Do I need trailer brakes?

[elkhunter338]

Re: Do I need trailer brakes?

If you are not experienced pulling a trailer, especially a 3,000 lb trailer with a smaller pickup you need to be careful. Do not speed, do not go fast down hills, shift down to a lower gear and leave lots of room to stop. A rule of thumb is go down the hill alittle slower than you can go up the hill. Watch out for trailer whipping when your trailer is getting heavy compare to your truck.
I can not caution enough do not speed and do no tailgate your stopping distance is going to increase abunch.
Shift down and do not use up your brakes.

 

[98Shabah]

Re: Do I need trailer brakes?

I had a 4.0L Ranger that was rated for over 6K and would tow it with ease. Even mid sized pickups and SUV's have more power and better brakes than old school 3/4 ton pickups.

+1 on this. Mid sized suvs of present times have more braking power than 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks of the 70s and 80s. Outside of the state regulation, it's all about your comfort zone,towing experience, and the type of traffic you are towing in. Nobody can or should expect a tow vehicle to stop an extra 3,000lbs of weight in the same distance as the tow vehicle did with no load at all.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Do I need trailer brakes?

This ain't your old-school Nissan Hardbody Pickup.

Still too light to tow that much. I towed a 4000# boat with an S-10 Blazer....once. It wasn't the power or the brakes. It was the weight and the wheelbase that kills you.