Newbie needs advice on BRAKES . . .

[RCA]

Hello All - We are picking up our brand-spankin new Jayco 806 this week - this is our first foray into trailer camping, having only been tent campers until now.  
So, our question is... how crucial are brakes in our situation?  The 806 has a GVW rating of 2000 lbs, which is also the towing max on our Toyota Sienna.  As our new camper is now, it doesn't have brakes but I'm wondering if we shouldn't have the electric ones installed.
The folks at the Jayco dealership didn't seem to think this would be an issue but I was hoping you good folks at PUT could offer a little more advice.  Many thanks.

[AustinBoston]

Hello All - We are picking up our brand-spankin new Jayco 806 this week - this is our first foray into trailer camping, having only been tent campers until now.  
So, our question is... how crucial are brakes in our situation?  The 806 has a GVW rating of 2000 lbs, which is also the towing max on our Toyota Sienna.  As our new camper is now, it doesn't have brakes but I'm wondering if we shouldn't have the electric ones installed.
The folks at the Jayco dealership didn't seem to think this would be an issue but I was hoping you good folks at PUT could offer a little more advice.  Many thanks.

Many other manufacturers would have put brakes on that trailer as standard equipment.  Jayco trailers tend to be fairly stable to tow, but when all the chips are being cashed in, the most important thing is whether you can safely stop.

You can tow that trailer safely without brakes - but if you stop reading there you are missing information you need to know.  

Your stopping distance will significantly increase, and your following distance has to increase to match.  The only way to make up for the fact that it will take longer for you to stop is to leave more room to stop.

You will increase the amount of wear and tear on your tow vehicle brakes, resulting in more frequent brake service.  Most feel that compared to the cost of installing brakes, this is probably a wash.  Pay me now or pay me later.

If you tow in the mountains, you will have to come down very slowly to avoid overheating your tow vehicle brakes.  Once they've begun to fade (and they will), you must stop to let them cool, or face a very bad situation.

I don't know a nice way to say this, and I don't mean it to sound condescending - but if you are asking this question, you are only a beginner at towing.  Brakes make it a good bit easier and safer to tow if you're not experienced.  (They make it easier if you are experienced as well.)

Do you have to have them?  No.  Are they a good idea?  Absolutely yes.

Austin

[HersheyGirl]

Get the brakes.  Be safe.

[esclark]

I'm in a VERY simlillar situation.  We're picking up our camper this friday.  We drive an '04 Honda Odyssey which also has a tow max rating of 3,500 lbs.  Our pop-up weighs 1540 lbs and DOES have brakes.  We were told all sorts of different opinions by various dealers.  Our Honda manual states that anything over 1,000 lbs being towed should have brakes.  Check out your Toyota manual.  I do have a neighbor who has a 1900 lb Rockwood and pulls with a Sienna and he does have brakes on his pop-up.  

We were also told to get the power steerling and trans cooler put in so we don't over heat or blow our transmission.  I'm not sure if this is necessary, but, this is another thing we're getting mixed reviews on too.

Good luck and enjoy.

[zamboni]

In California, by law, you're required to have trailer brakes if the gross weight of 1500 lbs more more.  For starters, check your state.

However, as AB said, no matter what, having brakes are smarter, especially given how close to your TV's limit you are.

Even with my Explorer's 7300lb towing capacity, when my old Coleman Niagara's brakes went out and I had to tow it to the dealer without, I definitely noticed it, and was a bit nervous -- and my truck has powerful brakes.

[dthurk]

This is a safety issue.  Never skimp on safety.  The lives of you and your family (not to mention others on the road with you) are at least worth the extra expense of the brakes.  That in itself should be the answer to your question.

NYS requires brakes if unloaded vehicle weight is greater than 1000 lbs.  Doesn't matter what the state of registration is, if you're towing in NYS, you need brakes.

[tlhdoc]

RCA welcome to PUT.

If you are thinking you need brakes, then you do.  If you don't get them you will worry more.  If it were me I would have brakes on the trailer, no doubt about it.

[tnt]

If your a very careful driver, and are very lucky, you will probably only regret not having them once or twice...........GET THE BRAKES!

[Billy Bob]

This is a safety issue.  Never skimp on safety.  The lives of you and your family (not to mention others on the road with you) are at least worth the extra expense of the brakes.  That in itself should be the answer to your question.

NYS requires brakes if unloaded vehicle weight is greater than 1000 lbs.  Doesn't matter what the state of registration is, if you're towing in NYS, you need brakes.

I'm SORRY but this is not true. I have towed my 2000 lb boat for 21 years and it doesn't have or need brakes according to NYS law. I have fishing buddies that have much bigger boats that are NEW that didn't come with brakes. And as far as a out of stater coming into NYS towing he would be going by his state laws as far as electric brakes. BUT all newer CAMPERS in NYS need brakes to pass NYS inspections BUT boats do NOT.

[wynot]

All I will say is:
 
A minivan is designed to stop the vehicle with people in it, not a trailer AND a load of people.  If you have never had the experience of being in your rig and finally stopping on the far side of an intersection, while driving at or below the speed limit as I did while towing with a minivan and a trailer with no brakes...

[mike4947]

NYS laws/regulations say the braking requirement starts at 1000 pounds unloaded weight or 3000 pounds gross loaded weight if the trailer in question weighs less than 1000 pounds.Obviously your boat trailer weighed less than 1000 pounds unloaded and less than 3000 pounds loaded.
Few PU's weigh under 1000 pounds.
 
BUT, what I've come to live by on brakes for trailers where the state does not have a limit low enough is what is said in the Ford trailer towing manual.
The vehicle brakes are designed for the GVWR of the vehicle, not the GCWR. For total weights over the GVWR brakes are highly recommended.
Few of our TV's have "space" in the GVWR to cover our trailers.

[dthurk]

I'm SORRY but this is not true. I have towed my 2000 lb boat for 21 years and it doesn't have or need brakes according to NYS law. I have fishing buddies that have much bigger boats that are NEW that didn't come with brakes. And as far as a out of stater coming into NYS towing he would be going by his state laws as far as electric brakes. BUT all newer CAMPERS in NYS need brakes to pass NYS inspections BUT boats do NOT.

NYS law reads anything over 1000 lbs empty weight requires brakes.  If empty weight is less than 1000, then brakes are required if you are over 3000 GVW.  If you are stopped for any traffic violation and the officer finds that you exceed these limits according to the numbers posted on your trailer and you don't have brakes, you will be ticketed for no brakes regardless of state of registration.  Speeding tickets are also given to out of state drivers!  If you are driving in a state, you are required to observe the MV laws of that particular state.  Your original state of registration does not apply.  When towing through several states, you should know what the laws are in each state you are passing through pertaining to trailers and towing.  You need to comply with ALL requirements found in ALL states.

I'm not aware of any variations for boats, but we're talking campers in this forum, not boats (Wavery excepted!).

[dthurk]

I'm SORRY but this is not true. I have towed my 2000 lb boat for 21 years and it doesn't have or need brakes according to NYS law. I have fishing buddies that have much bigger boats that are NEW that didn't come with brakes. And as far as a out of stater coming into NYS towing he would be going by his state laws as far as electric brakes. BUT all newer CAMPERS in NYS need brakes to pass NYS inspections BUT boats do NOT.

NYS law reads anything over 1000 lbs empty weight requires brakes.  If empty weight is less than 1000, then brakes are required if you are over 3000 GVW.  If you are stopped for any traffic violation and the officer finds that you exceed these limits according to the numbers posted on your trailer and you don't have brakes, you will be ticketed for no brakes regardless of state of registration.  They give speeding tickets to out of state drivers also!  Being out of state does not exempt you from state MV laws.  

I'm not aware of any variations for boats, but we're talking campers in this forum, not boats (Wavery excepted!).

[wavery]

NYS law reads anything over 1000 lbs empty weight requires brakes.  If empty weight is less than 1000, then brakes are required if you are over 3000 GVW.  If you are stopped for any traffic violation and the officer finds that you exceed these limits according to the numbers posted on your trailer and you don't have brakes, you will be ticketed for no brakes regardless of state of registration.  They give speeding tickets to out of state drivers also!  Being out of state does not exempt you from state MV laws.  

I'm not aware of any variations for boats, but we're talking campers in this forum, not boats (Wavery excepted!).

Maybe this will help:

From NY State website:
"Every trailer weighing more than 1,000 lbs. (unladen) and every trailer manufactured on or after January 1, 1971, having a maximum gross weight or actual gross weight of more than 3,000 lbs. Shall be equipped with adequate brakes in good working order."

Only thing is.........who says that RCA (original poster) is in NY. He seems to have abandoned his post :p .

I think that we are talking to ourselves again . Exercise in futility :p .

[dthurk]

Maybe this will help:

From NY State website:
"Every trailer weighing more than 1,000 lbs. (unladen) and every trailer manufactured on or after January 1, 1971, having a maximum gross weight or actual gross weight of more than 3,000 lbs. Shall be equipped with adequate brakes in good working order."

Only thing is.........who says that RCA (original poster) is in NY. He seems to have abandoned his post :p .

I think that we are talking to ourselves again . Exercise in futility :p .

You're right.  He's probably gone.  Thanks for the "official" version.  I think mine's easier to figure out.  Or did you bring this up just for the legalese?  Are there any trailers still on the road that were manufactured before 1971?

We're not futile to ourselves.  I still learn, that's why I'm here.  BTW, thanks for the solar info.