Trailer towing

So, my dad finally got a horse trailer for the reindeer and would like me to tow it, empty, from the original owners house to our house (I have a truck he has a minivan).

My truck came wired up with a 4way signal plug but no towing brake system. Do I absolutely need one for an empty trailer and if so how easy/hard are they to install?

Attached is a picture of the trailer. I'm trying to get more info.

 

Depends on the weight of the trailer. If it's under 3000 lbs then I think it should be fine.

 

You probably don't need one.

What does the trailer weigh and how long is the drive?

 

It all comes down to just how far you need to drag this thing home.

If it has been sitting most likely the brakes will need some attention before they will work.

What are the plans for Towing this when the critters are loaded in planning on a tow vehicle??

 

I would not worry about brakes "just to get it home" but keep in mind you are not safely stopping that thing with animals in it without those added brakes because its going to be pushing you, so definitely hook that up and make sure they work. or trucks don't have much in the way of good brakes and if you plan to tow that thing regularly you should do a tundra brake upgrade on it for added safety

 

I plan on doing a brake upgrade, probably for a tundra, before getting the reindeer.

 

So, took my truck in to get it wired up for trailer hauling but what the heck....Why would you put the connection here, on a rusted out bumper instead of putting it in the nice circular hole in the hitch, designed exact for this sort of connection. Seems strange to me. Is there any logic behind this?

 

That is very odd. Hopefully they left you some slack in the wiring so you can move it over. 4 bolts and your done.

 

Will it clear the spare tire if it's attached to the hitch? Just a thought

 

Well depending just what type of plug that is .

it might need to be disconnected the cable pulled through the hole in the receiver then rewired .

This looks like this was wired then just secured to what was easier .

Also the clearance between the spare and the receiver might also be an issue now or if your tire size increases

 

The spare tire thing was all I could think of for a legitimate reason.