I would imagine that older trailers will be grandfathered in and if your trailer is registered in a state that doesn’t require it they’d go by that.
97 TR21 99 225EFI S/N OG885575
Some states it’s required. If you are over 3000 gvwr you are required brakes, if your trailer has tandem axle both axles must have brakes otherwise it fails inspection. DOT can and will park you along the road if they choose if your stopped in PA with brakes on just one axle.
Really !!
Thats not what this says about PA.
https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/trailer-brakes/
I have a 2008 Triton TR-21x Elite. Tandem trailer with brakes on both axles & shock absorbers on both axles. Factory trailer. Don't know if both brakes are worth it but will flat stop at 70 mph on the interstate.
Are you going to believe AAA? Don't. Why do people trust other sites other then the state sites?
Here is PA
§ 175.123. Braking systems.
(a) Condition of braking systems. Braking systems and components shall be in safe operating condition as described in § 175.130 (relating to inspection procedure).
(b) Service brakes. A trailer shall be equipped with a service brake system. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 4502 (relating to general requirements for braking systems).
(1) The service brakes shall act on all wheels upon application except for the following:
(i) On interconnected dual wheels, the brakes may act upon only one wheel.
(ii) A vehicle being towed in driveaway-towaway operation.
(iii) A trailer of a gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, if the gross weight of the trailer does not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the towing vehicle.
(2) The service brakes, when required, shall be capable of stopping the vehicle in not more than the maximum stopping distance prescribed in Table I.
(3) Surge or inertia type brake systems are authorized.
(4) The brake lining and brake fluids shall be of a type approved by the vehicle manufacturer or shall meet the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards (J998, January 1980)—see Appendix A (relating to minimum requirements for motor vehicle brake linings—SAE J998).
(5) Metal from the shoe may not contact the brake drums or rotors.
(6) A vehicle to which additional axles and wheels have been added shall be equipped with brakes on the additional wheels.
(7) Brake lines shall be approved for use as brake lines.
(c) Breakaway system. A trailer operated on a highway which is equipped with brakes or which has gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds shall be equipped with a breakaway system which shall stop and hold the vehicle automatically upon breakaway from the towing vehicle.
(d) Air chamber push rod. The air chamber push rod travel may not exceed the manufacturer’s specifications maximum stroke allowance. See Chart 4 (relating to brake chamber push rod travel (typical)) for a drawing of the air chamber push rod.
THERE YOU HAVE IT IN BLACK AND RED..
If your a lawyer you might even understand it.
Wonder how many tickets them DOT boys could write in PA if they stayed at the lake nabbing every tandem trailer with brakes on one axle.
Which one is this ?A trailer shall be equipped with a service brake system. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 4502 (relating to general requirements for braking systems)
Of all of my trailers I have had one trailer with dual axle brakes, all other have been on a single axle brakes.
Bryan McDonough
2023 Nitro Z21 XL
Nitro Team