Unbraked towing

I'm want to make sure that I fully understand what I read.

2014 Prerunner Off-Road with V6 / tow package ... 650 tongue weight ... ability to tow 6,500 pound trailer with brakes ... not to exceed towing a 1,000 pound trailer that has no brakes.

Are a trailer's brakes connected when the wiring harness is hooked up?

 

It depends on whether the trailer has electric brakes, (or electric over hydraulic), or surge brakes. If electric (or electric over hydraulic) then you will need a brake controller as mentioned - skip the cheap ones and get a good proportional controller too. Surge brakes have a surge brake master cylinder in the coupler of the trailer and do not require a controller.

 

Thanks Cyper ... I thought it might be more than plug and play as far as the brakes go.

I have the tow package ... V6 with Class IV receiver ... transmission oil cooler ... engine oil cooler ...130A alternator ... heavy duty battery ... trailer sway control ... so it can tow 6,500 lbs.

The "braked" and "unbraked" towing had me wondering ... thanks for the insight.

 

Also check with your DMV - most states have requirement - if trailer + load is over xxxx pounds, trailer brakes are required (also a good idea). Old rule vehicle brakes stop the vehicle, trailer brakes stop the the trailer.

Formerly had a Mazda truck, and a 5x10 open trailer with 4-wheeler aboard, was as much weight I wanted to pull without trailer brakes (around 1000 pounds).

 

I tow a 2000 lb snowmobile trailer thousands of miles in Northern NH winters with no trailer brakes. You need to be aware, but it's not exactly an issue. I wouldn't insist on trailer brakes until I got north of 2500lbs or so. My sled trailer tows like it's not even there, both accelerating and braking.

 

Thanks guys ... I torn up the owner's manual and it had no clear explanation.

 

I have a 4x4 trd off road with tow package. I have towed about 3k lbs WITHOUT trailer brakes. our trailer dose not have them. trailer+rhino+4 wheel the weight is about 3k. the trailer is 7’ x 12’ and rated to haul 3k LBS.


I feel anything 3500LBS or more needs trailer brakes.

 

I've towed around 5,000 lbs with no brakes in atlanta traffic, didn't have any issues. 2nd gens have plenty of stopping power. Wouldnt mind having a TBC though

 

Anything over 1653lbs/750kg must have brakes here in Oz.

 

I've towed up around 3,000 lbs without brakes, no issues just leave more stopping distance.

 

Ive towed about 5000 lbs without them, but id say a good rule of thumb would be if the load meets or exceeds the weight of the truck, it should be braked imo

 

Need to comply with state regulations. In Va anything rated over 3000 lbs MUST have brakes. Can not be licensed without them and require yearly inspections.