To brake or not to brake?

[evilspock]

Hi guys and gals!
I am a longtime listener, first time caller....

Anyway, I have a PUP that is supposed to weigh 1990 pounds fully loaded. It has no brakes. My TV is a 1999 Jeep Cherokee 4X4 (not Grand). I have pulled it around town and have had no difficulty stopping. But, the mountains are calling me and I have to go.

The question is will I be ok if I just take it easy (low gear on downhill grades, go slow, etc) or will my entire family and I be killed and have all of our belongings strewn along the highway?

What have been your experiences and / or guideline I need to know about.

TIA

Live Long and Prosper \//,

[mike4947]

It's hard to "take it easy" when someone locks up the brakes ahead of you or pulls out in front of you.

Please remember the brakes on your TV were designed for it's GRWR (gross vehicle weight rating) not it's GCWR (gross combined weight rating) Unless you're towing with a 3/4 ton truck there's little chance of you being under the gross vehicle weight rating when towing most any modern day hard top PU.
 
Adding a ton to the back of most common daily drivers will up the stopping distance up to 50-60% over the same vehicle without the trailer.
So if you stop in 120 feet without the trailer then it's 180-200 feet with the trailer with no brakes.
Properly working and adjusted trailer brakes will bring the stopping distance back to within 10% of the distance of the TV without the trailer.

[dthurk]

There are many threads on this forum dealing with brakes/no brakes.  You should be able to find them easily with a search.  We tow with a camper that is 2140 lbs loaded.  We have electric brakes, and I'm glad we have them.    

The addition of brakes is a relatively low cost item to your camper.  It gives you much greater safety for you and your family.  The "overturned TV, ruined camper, belongings strewn, hospital visits or worse" scenario is a reality.  I read several newspaper articles each year of this happening, and that is just in our area of the state.  

If you are driving in the mountains, brake fade is a strong reality.  Brake fade results in no brakes at all.  Have brakes added to your camper and use as much engine braking as you can.  Be safe and be a happy camper!

[NadMat]

I vote brakes...

My brandywine has no brakes and I have towed it with many vehicles from '76 till today without killing myself or anyone else yet, but there have been many times I have wished it had brakes (some winding mountain roads in CO and CA come to mind) to assist the TV's.

Am currently rebuilding brandywine into the Brandynstein, and part of upgrades consist of replacing 2000 lb axle and spring setup with 3500 lb setup w/ electric brakes. Also will be strengthening and lengthening frame of pup. I don't plan on loading it to 3500 ever, but need a strong stable platform that can handle extra power features and cargo handling without pushing the envelope out to far. Plus need some taller tires to get the thing up away from ground and match TV (lifted '85 4Runner).

The good news is you can add electric brakes to most axles 'fairly' easily if your mechanically inclined, if not, your RV dealer can do it for you. And be sure to get a quality controller ( I am leaning toward the 'Prodigy' but not real close to purchasing any for a bit).

So get ya some brakes and make your trip a bit less worrisome and more relaxing.
JMAO

[ScoobyDoo]

In over 40 years of driving I can never felt I had too many brakes. It cost less to retro-fit brakes than it would cost to replace my bumper.
  My average load last week was 35ton, I know somwhat about watching what I am doing.

[AustinBoston]

But, the mountains are calling me and I have to go.

So much depends on what you mean by this word.  When I think mountains, I think 10% grade, 25 curves per mile (curves meaning 180

[Billy Bob]

If you decide to give it a go with NO brakes PLEASE post where and when you be going so the rest of us can steer clear of that area until the mess is cleaned up.

[Shelbs]

If you decide to give it a go with NO brakes PLEASE post where and when you be going so the rest of us can steer clear of that area until the mess is cleaned up.

I am sternly with Billy Bob on this one.   I feel very strongly about towing safety and the bottom line is that is it's big enough for you to sleep in should have brakes. I really think having that much weight behind you without breaks would be crazy under any conditions, not just in the mountains.

[zagles]

Put brakes on the trailer, or get them with them.  I bought my pup with out the brakes and installed them myself, the difference is night and day.  My old pup was small and light and did not have brakes.  I put brakes on this one before a trip to Charelston SC with the fam in the truck, and felt much safer.  Never had brakes in a trailer before and difference was night and day.

[tlhdoc]

Since you asked the question, you must think that there might be a need for brakes.  Just for the peace of mind put brakes on the trailer.  You will feel better and will be safer.

[Walt H]

This is my first post of the forum, but this topic seemed the appropriate place to debut. My wife and I just bought our first PU, a new Jayco 1007, and one of the essential things we wanted was electric brakes. Among other things, we figured why make ourselves or our TV work any harder than it or we have to?

[sequoyausa]

I will be towing with a 3/4 ton truck. My '98 Mesa has brakes on it, but my DH says that I must have a brake controller installed on the truck before the brakes will work. I am a novice where this stuff is involved. Is this true? Where do I get a brake controller. I have the seven-pin connector on the Pup but didn't know I needed a brake controller. I was going to tow with my 2004 Suzuki XL-7 and have the tow package on it, but feel the truck would be a lot safer. I would really appreciate feedback on this. You folks have been there. Thanks!

[evilspock]

Thanks to all who posted. I don't need a ton of bricks to hit me in the head to take a hint  

Happy Camping!

Off to order some brakes!

[wynot]

I will be towing with a 3/4 ton truck. My '98 Mesa has brakes on it, but my DH says that I must have a brake controller installed on the truck before the brakes will work. I am a novice where this stuff is involved. Is this true? Where do I get a brake controller. I have the seven-pin connector on the Pup but didn't know I needed a brake controller. I was going to tow with my 2004 Suzuki XL-7 and have the tow package on it, but feel the truck would be a lot safer. I would really appreciate feedback on this. You folks have been there. Thanks!

Get a Tekonsha Prodigy.  Camping World President's club would probably be the cheapest on-line for you.  Since you will be using a 3/4 ton truck, get the appropriate brand harness for it, and it will be done in a few minutes.

[Arizona Native]

Being a cherokee 4X4 driver myself (94')  I find the cherokee to be a little underbraked in the first place.  I presently tow a 3000 lb Fleetwood Evolution 2 but before this towed a 1200 lbs boat trailer and had troubles stopping in time and once we hit a deer we would have otherwise been able to stop for.   Hooking in a Trailer brake system in the cherokee took me about an hour.  As far as installing trailer brakes on a trailer I don't know about that but it can't be bad I would think.

With my current Trailer Brake system I feel more in control of the vehicle with 3000lbs back there than I did with 1200lbs.  If you will be driving on dirt and you like to drive over 15-20 mph I would highly recommend trailer brakes as my experience with the Cherokee is that it is prone to skid and jacknife with heavier trailers on dirt with heavy braking.

Incidentally,  I have seen enough trailer accidents on the hills between Mesa and Payson involving trailers to convince me to err on the side of safety.

(and if anyone is curious Arizona does have 10% grades and not only does it have steep grades but steep grades with 110 degree temperatures to put the old cooling system through the ultimate gauntlet,  then when most of those grades are behind you there is the grades up in the hinterlands where some mountains top 12000 feet and you can put other parts of your vehicles systems to the test.).