Select the States/Provences that you are traveling through to find the minimum towing weight requirement. If what you are towing exceeds the weight, an auxiliary braking system is required.
It's Not Only Where You Live, It's Also Where You are Going.
U.S. STATES WITH SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Delaware
Every motor vehicle when operated on a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement, and to stop and hold such vehicle and any trailer attached thereto, including 2 separate means of applying the brakes.
Brakes are required for any vehicle and load with a gross weight over 4,000 lbs.
Kansas
Requires any vehicle combination to stop in 40 feet at 20 mph.
Kentucky
Kentucky law does not specifically require brakes on any passenger car trailers, regardless of weight. However, vehicles singular or in combination must be able to stop within distance specified by statute.
Massachusetts
Every trailer having an unladed weight of more than 10,000 lbs shall be equipped with air or electric brakes.
Michigan
Independent braking system required when gross weight exceeds 15,000 lbs.
Missouri
Independent braking system not required except on trailers coupled by a 5th wheel and kingpin.
Nebraska
All commercial trailers with a carrying capacity of more than 10,000 lbs. shall be equipped on each wheel with brakes that can be operated from the driving position of the towing vehicle.
All recreational trailers having a gross loaded weight of 3,000 lbs. or more but less than 6,500 lbs. shall be equipped with brakes on at least 2 wheels.
All trailers with a gross loaded weight of 6,500 lbs. or more shall be equipped with brakes on each wheel. The brakes shall be operable from the driving position of the towing vehicle. Such trailers shall also be equipped with a breakaway, surge, or impulse switch on the trailer so that the trailer brakes are activated if the trailer becomes disengaged from the towing vehicle.
New Jersey
Every trailer and semitrailer must have brakes that can be automatically applied upon break-away from the towed vehicle, and means shall be provided to stop and hold the vehicle for adequate period of time.
New Hampshire
Requires any vehicle combination to stop in 30 feet at 20 mph.
North Carolina
Every semitrailer, trailer, or separate vehicle attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle of at least 4,000 lbs, and every house trailer weighing at least 1,000 lbs, shall be equipped with brake controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle.
North Dakota
Every trailer operated at a speed in excess of 25 mph must have safety chains or brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and to hold such vehicle and designed so that they can be applied by the driver of the towing vehicle from its cab, and must be designed and connected so that in case of an accidental breakaway the brakes are automatically applied.
Ohio
Brakes are required if the trailer has an empty weight of over 3,000 lbs.
Oregon
Combination of vehicles must be able to stop within legal limits.
Utah
Requires any vehicle combination to stop in 40 feet at 20 mph.
Wyoming
Requires any vehicle combination to stop in 40 feet at 20 mph.
There are laws that say when a trailer must have brakes. In most places within the USA, when the trailer total capacity is over 3000 lbs, trailer brakes are required. That’s all well and good, but we all know that laws are an ignorant way of covering the least common denominator. So, are there better guidelines?
In practice, the better guidelines don’t exist. However, this article considers several other things to think about. These are not rules, or laws, but they are guiding principles. Please note, some “Rules of Thumb” are conflicting, so this article is to open eyes, not to give strict rules.
Again, we’re NOT talking about the total your vehicle can tow, we’re talking how much WITHOUT trailer brakes. For info about total towing capacity, read the article How Much Can I Tow With My Vehicle?
Nearly every axle you can buy comes with an option to add brakes. For the most part these are like the drum brakes of older cars. (See the photo.) The technology has been around for a long time, so it is well proven, and generally quite effective. It looks kind of complicated, but it’s really not.
There are other styles like disk brakes too, but they are not as common. There are also various ways to activate them. The drum break shown is electrically actuated (electricity activates the brakes). There are other types of activation too, like Hydraulics, or air. But, those don’t really matter to the main question of this article.
Anyway, the type of brakes does not matter so much as if they are there and hooked up. That’s the first job.
The need for trailer brakes really comes down to one thing – how much do you want to slow down? Some people might ask instead – do you want to stop? But brakes are for a lot more than just stopping. In fact, the worst conditions for brakes are not stopping, but trying to control speed down a hill.
With that in mind, how good are the brakes on your tow vehicle? How much weight does your car manufacturer think they can appropriately stop?
I’ve heard some guidance as weight of the tow vehicle compared to weight of the trailer. If you’re going to use that concept, then you need trailer brakes if the trailer is more than 50% of the weight of your tower. That’s a pretty easy guide, but . . . Try stopping 50% extra weight – especially when that weight is not on the vehicle wheels assisting with the downward force that helps braking.
I don’t really like this guidance as it ignores some other important factors.
Another way to think about it is in terms of GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). This is based on braking ability. Granted, the trailer weight is not on the tow vehicle, but without trailer brakes, the vehicle must stop that weight too. If we think in terms of what the manufacturer says, presumably the vehicle can stop that much weight.
This guideline says — you need trailer brakes if the weight of your vehicle + all cargo + trailer is greater than the GVWR. So, if your mid-size SUV has a GVWR = 7,500 lbs, and you have the vehicle, 4 passengers with all their gear adding up to 6,000 lbs, then you can tow a 1,500 lbs trailer without trailer brakes. (These numbers are improv only.)
In this example, if we look at the legal limit of 3,000 lbs for a trailer without trailer brakes, we see that puts the overall system into a questionable situation. Even though specs for the SUV say it can tow 3,000 lbs, without knowing more about the braking system of the SUV, this situation is very likely big trouble.
Again, this is not super scientific since it does not take all the details into account. However, as a general guideline, I like this GVWR approach much better.
Yes, there is the little factor of weight on the wheels to provide more traction, versus weight of the trailer which does not provide more traction. Yes, skidding when trying to stop fast is a big deal when pulling a trailer that does not have brakes. That is a limitation of this approach, but as a rule of thumb, it’s better than the 2 above.
Try it. If you’re wondering about brakes, hook trailer to your vehicle and drive a little. See how fast it stops. Check out how much added distance you need with the trailer (versus driving the vehicle without the trailer). Start slow, then gradually faster. If it surprises you about how much more it takes to stop things, then get the trailer brakes hooked up. OR, If you can’t hardly tell, then you might not need trailer brakes.
On the other hand, if stopping or braking – especially into a corner – ever scares you – even just a little – then, go hook up some brakes. The size of the trailer does not matter. If something about stopping has you worried, then
There are definitely some environmental factors in the decision too. Here is a list of additional decision makers.
This is where the “Common Sense” comes in. Unfortunately, Common Sense is not so common, so take this for what it’s worth, and don’t be Cinderella’s sister. If the shoe doesn’t fit, go find the right shoe.
I’ve done it, and fortunately lived to tell. For kicks, here’s a silly story – from younger, dumber times.
When I was in college, I drove an early VW Rabbit. A great little 4-cylinder economy car. I did some work on the engine including a switch to a multi-stage carburetor so the little VW was quick with get up and go. The car weighed roughly 2800 lbs empty, and it had a tow rating of zero. Seriously, the owner’s manual said you must not pull a trailer with it. Note: Bolstering the engine does nothing for the brakes.
I also had a 20′ trailer for towing a racing motorcycle and associated gear. Guess what pulled the trailer?
Yes, I welded up a nice hitch for the VW, and I pulled a trailer around that weighted more than the car (a little more). Young and dumb? We can go with that, but as an Engineering student as well as a mechanic, I looked beyond the mark in thinking it was safe. Dumb luck is more the truth. It worked out fine, but I’ll admit, “Easy Does It” ruled the day. I endangered so many people with that. The hitch was great, but I didn’t ever take the time to hook up the trailer brakes.
I don’t recommend the approach to anyone.
I am a fan of brakes. With small, light trailers it doesn’t matter that much. Yet, there are limits. My FIRST big advise is: Consider what you’re doing, and think about how you’d respond if someone driving your rig was following your daughter (just learning to drive). Would you want them to have trailer brakes? If you’re good with it, then perhaps it passes the sanity test.
The SECOND piece of advise: Yes, make sure you meet the legal limit with trailer brakes for anything over 3,000 GTW, but go a step further. Figure out what the real numbers are for your rig. For any vehicle smaller than full-size, it’s a good bet that towing at the 3000 lbs legal requirement is pushing the limits.
And THIRD, many jurisdictions have extra requirements for trailers over 3000 lbs, like installing a Breakaway Kit. Good to know if you use a trailer in one of those places.
Safe Towing To You!
For a little more information about trailer brakes and safety measures, try our “Where’s Waldo” Trailer Safety Game and, of course the following Answers Article.