Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed?
#971847
04/12/11 11:20 AM
04/12/11 11:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 775 San Antonio, Tx
bulletpruf
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 775
San Antonio, Tx
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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
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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
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 904 Berwyn, IL
Moparlar
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 904
Berwyn, IL
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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
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Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Needed?
[Re: dOc …]
#971853
04/12/11 02:29 PM
04/12/11 02:29 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,490 Florida STAYcation
dOc …
The village idiot's idiot
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The village idiot's idiot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,490
Florida STAYcation
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Quote:
Hi Ted !
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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
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,490 Florida STAYcation
dOc …
The village idiot's idiot
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The village idiot's idiot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,490
Florida STAYcation
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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 ?
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Re: Breakaway and 4 Wheel Brakes on Car Trailer - Neede
[Re: dOc …]
#971856
04/12/11 04:26 PM
04/12/11 04:26 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,857 poplar bluff mo.
toplescuda
I Whine
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I Whine
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,857
poplar bluff mo.
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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
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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
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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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"?
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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
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 775 San Antonio, Tx
bulletpruf
OP
super stock
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OP
super stock
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 775
San Antonio, Tx
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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
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