How big a boat and trailer brakes

[ChoochCharlie]

I've had a 14' fishing boat for years. A very little boat. But I am no stranger to pulling a boat or trailer.
I've pulled horse trailers and dump trailers too.

I'm hooked on wakeboarding, as of this summer (thanks to friends with a MasterCraft)
And my wife has told me, it is "OK if I drag home a ski boat" so now I am looking for a winter project.

I drive a GMC Yukon with a 5.7 liter.
Lurking and searching here, I have determined that I could pull a 19 to 24 foot boat with my truck.
Here is the question.
Do I need to install a trailer brake control? At what point pulling a boat do you need trailer brakes? How big or how heavy?
With the horses and the dump trailer (pulled with a different truck) I used trailer brakes and had an under dash control.
Just want to be prepared. I'm looking for an old I/O that will handle the family and a few friends.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How big a boat and trailer brakes

Any boat and trailer 19 ft or larger will legally be required to have brakes; or at least "Should"!

Most boat trailers will have Surge Brakes.
A hydraulic actuator in the trailers coupler operates the brakes by the force of the trailer trying to push the truck during braking.
This is all automatic with no input from the driver and no modifications to the tow vehicle.
You just attach the trailer and it operates it own brakes without your help.

The tow vehicle electrical connection is commonly a 5 pin flat connector. Or a 7 pin round connector to a 5 pin flat adapter.
The 5th pin is used to disable the brakes when backing up.

Enter your location in your profile.
Where you live makes a difference.
The most common trailer weight requiring brakes is 3000 lbs, but it varies from 1000 to 10,000 lbs by state.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: How big a boat and trailer brakes

Pennsylvania

1. Required on trailers over 3000 lbs. Or if gross weight of trailer exceeds empty weight of tow vehicle.
2. Required if weight of trailer exceeds 40% of tow-vehicle weight.

 

[ChoochCharlie]

Re: How big a boat and trailer brakes

Exact info I needed. Thank you.