Towing no more than 3000#s

[Grumpaw]

There is a federal law requiring brakes on any trailer with a GVWR of 3000 lbs or more.
Surge or electric, but needed. Also, a break-away switch is mandatory for trailers with brakes.
So, your empty camper may only weigh 2000 lbs, but if the GVWR (loaded) is 3000 lbs or more, brakes are required.
Camper manufacturers are aware, and that is why you will see electric brakes on light trailers.

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[dstig1]

By convention, when someone says "a 3000 lb trailer" they are referring to the gross weight rating of said trailer, as that is what matters for regulations and registration. If someone is specifically talking about the empty weight OF the trailer they would normally note that. For example, WI does not require registration or plate for trailers under 3000 lbs, so it is quite common to find small trailers with a weight rating of 2990.

 

[Grumpaw]

By convention, when someone says "a 3000 lb trailer" they are referring to the gross weight rating of said trailer, as that is what matters for regulations and registration. If someone is specifically talking about the empty weight OF the trailer they would normally note that. For example, WI does not require registration or plate for trailers under 3000 lbs, so it is quite common to find small trailers with a weight rating of 2990.

Understood. But, the OP indicated a small camper....that means it will likely have brakes, so controller is needed.

 

[Frenchy]

By convention, when someone says "a 3000 lb trailer" they are referring to the gross weight rating of said trailer, as that is what matters for regulations and registration. If someone is specifically talking about the empty weight OF the trailer they would normally note that. For example, WI does not require registration or plate for trailers under 3000 lbs, so it is quite common to find small trailers with a weight rating of 2990.

I'm not sure what conversations you have had with other people, but I have talked with many people that are wanting to get a travel trailer of sorts and will usually question if it'll do just fine. Those same people will also mention the empty weight instead of the gross weight.

 

[Ronsetzer]

Given that I’m never going to tow more than 2500-3000 pounds, much less most of the time, do I need to bother with a Brake Controller?

Read all the threads and saw that Ford says up to 3500 without. I’m leaning towards skipping the expense and hassle of Brake Controller.

Thoughts?

If you ever need it and don't have it, well................

 

[dstig1]

Extensive conversations on trailering in Tractor by Net, Welding web, other forums, and locally in person. Empty weight is important to know how much a trailer can carry, but the weight rating is what drives all the requirements around brakes, registration, etc

 

[Big Blue]

The laws for requiring brakes on a trailer do vary by states. There are 5 states that require brakes on trailers over 1500 lbs (CA, ID, NV. NH and OR) and two more that require them on trailers over 2000 lbs( KS and OH). The rest have requirements of 3000 lbs or more.

Just because Ford says it is OK does not make it legal. One rule of thumb is if the trailer has brakes from the factory you need them. Best to check you state and any states you plan to travel to requirements.

Personally I would not tow a 3000 lb trailer without them. That's also starting to get into the range for a WDH, especially if towing frequently or longer distances. I know Ford says it's not necessary, but it helps keep the front wheels planted on the pavement.

 

[underwhelmed]

Electric drum trailer brakes aren't too expensive, and easy to install. The worst part of my install was fishing the B- ground and the B+ brake wires through the trailer frame tubes.
Connecting these wires and the existing light wires into a seven pin female plug is also easy.
When you first connect the trailer the display will prompt you to enter the trailer length. This re calibrates the blind spot warning for the longer length.

Im pretty inept at DIY. Anything involving safety goes to a pro

 

[ControlNode]

Given that I’m never going to tow more than 2500-3000 pounds, much less most of the time, do I need to bother with a Brake Controller?

Read all the threads and saw that Ford says up to 3500 without. I’m leaning towards skipping the expense and hassle of Brake Controller.

Thoughts?

I curious where you see up to 3500 without. The number I saw said up to 1650 lbs without.

Well, that was in my paper manual, looks like Ford reduced it to only 1500 lbs on the current HTML manual release.

The update also reads that if you have the truck loaded to 5500 pounds and you have a trailer over 550 pounds that you'll need trailer brakes as they now clearly state that the trucks brakes are only rated to the GVWR, not GCWR, so trailer with enough weight to put the GCW over GVWR will require its own brakes.


The PDF version that matches my paper manual:

 

[Burnt Money]

I’ll start off by saying always take the safest option. In the world of saltwater boats there are plenty of 20ft and larger some close to 30ft center console boats being pulled with barely functioning or no brakes. I know lots of people that fit in this category unfortunately. Even though it’s done daily with no issues by lots of people. It fits in the everything's good till it isn’t category. My boat and trailer are around 3500 lbs. I have surge brakes. I tow my boat year around and have done a couple trips to Florida with it and never thought I needed better brakes. But I’m also in an extremely flat environment while towing. If I were in a hilly or mountainous area I’m sure I would have a different opinion lol.

 

[underwhelmed]

I curious where you see up to 3500 without. The number I saw said up to 1650 lbs without.

Well, that was in my paper manual, looks like Ford reduced it to only 1500 lbs on the current HTML manual release.

Thanks for the info.


The update also reads that if you have the truck loaded to 5500 pounds and you have a trailer over 550 pounds that you'll need trailer brakes as they now clearly state that the trucks brakes are only rated to the GVWR, not GCWR, so trailer with enough weight to put the GCW over GVWR will require its own brakes.


The PDF version that matches my paper manual:

 

[fusseli]

My travel trailer is 1400lbs dry and it has a 2000lb axle with electric brakes. I towed it once before putting in a Redarc and I could feel the brake fade down steep hills. With the Redarc in its 100 times better. Stops on a dime. Had to turn down the braking force because I could feel the camper slowing my truck lol.

Stop talking about it and out in a brake controller if you tow a trailer with electric brakes. It’s a serious low cost no brainer.

 

[Frenchy]

My travel trailer is 1400lbs dry and it has a 2000lb axle with electric brakes. I towed it once before putting in a Redarc and I could feel the brake fade down steep hills. With the Redarc in its 100 times better. Stops on a dime. Had to turn down the braking force because I could feel the camper slowing my truck lol.

Stop talking about it and out in a brake controller if you tow a trailer with electric brakes. It’s a serious low cost no brainer.

I can agree with this. For my 2012 Frontier I decided to go ahead and get a RedArc Trailer Brake Controller. Have I towed a trailer with trailer brakes yet? No, but I suspect it will happen so it will be worth having for when the time gets here.

 

[underwhelmed]

My travel trailer is 1400lbs dry and it has a 2000lb axle with electric brakes. I towed it once before putting in a Redarc and I could feel the brake fade down steep hills. With the Redarc in its 100 times better. Stops on a dime. Had to turn down the braking force because I could feel the camper slowing my truck lol.

Stop talking about it and out in a brake controller if you tow a trailer with electric brakes. It’s a serious low cost no brainer.

Thanks for the info.

 

[JimG_AZ]

I am now towing a 77" x 10' utility trailer with a Polaris RZR and a Kawasaki dirt bike. With the RZR being only 50" wide, they fit side-by-side on the trailer. I am probably @ 2500 lbs fully loaded and I can definitely tell that the stopping distance has increased. This was towing it on flat ground, I have not pulled it through the mountains yet. I am thinking it may be time to purchase an electric brake kit from eTrailer. I already have the RedArc brake controller installed. My trailer has the Dexter EZ Lube axle with the brake flanges. Probably looking at @ $500 in parts to do it myself. May be money well spent since I will be pulling this trailer through the AZ mountains.

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