Towing an Ice Castle

[ERdeerhunter]

I was talking to a dealer earlier this week about buying an 8x16 Ice Castle fish house. I was told that it would need electric brakes to be legal to pull on the highway. Does anyone know if this is true?

[ac777]

If it is over 3000# then yes you do "legally" but under 3000 and your good.

[Big Buck Buster]

It all depends on the weight of the fish house. If the total weight including what you are hauling in it is 3,000# and over, it will need brakes. Check the DOT HSOforum for more information on this.

I personally wouldn't tow a house without brakes. It saves on the vehicle brakes by having them, and is safer.

[Tyler23]

we got the same thing and i dont think we have brakes on it. if your under the 3,000 weight limit take a good look at what your towing it with and then make your decision. we pull ours with a 2500hd chevy so the extra brakes aren't as important as if you were pulling it with a half ton.

[MuleShack]

I find it odd that a dealer can "legally" sell something if it "needed" brakes and they sold it with out them.

If they are selling it to you but they say it needs brakes to be legal, then they shouldn't allow it off their lot until it is legal.

If you got in an accident on the way home from the dealer with the trailer having no brakes when DOT law woudl require them that dealer would have their a$$ in a sling (lawsuit).

The previous responses are correct with the UNDER 3000# rule.

[Big Buck Buster]

I agree with MuleShack. They shouldn't be able to even sell it to you knowing that it needs brakes to be legal. That is another added expense that should be included in the price of the shack.

[elkrivermn]

My 18" beaver tail flatbed trailer weighs 2,500# empty and it has electric brakes. I have tried it without the electric brakes. Trut me you should have electric brakes over 200# legal or not. You do not want to be liable for killing a family of four that pulled out in front of you! Winter time is a challenge with snow and ice on the road , your trailer will handle so much better with a set of electric brakes.

[hunter101]

yup get one with brakes, even if its under 3000# you will proably load it heavier, and even if you dont, its much safer.

[rmk600]

could it be possible that he would need electic brakes controller in his pickup to be legal, not that trailer it self is illegal.

[Tyler23]

i doubt my 8X16 weights more than 3,000lbs. and i dont ever have my 4wheeler or anyting inside it just auger and rods.

[Dozer]

i doubt my 8X16 weights more than 3,000lbs. and i dont ever have my 4wheeler or anyting inside it just auger and rods.

I bet it does. My 6.5X12 weighs 2300lbs empty.

[Pat K]

i doubt my 8X16 weights more than 3,000lbs. and i dont ever have my 4wheeler or anyting inside it just auger and rods.

It depends on what weight the trailer is licenced for. If the gross weight is 2750 but it is licenced for over 3000 lbs. you are required to have brakes.

[jerkbait]

Originally Posted By: Tyler23

i doubt my 8X16 weights more than 3,000lbs. and i dont ever have my 4wheeler or anyting inside it just auger and rods.

It depends on what weight the trailer is licenced for. If the gross weight is 2750 but it is licenced for over 3000 lbs. you are required to have brakes.

Pretty much right there. It is all about the GVW, not the actual weight of the fish house. Also the reason that they sold them without brakes was because before the fish houses required a license it was never an issue.

[Tyler23]

we bought it 3 years ago was that before they required brakes?

[Big Buck Buster]

Yes, that was prior to the new law(for fish houses). It has been mandatory for trailer brakes on any trailer 3000# and over long before this fish house licensing ever came about. This is mandatory by D.O.T.