Trailer Brakes

[dukhntr]

I have looked through the various trailer sites and can't find the answer. I have a 16' + 4' v-front (total 20') tandem axle fish house. My house is (newly) licensed for 6K lbs. Do I need brakes on one axel or both??? Also, is it required to have a break-away unit installed?

Thanks fo any help

dukhntr

[BK19]

it doesn't matter what it is licensed for they look at the manufactures axles if they are #3500 pound axles they will say you have to have brakes on both axles yes I know and the fine could have bought me another flasher if they are only 3000 your good

[dukhntr]

BK: I understand what you are saying for a utility type trailer with a complete axel under it. With that set up, I would guess that there is a tag or certification plate on the axel you could look at to determine the rating.

But a fish house does not have a full axel. The hubs are on a pivoting arm. Do they just look at the hubs? If so, how do you tell what the hub rating is? I always heard that if the fish house weighs 3000 lbs or more, it needs brakes, regardless of the rating of the hub or axel. If this is true, then does a 3000 lb (or more) fish house with tandem axels need brakes on both axels?

TIA,

dukhntr

Edit: In other words, if a single axel 3000 lb fish house needs brakes, would the same fish house need brakes on both axels if it is a tandem trailer?

Thanks,

dukhntr

[Phred52]

dukhntr, At that point, you might want to start checking the D.O.T. requirements. When you get above a certain point of the weight of the tow vehicle, brakes ARE required (but I don't think they're necessary on both axles, maybe just the lead axle). I'll look on some other websites to see if I can find the regs and will repost if I find the them. dukhntr, google 'trailer brake requirements by state', click on the top one, (that'll be) by state brake laws As I read it, "Brakes are required if the trailer exceedes the weight of the empty tow vehicle. another one is "Auto brakes are required if the trailer exceeds 6000#". Please check the site for yourself, I hope I'm not misleading you. Phred52

[Big Buck Buster]

The auto brakes are the brake away units. They consist of putting an alternate source of power on the trailer(another battery), and a brake away switch on the tongue with a cable. If the trailer would ever come unhooked, it would send the full battery power from the battery on the trailer to the brakes to stop it.

I believe that if it has tandem axles, you need brakes on all four wheels if it exceeds 3,500# GVW.