Folks, we are looking to buy a popup this year, and have found a nice looking starcraft. Problem is it doesn't have electric brakes, and we were wondering if that is a potential trouble esp. on mountain roads. what is your opinion? We have only tent camped up till now and are new to all this! Thanks!
My first PU didn't have any brakes at all, it was a 1974 Starcraft Swinger 6, but weighed under 2000# and wasn't required to have brakes. My 1978 Starcraft Starmaster 8 was the same size box, but apparently a little heavier as this trailer had surge brakes.
In either case, I never had any problems stopping either of them, even after the surge brakes on trailer #2 stopped functioning... Adding electric brakes is always an option, especially if the trailer is already equipped with backing plates for the brakes to bolt onto. If not, even the backing plates can be bought. The question is, will you feel safe without them? And the other question is do you want to go to the trouble of adding them on?
Sounds like it's not that necessary with the lighter popups, and not a reason to not buy the camper, if it's still for sale...
Thanks!
well what is you TOW vehicle? A Suberban 2500 with big disc breaks all round will have no problem stopping a pop-up, any pop-up. but a Ford escort going down hill, will need some serious help!! *L*
Well, if someones trying to tow a trailer with an Escort, they really need to have their head examined! My Grand Cherokee has huge beefy brakes on it for such a little Jeep, and two PU's without brakes it did just fine. Personally, I'd rather have brakes, and would probably add them if need be (parts can be bought at northerntools.com).... Many older & smaller trailers just don't have brakes, usually trailers that weigh under 2000#....
Quote from: UnregisteredFolks, we are looking to buy a popup this year, and have found a nice looking starcraft. Problem is it doesn't have electric brakes, and we were wondering if that is a potential trouble esp. on mountain roads. what is your opinion? We have only tent camped up till now and are new to all this! Thanks!
We have a preety big Palomino Mustang and have towed it with both an Olds Bravada and Chevy Trailblazer up and down the Shenandoah mountains on Skyline Drive (a real test) with no problems. Just keep it in a low gear...