To brake or not to brake - that is the question???

[treerat]

Folks

I will be picking up a 5.5m the end of the week and the final question is should the trailer be braked?

I tow on a 2L Insignia with a tow option of 1600kg braked and 750kg unbraked. Looking at the build I have;

Engine 150
Console / seating 95
Battery 18
Fuel 75
Anchor 15
Trailer 100
Hull 250

=703kg total (before electrics)

Which leaves 47 kgs for kit.

I'd rather stay with an unbraked due to less moving parts ad the issues we have with the dive club's braked trailer. However is it too close to the limit? Should I be playing save and going braked which will cover the risk of extra kit on board or will the 40 kgs I have spare be ok?

Your thoughts as always appreciated.

Ta

[ShinyShoe]

I've towed more than 40kg of water before by accident.

Those are dry weights at manufacture.

I'd suggest its a weigh bridge job to see what it all really weighs. I suspect your margin is not as much as 40kg.

[whiskylee]

You could put the battery, anchor & accessories in your car,that would take you well under 750. Do you need to have the fuel in the boat for the journey !

[matt h]

Personally I would go with Unbraked for that. Also depends on the amount of towing you gonna do etc etc and also drive the car with some mechanical sympathy.
if you do short journeys with Braked (as you have found out) they will never dry out and will sit n fester in their own rust!

[treerat]

Originally Posted by matt h

mechanical sympathy??

It's a fleet car

Ta

[lukewhiting]

The weight of the boat shouldn't matter. It's the weight that the trailers rated too (from a legal view) If the trailer is only rated to 750kg you won't need brakes. If it's rated higher they should have them already fitted.

If the boats heavier than 750kg you'd be overloading the trailer unless rated higher.

That's how I'd have thought it anyway!!

What's your trailer rated too?

[matt h]

Originally Posted by treerat

It's a fleet car

Ta

Ha Ha. def no to braked then.. !

[treerat]

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

The weight of the boat shouldn't matter. It's the weight that the trailers rated too (from a legal view) If the trailer is only rated to 750kg you won't need brakes. If it's rated higher they should have them already fitted.

If the boats heavier than 750kg you'd be overloading the trailer unless rated higher.

That's how I'd have thought it anyway!!

What's your trailer rated too?

The non braked trailer is rated for the boat - its coming with it. The issue is I can only tow 750kg total weight which includes everything behind the tow ball on an unbraked before I go for a braked trailer.

[lukewhiting]

I understand now!! Personally I wouldn't bother with brakes either! Just pack car & boat with car and I can't see any issues

[paintman]

As has already been said, when you've got it load it up as normal & take it to a local weighbridge. You'll then know for certain & shouldn't get a nasty surprise if stopped & weighed.
I had mine weighed at a local 'civic amenities' site (aka local tip & for anyone in the Leicester area that's the one at Whetstone).
Do a Google to find yours & give them a ring to check they have a weighbridge.
IIRC it was less than a fiver & I was given a signed certificate which lives in the car just in case.

The law says you cannot tow an unbraked trailer that weighs more than 750kgs. Above 750kg it must have brakes.

[lukewhiting]

Originally Posted by paintman

As has already been said, when you've got it load it up as normal & take it to a local weighbridge. You'll then know for certain & shouldn't get a nasty surprise if stopped & weighed.
I had mine weighed at a local 'civic amenities' site (aka local tip & for anyone in the Leicester area that's the one at Whetstone).
Do a Google to find yours & give them a ring to check they have a weighbridge.
IIRC it was less than a fiver & I was given a signed certificate which lives in the car just in case.

The law says you cannot tow an unbraked trailer that weighs more than 750kgs. Above 750kg it must have brakes.

And a b+e license...to add that into the mix

[treerat]

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

And a b+e license...to add that into the mix

License is easy - I'm old

[willk]

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

The weight of the boat shouldn't matter. It's the weight that the trailers rated too (from a legal view) If the trailer is only rated to 750kg you won't need brakes. If it's rated higher they should have them already fitted.

If the boats heavier than 750kg you'd be overloading the trailer unless rated higher.

That's how I'd have thought it anyway!!

What's your trailer rated too?

Trailer ratings include the weight of the trailer AND the load. Therefore you cannot legally tow a 750 boat on a 750kg rated trailer. The rating of the tow vehicle is a secondary issue.

[lukewhiting]

Originally Posted by willk

Trailer ratings include the weight of the trailer AND the load. Therefore you cannot legally tow a 750 boat on a 750kg rated trailer. The rating of the tow vehicle is a secondary issue.

So say a 750kg boat plus the 100kg weight of the trailer is illegal then? And you'll need a higher rated trailer?

[willk]

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

So say a 750kg boat plus the 100kg weight of the trailer is illegal then? And you'll need a higher rated trailer?

Yup

[Pikey Dave]

Notwithstanding the "paper" issues of law/license/car spec etc. Trying to stop an extra 3/4 tonne load with a relatively light family saloon, will fundamentally alter the handling of the car in an emergency stop situation. Hopefully you'll live to regret not going braked.
About 20 years ago, I ran into the back of another car (Astra) whilst towing a 4 wheel braked boat trailer, we were in a traffic jam in October, it was raining & the roads were in that horrible, snotty, greasy autumnal state. I was doing 15mph & just gone into 2nd gear. The traffic stopped, I braked, the wheels on the trailer locked as did the car (both were examined after the accident by the police) we gracefully slid into the back of the Astra, the back window of the Astra blew out & went over the top of the Disco & landed in the boat. The rear of the Astra ceased to be, if there had been anyone on the back seat, they would probably have lost their legs. We closed the A1 for a couple of hours.
The police couldn't find fault with either trailer or vehicle & I wasn't prosecuted, it was "one of those things".
Our 2 year old was asleep in the back & never flinched throughout. The Astra was a write off, we had a cracked headlight on the Disco & drove home. The Policeman in charge at the scene commented on the damage to both vehicles & said that the Disco "wasn't very car friendly" I looked at the damaged Astra & asked him which vehicle would he rather have been in.
So my point?
When it's hitting the fan, you need all the help you can get & you'll be glad of it, regardless of what the law says you can get away with.
I'll get off my soap box now

[mick]

IMO get a braked trailer accidents are not to seek stuffing the car with gear isn't the answer at all either.listen to experience

[Last Tango]

Originally Posted by mick

IMO get a braked trailer accidents are not to seek stuffing the car with gear isn't the answer at all either.listen to experience

+1.....

100kg sounds like a light trailer for a 5.5 mtr boat and 150KG engine.

I towed a 5.2 mtr Seapro with a 75 two stroke (140Kg) with a C220 Merc. (fitted with uprated brakes). Never had it weighed but probably around 700Kg and would have been happier had the trailer been braked.

Whatever the law says, you're expecting the car the stop 50% more than the brakes were designed to stop. It's not a little box trailer and you will be very conscience of the depleted braking efficiency

[jeffstevens763@g]

If that trailer only weighs 100 kg it's very lightly built mine weighs 200 kg dry weight indespetion vario for a 3.8 m boat 600 kg gross , it will be more like 240-300 kg dry weight possibly more for that size boat.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Last Tango

you're expecting the car the stop 50% more than the brakes were designed to stop. It's not a little box trailer and you will be very conscience of the depleted braking efficiency

Well if the car is rated to tow the trailer then the brakes were designed for the job - but you are right you will really notice the difference.

Originally Posted by mick

IMO get a braked trailer accidents are not to seek stuffing the car with gear isn't the answer at all either.listen to experience

Agreed, you don't want the hassle of moving batteries. fuel tanks, and anchors every time - it will be a PITA, and the one time you are in a rush and don't bother will be the time it matters.

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

And a b+e license...to add that into the mix

Actually depending on his car with a "light" braked trailer he might not. In fact if that is the case it will be a lighter car - and the usefulness of brakes will be all the more.

Whilst braked trailers are extra maintenance and cost they have an extra advantage of a handbrake. (Un)Chocking wheels is one of the extra hassles of using an unbraked trailer especially if single handed.