question re:need for trailer brakes

DeTitan · Feb 12, 2006

MK,

You are correct, most home state (auto and trailer) regulations/rules follow you on your travels across the union! Though at times if the size limits or number of trailers allowed exceeds the host state rules, then folks have been pulled over and ticketed.

The insurance coverage issue: I was called upon as a witness when a trailer went haywire and damaged property. The question was wanton negligence, if the owner is actively engaging in reckless behavior with full knowledge then in the fine print every insurance company has language where they can deny coverage. The point made was "just imagine the liability exposure each insurer would create to an insurance company", if coverage was carte blanche.

The person in trouble not only did not have trailer brakes for a rather large trailer loaded with toys, but was also switching one plate across several trailers.

A slew of tickets were issued along with the non coverage of the damages which included the driver's property and state property.

majorKAP · Feb 12, 2006

Thanks, DeTitan, for the reply. That sheds a little light on the subject and helps to make it clearer to me.

Thanks also for not mentioning the crumple zone thing. I hate to see the mods chastise you again.

KAP

gstlouis · Feb 13, 2006

What type of brakes are you getting, surge or electric?

FLA-Titan · Feb 13, 2006

DeTitan said:
MK,

You are correct, most home state (auto and trailer) regulations/rules follow you on your travels across the union! Though at times if the size limits or number of trailers allowed exceeds the host state rules, then folks have been pulled over and ticketed.

I was reading an article in Sport Fishing Magazine on trailering and it stated that you have to abide by the state laws in which you are towing in. In Florida, trailer brakes are required on any trailer weighing more than 3000 LBS.

NKYTITAN · Feb 13, 2006

DeTitan said:
Imagine braking very fast while going around a curve on wet surface, if the trailer has no brakes it is bound to snap out and hit the side of the truck!

You’re on the right track, but I believe you might be a little off on your description.

When you brake around a curve w/ no trailer brakes, it wants to push the back of the tow vehicle towards the outside of the turn. This in turn would cause the vehicle to "fish tail" which would cause a pretty nasty jack knife.
From what you describe, it seems that you are saying that the trailer you are towing would lose traction and fish tail which is highly unlikely because there is nothing to cause the trailer to lose traction because of the lack of brakes.

With that aside, you still need to be careful when braking suddenly during a turn even if you have trailer brakes. I watched a good friend of mine get cut off in a pretty sharp turn while towing his boat on the interstate. Even though he had surge brakes and it was on dry pavement, the weight of the boat still wanted to push the back of his truck towards the outside of the turn. Luckily for him nobody was in the lane next to him because it took almost two lanes worth of swerving to get that thing back under control. I'm glad I was following him and not in the truck cuz it looked pretty bad. :teethmast

question re:need for trailer brakes

DeTitan

majorKAP

gstlouis

FLA-Titan

NKYTITAN

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