beertestr
Club Member
So, I bought a trailer last week, and called around to find the best deal. I wasn't finding any deals on used trailers so I ended up going new. A few yards swore up and down that I needed electric brakes on both axles of a car trailer, as well as a breakaway box..
There are a few threads on here that discuss new/used trailers, and I wanted see what everybody else knows.
I ended up buying a trailer that had both axle brakes and a breakout box. The extra brakes were $200, so having more brake is not a bad thing anyway, still not sure it's needed.
So I've been doing some digging. Half the info just called out one axle (rearmost) requires axle brakes.
I found an old pdf file from michigan.gov that called out lighting requirements and the need for brakes on one axle. Trailering websites (not government, but trailer supply shops etc) had mostly similar info.
HERE's a LINK TO THE MI Vehicle CODE
Then I found this in the MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE
Act 300 of 1949. Last update was March, 2010. I read the below paragraph as it dictating that a trailer over 3000# GVW needs brakes on all axles.
257.705 Brake equipment
(d) A new motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer sold in this state and operated upon the highways shall be
equipped with brakes on all wheels, except a motorcycle or moped, and except that a semitrailer, pole trailer,
or trailer of less than 3,000 pounds gross weight need not be equipped with brakes if the gross weight of a
trailer or pole trailer, no part of the load of which rests upon the towing vehicle, does not exceed 40% of the
gross weight of the towing vehicle, and if the gross weight of the towing vehicle and the gross weight of a
semitrailer or pole trailer, part of the load of which rests upon the towing vehicle, does not exceed 40% of the
gross weight of the towing vehicle when connected to the semitrailer or pole trailer.
But then section F sounds like a call out for trailer brakes and only the rear axle is required. Any place I have looked, they quote that any tandem axle trailer requires brakes, but I figure it's that way because I don't know any tandem axle trailer with less than 3000# GVW anyway.
(f) In any combination of motor driven vehicles, means shall be provided for applying the rearmost trailer
brakes, for a trailer equipped with brakes, in approximate synchronism with the brakes on the towing vehicle
and developing the required braking effort on the rearmost wheels at the fastest rate; or means shall be
provided for applying braking effort first on the rearmost trailer equipped with brakes; or both of the above
means capable of being used alternatively may be employed.
Nothing I have found calls out breakaway devices. I'll keep digging if anybody finds this useful.
There are a few threads on here that discuss new/used trailers, and I wanted see what everybody else knows.
I ended up buying a trailer that had both axle brakes and a breakout box. The extra brakes were $200, so having more brake is not a bad thing anyway, still not sure it's needed.
So I've been doing some digging. Half the info just called out one axle (rearmost) requires axle brakes.
I found an old pdf file from michigan.gov that called out lighting requirements and the need for brakes on one axle. Trailering websites (not government, but trailer supply shops etc) had mostly similar info.
HERE's a LINK TO THE MI Vehicle CODE
Then I found this in the MICHIGAN VEHICLE CODE
Act 300 of 1949. Last update was March, 2010. I read the below paragraph as it dictating that a trailer over 3000# GVW needs brakes on all axles.
257.705 Brake equipment
(d) A new motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer sold in this state and operated upon the highways shall be
equipped with brakes on all wheels, except a motorcycle or moped, and except that a semitrailer, pole trailer,
or trailer of less than 3,000 pounds gross weight need not be equipped with brakes if the gross weight of a
trailer or pole trailer, no part of the load of which rests upon the towing vehicle, does not exceed 40% of the
gross weight of the towing vehicle, and if the gross weight of the towing vehicle and the gross weight of a
semitrailer or pole trailer, part of the load of which rests upon the towing vehicle, does not exceed 40% of the
gross weight of the towing vehicle when connected to the semitrailer or pole trailer.
But then section F sounds like a call out for trailer brakes and only the rear axle is required. Any place I have looked, they quote that any tandem axle trailer requires brakes, but I figure it's that way because I don't know any tandem axle trailer with less than 3000# GVW anyway.
(f) In any combination of motor driven vehicles, means shall be provided for applying the rearmost trailer
brakes, for a trailer equipped with brakes, in approximate synchronism with the brakes on the towing vehicle
and developing the required braking effort on the rearmost wheels at the fastest rate; or means shall be
provided for applying braking effort first on the rearmost trailer equipped with brakes; or both of the above
means capable of being used alternatively may be employed.
Nothing I have found calls out breakaway devices. I'll keep digging if anybody finds this useful.
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