[a]

Getting ready for my 15th annual snook fishing trip to Sebastion Inlet, Been hearing some things about trailer brakes being required now...anybody know anything about this? Im pulling a 22ft Pathfinder on an aluminum trailer with double axels, behind my ford f250 diesel..this is like my 3rd year down with this rig, never had any problems....with this rig

 

[Telum Pisces]

(3)BRAKES ON ALL WHEELS.--Every vehicle shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels except:

(a)Trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers of a gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, provided that:

1.The total weight on and including the wheels of the trailer or trailers shall not exceed 40 percent of the gross weight of the towing vehicle when connected to the trailer or trailers; and

2.The combination of vehicles, consisting of the towing vehicle and its total towed load, is capable of complying with the performance requirements of s. 316.262.

The above quote is from the Florida Statutes. Hope that helps.

Jon

 

[a]

thanks for the help, how wouldthe lawdetermine the total weight of my boat, im hopeing the ol fordking ranch is pretty heavy also???

 

[FlounderAssassin]

if FL DOT pulls you over for any reason they have portable scales that they will put infront of your trailer and have you pull up on them...that will give them an approx. weight of the trailer less what your truck is suporting. and if it is over 2999 you will get a ticket and i know for car trailers, you have to leave it there till you get a trailer with breaks...not sure if they would make you do that with a boat though...kinda hard to put it on a different trailer on the side of the road.

 

[John B.]

i think you're fine... the 'ole turbo diesel ford ways a good bit, so i'm sure you'll be fine... and besides, who's gonna stop you, escort you to a weigh station, and then give you a ticket if you're in violation?

 

[John B.]

i retract my previous statement.

 

[johnsonbeachbum]

But if your tow vehicle gross weight is over 7500lbs then you can pull more than the 3000lbs without trailer brakes. As long as you stay under the 40% rule and pass the performance test. And where and when would any LEO be able or willing to go thru the performance

I think the above referenced law is the gross weight at the time of testing, not the GWR of the tow or towed vehicles.

 

[FlounderAssassin]

my understanding of the law is that it doesnt matter what your tow vheicle weighs...if your trailer exceeds 3000 pounds you must have trailer breaks...but if you are towing less weight but that weight exceeds 40% of the tow vheicles weight, you also have to have them, even though it is less then 3000 pounds...i have towed many heavy trailers...if something happens and you have to stop in a hurry, you would be happy you had trailer breaks!!! its all just a safety issue... that is my opinion on the subject...

 

[sosmarine]

I am a dealer for a major trailer manufacture and in Feb 2005 they sent me a letter referencing the above Florida Statute requiring brakes on all axles for trailers with a GVWR over 3000 lbs. As of that date they would not ship a trailer to a Florida dealer without Brakes meeting this requirement.

This was the result of a law suit over a fatal accident. During the suit, the plantiff's attorney claimed that, had the trailer involved had brakes, the accident may not have occurred. As a result, the owner of the trailer, the dealer that sold it to him, and the manufacture were held responsible.

Bottomline is, it's your trailer, truck, and insurance, so you make the choice. Your insurance may be worthless if you are involved in an accident and your trailer in not in compliance.

 

[Telum Pisces]

My question is this. Are trailers that were manufactured prior to the new law grandfathered in? Or are people supposed to be putting brakes on their trailers that are not conforming to the new law no matter what the age of the trailer.

Jon

 

[whipper snapper]

doesn't this law apply to the manufactors and not the public. as i understand if you build a trailer after jan. 06with tandem axles it must have some form of brakes. or maybe i am thinking of a different law than you guys.

where the hell is tuna man, he should have already cleared this shit up by now?

 

[sosmarine]

Knot a Yacht (10/18/2007)My question is this. Are trailers that were manufactured prior to the new law grandfathered in? Or are people supposed to be putting brakes on their trailers that are not conforming to the new law no matter what the age of the trailer.

Jon

It is apparently grandfathered. I havetwo customers that bought trailers from a FWB Dealer. One trailer only has brakes on one axle and the other has none. The trailers were supposedly manufactured before Jan 05.