1800LBS Boat & Trailer Question

I'm picking up a new bass boat tomorrow and it has trailer brakes as an option. The whole package should weigh about 1800lbs, give or take. Is it a good idea to have trailer brakes or not.

 

Yes. Don't want to use up just your brakes. Better stoppage with trailer brakes.

 

Definitely get trailer brakes.

 

cool that's what I was thinking but just wanted to check. I see a bunch of other people talking about towing 5000lbs so I was on the fence with my 1800lbs boat but I'll get them installed.

 

If its not much more expense I say go for it.By the time you load up the boat with fuel and equipment your weight will add up pretty quick.Will be nice to have stopping with these light trucks.

 

I tow a few of my smaller trailers that weigh in the area of 2000lbs all day long without brakes in my taco. If you are smart about it, you will be fine.

We were towing out 35 ft sailboat with a gmc 2500 duramax. The brakes were working initially but eventually stopped working Because of the 11 ft width (wide load) we had to have a travel permit we were stuck traveling during certain hours of the day, so we pressed on. We ended up going up, then down the grape vine without brakes. It would have been a real pain to stop, but keeping the load under control was no problem going down the hill. Downshifting and keeping the speed below 50 really helped. Turned out the load truck and trailer was around 21k (8000 lb truck).

Sometimes its fine if you drive smart... although my story isnt the smartest thing I have done... but it also an extreme example.

 

oh and I mean trailer brakes in my above post of course..

 

Brakes are always handy but not a got to have i didn't see if you had a standard or an auto trans but if you pay attention you don't need them ie slowing down in advance to a stop sign or light and driving defensively. Nice to have but not a must