T
terzmo Offline
top fuel
terzmo  Offline
top fuel
T

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,060
Pendleton NY
In NY it's mandatory now that all wheels have brakes..even 1 car trailers. Brake box is easy install and a good thing. I like the 4 wheel braking system

Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed? [Re: terzmo] #971855
04/12/11 02:46 PM
04/12/11 02:46 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
The village idiot's idiot
dIc dOc Deity !  Offline
The village idiot's idiot

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,253
Florida STAYcation
Quote:

In NY it's mandatory now that all wheels have brakes..even 1 car trailers. Brake box is easy install and a good thing. I like the 4 wheel braking system




So it is uNlegal to tow through NY with a single axle braking system on an open double-axle trailer ?

Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Neede [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #971856
04/12/11 04:26 PM
04/12/11 04:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,843
poplar bluff mo.
T
toplescuda Offline
I Whine
toplescuda  Offline
I Whine
T

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,843
poplar bluff mo.
just rember unless you have it wired differnt...... on ele. brakes once it departs from the tow rig it now has no source of power to apply the brakes i have the master cyl kind on my trailer and i love it over the ele brakes


1970 barracuda convert. 1 of 59
1970 pro street A.A.R. clone (panther pink)
1971 charger
2015 hellcat challenger. Redline red
2014 quad cab 4x4 ram 8 speed hemi
Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Neede [Re: toplescuda] #971857
04/12/11 04:29 PM
04/12/11 04:29 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1 Offline
Too Many Posts
Challenger 1  Offline
Too Many Posts

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
Quote:

just rember unless you have it wired differnt...... on ele. brakes once it departs from the tow rig it now has no source of power to apply the brakes i have the master cyl kind on my trailer and i love it over the ele brakes




"departs"?

Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Neede [Re: Challenger 1] #971858
04/12/11 04:48 PM
04/12/11 04:48 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 757
Northern VA
B
bulletpruf Offline OP
super stock
bulletpruf  Offline OP
super stock
B

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 757
Northern VA
Fellas -

Many thanks for all the input. There's a pretty good trailer shop nearby; I'll check with them to see what they can do it for.

Scott


Please Check Out My YouTube Channel for Vintage Musclecar and Truck Rescues and Builds -- https://www.youtube.com/@THEBULLETPROOFGARAGE/videos






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1