Towing Small/Medium Enclosed Trailer without Brakes - Questions

Hi all,

I'm planning on buying a single axle 5x8' or 5x10' enclosed trailer specifically to help me move 1000 miles down I-5 next month. After that, I'm not sure if I will keep it for general use or turn around and sell it. [I don't trust U-Haul trailers from the many stories I've heard and from knowing someone who was using one and had an axle break, I figure the loss I'd take from turning around and selling the trailer would be less than paying to ship all that stuff].

Every trailer I've seen in this size (new and used) doesn't have brakes. Most of these trailers weigh 800 to 1000lbs and have a GVWR of 2990 lbs. The owners manual says to use trailer brakes on anything over 1000lbs, but most people online say that it's okay not to use trailer brakes up to about 3000lbs.

I have very little experience towing, but otherwise I am very mechanical and understand cars and trucks well.

I'd avoid fully loading the trailer, but it's GVW would probably be about 2000-2500lbs. I'd also have the bed of my truck filled up with boxes, etc.

Do you all think I'd be safe without trailer brakes?

I'll post links to the trailers I'm looking at below:

New 5x8 trailer:
https://www.trailersplus.com/Oregon/Eugene/5-Wide-Cargo-Trailers/trailer/4YMCL0818GR002180

Used 5x8 trailer, 15 years old, probably wouldn't be able to load up as much as the others, would look over in person before buying:
http://eugene.craigslist.org/tro/5684306940.html

Used 5x10 trailer, haven't heard back any details yet, will wait to hear details and look over in person before buying:
http://roseburg.craigslist.org/tro/5661618465.html

As always, thank you so much for your advice!

Best,

Jack

 

I've got a 16' tandem utility and it doesn't have brakes. Used it 2 days ago with 5k worth of stone on it and I just brake early and downshift a gear or two and mines an auto

 

How far did you travel with that load and was it at highway speed or just city streets? Thanks for the reply.

 

About 20 miles, most of it was between 60-70 on back roads.

 

The trailer empty is around 1700 pounds but I've driven it plenty of miles with lumber trees and motorcycles. The taco does suck the gas down now

 

Give yourself more braking distance and remember that people will cut you off.

 

i have towed 4-6k lbs without brakes a few times and it hasnt been a problem at all! just gotta stay aware

 

I tow a 6x10 unbraked pace cargo trailer over to WV once a month. It has a capacity of 3000 lbs and mine loaded is around 2200.
I have about an hour of interstate and then twisty roads through the hills. I just keep it to 65 on 64 and 81 and keep plenty of space between myself and the vehicles in front of me.
There is usually not much traffic on the 2 lanes and plenty of truck turnouts. With the proper gear (5sp) I have never had a problem in the mountains.
I have never felt the trucks brakes weren't up to the task.

 

With 35's it's not horrible braking but like others stated be extra aware. Like riding a motorcycle, I don't trust people to look out for me I look out for them.

 

Thank you for the responses everyone! I'm much less worried about not having trailer brakes now.

Do you guys have any recommendations for things to look for on used trailers?
I plan on looking over:
-the over all condition
-look for rust
-tire tread
-tire sidewall conditions (cracking)
-visually checking the axle

Also, I will do the drive in 2 500 mile days. The first day has a number of mountain passes, all on the highway, not twisty roads, and I expect it to be hot outside.
I have the factory tow package – all I'll keep my speed to 65 or below, do you think I'd need to stop and let the truck have a rest any more often than gas stops?

 

im bad when I tow and go too fast but i think most my engine got was 210? i need to send my ultragauge in for the upgrade i payed for to get the tranny temp but never had any problems going up hills. sometimes if its a big one make sure you go into it with some speed.

 

frequently tow a boat (over 6000 lbs with the boat/trailer/gear) up to 50 miles. I towed it from Virginia to florida (1000 miles) a few years back. the brakes on the trailer had failed at some point before I made that trip, and I only discovered the brakes were gone about half way through the 1000 miles. truck was still able to stop all 6000+ lbs without issues.

a lot of people do not like the feel of brakes on tacomas, but there is no disputing that they are very strong, and the truck can handle loads well.

you'll be just fine towing a smaller enclosed trailer like that.

 

Thanks again for the info everyone!

When you tow with an automatic transmission:
do you just leave in in drive
do you just leave it in "4"
do you use engine braking often, just on big downgrades, or not at all?

Do you every worry about having the A/C cranked to full when towing?

 

I use to trailer around a 6x12 single axle enclosed trailer loaded with pool equipment, chemicals and tools. It was every bit of 4000lbs loaded, no brakes on trailer. You will be fine, pay attention to your surroundings, pay attention to people at intersections well before you approach them, give yourself plenty of room to stop and watch how people are looking in mirrors and surroundings as the travel next to you. You can start to notice their movements when they are considering a lane change. In Baltimore, you learn this quick because for some reason no one uses their damn blinkers!

 

Just remember to put the heavy stuff on the bottom, watch the curves. As far as letting the truck "rest", no. It will be fine, just use common sense.
To give you an idea, 07 Prerunner loaded with 2 bay tool box and household goods hauling my car trailer with my '40 Chrysler loaded with top half of 2 bay tool box and tools from Phoenix AZ to Roseburg OR. Yes, I have brakes. But it did just fine without additional stops to baby the motor/trans just kept it out of D.

 

i

i tend to just leave it in d and not use engine braking so i dont strss the tranny but on a lare hill i will do it a little to give the brakes a rest

 

Does keeping it in "D" not stress the transmission because it keeps it from 'gear searching' or are there other reasons?

The second half of the drive will be completely flat, I'm wondering if it would want to be in "D" for that – of course if it started 'gear searching' I'd shift it into "4".

 

well i tend to play with the throttle so it doesn't gear shit that much

 

Seen a lot of opinions here, not a lot of facts. My opinion first, you can do whatever you wish, and it may be alright, but if something happens and you aren't 'legal' you will expose yourself to great financial (and potential) physical risk.

Here are some facts. Every state regulates how vehicles can legally operate on their roads. You can read up on trailer stuff state by state here
http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/trailer-brakes/
mostly, 3000 lbs seems to be the cutoff except for a number of notable states like NY, CA, ID, and a few others. I think our Toyota owners manual advises not to operate above 1000 lbs without trailer brakes. Perhaps a bit severe, but Toyota is covering their backsides for people who may not have sufficient experience operating a vehicle with a heavy trailer.

I have operated vehicles (my YJ jeep for one) with trailers loaded that weighed more than the vehicle. I wouldn't advise it. Braking, handling and performance were all impacted severely. I did it, driving slowly on local roads but wouldn't recommend it.

My recommendation here (and just my opinion) is to think seriously about using trailer brakes and a brake controller whenever you are above or approaching 2000 lbs combined vehicle load (weight of load in your truck combined with weight of your loaded trailer) for our trucks. That's consistent with a general rule of thumb for using a trailer brake when the gross load of 40% of the vehicle weight is reached, and something that is written explicitly in several state laws. Can you get by with that weight without brakes and be ok. Probably, yes. Are you willing to accept the liability of doing so (remember you are accepting it not only for yourself but other innocents should something go wrong)? Only you can answer that question.

 

great info! another thing to consider is the tounge weight