I was looking under my new to me Triton 19 XS and found one of the brake calipers was off and hanging up by a zip tie, which means the brakes haven't been working at all. My F250 tows and stops it like it isn't there. Should I even worry about fixing the brakes?
Last edited by bassfisher444; 02-05-2024 at 09:14 PM.
An F250 on mostly flat terrain is a non-issue. I would get it fixed as soon as practical but it is not an emergency. It really should have brakes and it is an easy job to just replace everything.
USN Retired
2020 Basscat Caracal
2020 Mercury 225 ProXS 4s
My single axle Champion trailer model SV-1800 (Trailers Inc.) never had brakes, GVWR is 2990 LBS.
CAT Scale - trailer axle weight 2760 (May 2003, certified automated truck scale). Champ has been towed for 30+ years with no problems, last 18-years with 4wd 4dr Tahoe.
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MSHP - "Trailer brakes are required on trailers coupled by a fifth wheel and kingpin, and on trailers hauling hazardous materials with a gross weight exceeding 3,000 pounds." (MO State Highway Patrol)
Last edited by tj; 02-06-2024 at 10:54 AM.
Champion 184
Mercury 175 EFI
Have a 19' 8" boat no brakes tandem axle. NO PROBLEMS.
F250 won't really care, if you were running a smaller tow vehicle i'd be more concerned.
2020 Tracker 190 TX | 115 ProXS | 4" Jackplate | Quicksilver Q4 21P Prop | Garmin Force w/MillerTech 36v-60Ah | Livescope |
YouTube - Fishing & Lithium Battery Content: https://www.youtube.com/@goodmanfishing/videos
The brakes on the trailer will help stop with more control in an emergency situation. Other than that, you shouldn't have an issue. Just remember, you don't need them until you do. (And having them but they're broke)
2014 Phoenix 721XP, 250 SHO, Bobs Action Jack, Dual Blades, 112 Ultrex, 2019 Lariat FX4 F150 Supercrew 4x4
Depends on the driver.
Steve McQueen "Le Mans"
Own the Champ!Life Long Petty Fan!
2003 ChampioN 2006 250 Merc. XB, Prop By Mark C.
2002 Ranger Okeechobee Special EvinRude Ficht 90 / 9.9 4-Stroke GLAD to have a Get me to the Dock motor maybe!
Depends on state laws.
Here, 3500GVW and up must have brakes.Originally Posted by gdi
Mike
2019 Ranger 520L w/ 250HO ETEC G2
2011 Tracker 175TXW w/ 75HO ETEC
This ^ was my immediate thought. In a strong braking situation with wet/slippery roads, my guess is that trailer brakes would help to keep the trailer from jackknifing. On straight stops and dry roads, with a heavier vehicle in front of it, a 19’ rig should stop safely, although again, in a panic stop situation you won’t stop as quickly without trailer brakes as you would with them. Stopping more quickly is not important until it is.
my 20ss stratos was a single axle with brakes always glad they were there even with my 1500 tow vehicle
2022 z519 cup 225 merc 4s ser # 3B210484. 2--hds12 live units. 2 poles, atlas plate, ghost, hamby's, active target, merc digital gauges
2002 basscat pantera 3 (dad bought new) sold 8-2-22
2000 stratos 20 ss (bought new) 200 hp Rude ficht great boat/motor sold 11-21
pulled by a 2500HD Denali
proud dad of an ARMY Captain
MAGA
ASE/GM Master tech before tools
Not needed here if your trailer is less than 2K empty.
If the gross weight rating or GVWR of the trailer is over 3,000 pounds or more, you must have working brakes on one axle in Ohio.
2020 Ranger VS1782 DC
Mercury ProXS 150
Garmin 106 Ultra/UHD 93sv/LVS34
Ulterra Quest, 115/90
Ditto....My 18.5 Nitro has them on the Trailmaster trailer.
I know of one panic stop instance that they bailed me out.
Just finished a complete rebuild. New actuator and calipers/pads/lines.
I was asked many years ago when I towed my race car on a trailer if it had brakes, by a Pa turnpike ticket taker. I immediately said yes. He waved me on. It didn't. Pa demands brakes on certain trailers.
I've got the same boat and cut my brakes off when I had to put two new axles under the trailer. No issue so far, just have to be mindful of following distance, which you should do regardless of whether you have trailer brakes or not.
'13 Triton 19SE 225 Pro XS
'09 Chevy Silverado Z71
Not much different than a truck being built so heavy unloaded when I got in the cab it was over GROSS weight and then you put the load on it.
Lots and lots of fun driving in rush our traffic and trying to to keep my assured cleared distance. BTW I only weighed 185. 300,000 miles in that rig and never hit a thing.
Own the Champ!
2003 ChampioN 2006 250 Merc. XB, Prop By Mark C.
2002 Ranger Okeechobee Special EvinRude Ficht 90 / 9.9 4-Stroke GLAD to have a Get me to the Dock motor maybe!
Just another thought on this subject. If you ever are in an accident and it is proven your brakes have not been working, deactivated or removed, it will be an easy call to say you contributed to the accident. Insurance and their lawyers look into it all. In my case, everything was working properly plus I was not at fault but they still tried to get out of paying! A woman ran a redlight and I t-boned her. I had a dashcam and witnesses to prove it. Her insurance had my truck and boat inspected for this very reason.
accident 1.jpg
Last edited by 06 SB; 02-08-2024 at 01:02 PM.
USN Retired
2020 Basscat Caracal
2020 Mercury 225 ProXS 4s
Just fix the brakes. It’s not that hard. Borrowed my team partners boat to fish single in our team event. He didn’t tell me his trailer brakes were not working. Towed with a 1500. Brakes were smoking on the hills and fried the truck brakes in one trip
Must have been a GM product.
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