Want to tow 3200 miles, but no trailer brakes?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

jagman_xjs

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2019
Posts
240
Reaction score
266
Location
Clarksville IN
Ram Year
2003 2011 2019 2023
Engine
5.7 Hemi(s)
When I buy new trailers I pay the extra $200 per axle for brakes. My reason is simple my deductible is $500 and if those trailer brakes help me NOT to have a accident then I have just made my money back. People get stupid when they see someone towing. Trailer brakes are VERY cheap insurance. I do not care what the trailer weight is brakes are on my trailers.
 
Last edited:

Dean2

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2021
Posts
3,390
Reaction score
5,720
Location
Near Edmonton
Ram Year
2021 2500
Engine
6.4
When I buy new trailers I pay the extra $200 per axle for brakes. My reason is simple my deductible is $500 and if those trailer help me NOT to have a accident then I have just made my money back. People get stupid when they see someone towing trailer brakes are VERY cheap insurance. I do not care what the trailer weight is brakes are on my trailers.
No idea when you bought your last trailer, but a 3500 lb single axle Cargo trailer with disk brakes vs one without is $1,000 more in price on a trailer that only costs $3,000 to start with. That is not insignificant on a cheap trailer that isn't packing much weight around.

Up here, all single axle trailers under 6000 lbs come standard with no brakes, they are optionally available at time of order. To add a set after you get the trailer is nearly $2,000. I have never checked what GVW on a tandem comes with brakes as standard equipment.
 
Last edited:

Utah

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2023
Posts
5
Reaction score
1
Location
Utah
Ram Year
2017
Engine
6.7
I just hauled a 3500 lb utility trailer 2000 miles with no trailer brakes with a 2019 Ford Ranger 2.3 turbo engine. You should always have the trucks trailer tow mode on as the engine and transmission work to slow you down. Worked really well but you have to be careful of crazy drivers who think it’s ok to pull in front of you and stop really fast. It’s the lousy drivers that cause the problems.
 

Venture

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2024
Posts
1
Reaction score
1
Location
California
Ram Year
2018
Engine
5.7
You can always get a trailer equipped with surge brakes and won’t have to install electric brake controls on your truck
 

scotchult

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Posts
3
Reaction score
2
Ram Year
2005
Engine
5.7
Something I haven't seen mentioned, get the trailer you want/need, and if it doesn't have brakes, you can always add them. Fairly simple install, if your mechanically inclined.
 

nlambert182

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2022
Posts
1,979
Reaction score
3,095
Location
Huntsville, AL
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7 Cummins
No idea when you bought your last trailer, but a 3500 lb single axle Cargo trailer with disk brakes vs one without is $1,000 more in price on a trailer that only costs $3,000 to start with. That is not insignificant on a cheap trailer that isn't packing much weight around.

Up here, all single axle trailers under 6000 lbs come standard with no brakes, they are optionally available at time of order. To add a set after you get the trailer is nearly $2,000. I have never checked what GVW on a tandem comes with brakes as standard equipment.
You can install trailer brakes much cheaper than $2k. On a small trailer I don't think they're necessary either, but if one were so inclined they could absolutely do it for under a few hundred bucks.

1734378599471.png
 

Dean2

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2021
Posts
3,390
Reaction score
5,720
Location
Near Edmonton
Ram Year
2021 2500
Engine
6.4
You can install trailer brakes much cheaper than $2k. On a small trailer I don't think they're necessary either, but if one were so inclined they could absolutely do it for under a few hundred bucks.

View attachment 556636
Drums are cheap, but I would never use them when disk is available. Drums are far too hard to keep adjusted and balanced. One drum grabbing even a little harder than the other is WAY worse than no brakes at all.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Nov 13, 2021
Posts
80
Reaction score
48
Location
WY
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
One thing no one has mentioned, downshift when going down grade. I barely use my brakes going over steep mountain passes with just my vehicle, while everyone else is getting hard on the brakes. And it's even worse if hauling. Hot brakes don't stop
 

nlambert182

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2022
Posts
1,979
Reaction score
3,095
Location
Huntsville, AL
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7 Cummins
Drums work fine. Sure, discs are better but not a requirement. A quality set of self-adjusting drum brakes are cheap and easy to install to put brakes on a trailer that otherwise doesn't have them. My main point is that one can do this for far less than $2k.

The drum brakes on my travel trailer and the previous ones on my fifth wheels have never given any issues. I do a 10 minute inspection twice a year and make sure they adjusted and then move on.
 

Jim welsh

Member
Military
Joined
Apr 10, 2020
Posts
43
Reaction score
25
Location
Westminster,MD
Ram Year
2019
Engine
3.6
when traveling a few thousand miles I will jack up one side of trailer spin wheel maybe make a little adjustment or not that simple
 

Snowchief

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2021
Posts
46
Reaction score
30
Location
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.4
It wouldn’t bother me any as long as my Trucks brakes are decent, keep load towards the hitch to give slight squat on truck, gear down on grades if needed and give yourself space.
 

nlambert182

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2022
Posts
1,979
Reaction score
3,095
Location
Huntsville, AL
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7 Cummins
The load needs to be balanced, not necessarily towards the hitch. Squat doesn't equal stability.

There needs to be ~12-15% tongue weight on the truck. More than that and it can get as dangerous as having too little.
 
Last edited:

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
202,579
Posts
2,955,296
Members
167,415
Latest member
Agimpuraj
Top