First timer needs advice on purchase

flagws1 · Mar 27, 2008, 10:20 PM

Hello All,
We are looking to buy our first PUP and could use some advice. It is an 04 palomino yearling that appears to be in great condition with everything working ($3500 which is right under NADA). This trailer does not have brakes and is stated to be 1640 pouns dry so I am just going to round up and say 1900 pds loaded. Anyway...I will be towing with an 05 toy tacoma 4x4 Auto which has a 6500# tow capacity. Would I want to install brakes for this or do you think I would be fine? The owner tows with an xterrra and says no problem. Any thoughts??

Thank you very much!
Kris

austinado16 · Mar 28, 2008, 12:29 AM

Quote from: flagws1Hello All,
We are looking to buy our first PUP and could use some advice. It is an 04 palomino yearling that appears to be in great condition with everything working ($3500 which is right under NADA). This trailer does not have brakes and is stated to be 1640 pouns dry so I am just going to round up and say 1900 pds loaded. Anyway...I will be towing with an 05 toy tacoma 4x4 Auto which has a 6500# tow capacity. Would I want to install brakes for this or do you think I would be fine? The owner tows with an xterrra and says no problem. Any thoughts??

Thank you very much!
Kris

Welcome!
You'll be fine. My 2,200lb Starcraft doesn't have brakes either (the previous owner removed them). I've never had a problem.

dkutz · Mar 28, 2008, 07:36 AM

no problem I tow with a sienna, the trailer has no brakes, you should have no problems.

waygard33 · Mar 28, 2008, 08:48 AM

I also have a Tacoma (07) and tow a heavy pup with brakes. Works great.

We also tow an ATV trailer that when loaded, is at 2000#. This trailer has no breaks. It handles fine but I can feel it when stopping quickly at the bottom of a hill. If your Tacoma is like mine, the break pads seem to fade a bit after a few hills. I plan to upgrade to higher quality break pad this year. If you're in flat land, you'll probably never notice it.

Good luck.

wavery · Mar 28, 2008, 09:47 AM

Check your State laws. Some States (CA included) require brakes on any trailer over 1500# (some States are 1000#).
http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

If you do any mountain towing, having brakes on your trailer may save your TV from deadly brake fade. In the long run, trailer brakes will pay for themselves by reducing wear & tear on your TV.

I had a real close call a couple weeks ago, when traffic suddenly stopped because some guy dropped a ladder off of his truck. Had I not had trailer brakes, I would have hit the guy in front of me, for sure. They make a big difference in your emergency stopping distance. :sombraro:

If you are involved in an accident and don't have trailer brakes (If required) your insurance company may deny your claim, especially if there are any injuries and they send out an investigator or the Highway Patrol sites you for no trailer brakes in the accident report.

BTW

WELCOME TO PUT!!!!!

erich0521 · Mar 28, 2008, 06:47 PM

Do check your state's laws on what weight brakes are required. I would think you have plenty of TV with out having to add brakes. I looked at a yearling when we were shopping 3 yrs ago and almost bought it but lost the auction on ebay. Good looking PUs. Enjoy.

McCampers · Mar 28, 2008, 06:52 PM

Quote from: flagws1Hello All,
We are looking to buy our first PUP and could use some advice. It is an 04 palomino yearling that appears to be in great condition with everything working ($3500 which is right under NADA). This trailer does not have brakes and is stated to be 1640 pouns dry so I am just going to round up and say 1900 pds loaded. Anyway...I will be towing with an 05 toy tacoma 4x4 Auto which has a 6500# tow capacity. Would I want to install brakes for this or do you think I would be fine? The owner tows with an xterrra and says no problem. Any thoughts??

Thank you very much!
Kris

Kris do the right thing and get the brakes. It may not be the law where you live, but you only have one chance to do the safe thing, and then you become a statistic. The trailer brakes help immensely with sway control in rough road conditions, high wind conditions, passing, etc. Not too mention they make all the difference in the world when you have to stop quickly.

flagws1 · Mar 30, 2008, 04:21 PM

Thank you all very much for your advice.

I think basedon the feedback, we will be purchasing the Palomino. I am sure I will have more questions in the near future and I am so excited that this website resource is available. we hope to go pick it up today so I will let everyone know how it goes and look at adding elec brakes in the future if there is any hesitation.

Thank you once again all and I look forward to more experiences.
K

McCampers · Apr 04, 2008, 07:20 PM

Quote from: flagws1Thank you all very much for your advice.

I think basedon the feedback, we will be purchasing the Palomino. I am sure I will have more questions in the near future and I am so excited that this website resource is available. we hope to go pick it up today so I will let everyone know how it goes and look at adding elec brakes in the future if there is any hesitation.

Thank you once again all and I look forward to more experiences.
K

Welcome to the camper world. You'll not regret it. Have a smore and remember life before campers. LOL

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First timer needs advice on purchase