Picked up a few trailers

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by jorgeinmiami

. . . There are so many tandum trailer down here that do not have brakes I cannot imagine that all these trailers are now needing brakes

That's probably a pretty good indicator of how many ignorant, uneducated boaters there are! Makes for great entertainment at the boat ramps on weekends though! Ever since I retired, I've tried to avoid boating on the weekends for that reason!

If boat + trailer weight exceeds 3000 lbs, you need brakes on all wheels. Here's a link to the Florida Boat Trailer law: http://www.ehow.com/list_7476335_flo...uirements.html The REAL eye-opener is THIS requirement: "Gross towed trailer weight must not exceed 40% of the tow vehicle weight"! That says you'd need a 7500 lb HUMMER or F250 to tow a 3000 lb boat & trailer! Bet very few folks comply with that!

I also went with Kodiak disks from Trailer Depot, but didn't go with the SS version, since I have a roller trailer that I can load/unload without dunking the axle.

[jorgeinmiami]

I agree that there is great entertainmnet at the south florida boats ramps on any given weekend

But I am for sure not one of the ignorant one's out there.
I have had a boat since I was 12 years old and have my share of experiance with them

I simply asked a question on what the law is on tandum trailers.
I am sure that there are hundreds if not thousands of tandum trailers all over florida that are over the 3k weight limit that have been rolling around for many years. That a they are going to go out and install brakes or buy a new trailer I doubt it very much. Or buy a bigger truck to tow it I doubt it too. There are boats down here that will need a semi to tow the 40% rule

I think that I will be ok with the 20 on the trailer towed behing a newer ford explorer down to the keys which is 60 mile from home, the rest is to black point marina which is 8 miles

And no matter what you tow or what you tow with you have to be carefull !!!

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by Bushwacker

The REAL eye-opener is THIS requirement: "Gross towed trailer weight must not exceed 40% of the tow vehicle weight"!

I think the author of the article misread the statute:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...20261#0316.261

The requirement is under FS 316.261(3)(a) which is the exceptions to the brake requirement. So the 40% rule only applies to trailers under 3000 lbs that don't have brakes. I.E. if you're towing a trailer with gross weight of 2500 lbs, and it doesn't have brakes, your tow vehicle must weigh at least 6250 lbs. If your trailer has brakes, the 40% rule doesn't apply regardless of trailer weight.

At least that's how I read it.

Dave

[Bushwacker]

Dave, you were right to go directly to the statute; I just posted the first thing that popped up on a google search and it was obviously flawed! (BTW, had a problem opening your link but here's one that takes you right to the section in question: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/.../0316.261.html) I agree with your interpretation of the 40% rule; it makes a lot more sense if applied to trailers under 3000 lbs. w/o brakes. I originally ordered my trailer w/o brakes because didn't use When I originally installed brakes on my trailer about 15 years ago, it made a huge difference in stopping distance! Sort of like there was nothing back there!

Since I don't dunk the trailer, I originally followed the dealers advice and installed 11" drum brakes, since they have more swept area than the disk brakes. They were very powerful brakes, but not self adjusting, so after I put some miles on them it became a real PIA to keep them adjusted evenly. One side would always grab first and jerk truck to one side, and they were always dragging & making a lot of racket at low speed, so after an inner grease seal blew out and contaminated the linings, I switched over to disks, which eliminated all of those problems! (If anyone wants a cheap set of drum brakes for 6000 lb axle and 6-lug wheels, send me a PM!)

Jorge, didn't mean to offend . . . after seeing all the research and restoration you've done to your MA, it's obvious you're a sharp guy that knows what he's doing! Looking forward to hearing about first launch and shakedown run! And thanks to you, DonV and Capt. Chuck for broaching the subject of trailer brakes . . . it's an important safety issue that merits a good discussion! Denny

[Mikem8560]

I wish I had some spare money

[jorgeinmiami]

none taken

and since I have no boat yet maybe I get my video camera and a chair and go to the ramp next weekend

And I'm with you I need some spare money too

My son just graduated from high school so now I have 3 in college

My oldest only has till the end of the year till she's done and she will then be working for Polo in New York, unless she goes to Grad school

My middle one is in FSU spending money like a Arab price
And my youngest one wil be going to either Barry or St Thomas here in town

But still I need some spare money!!!!!

[DonV]

Jorge, be sure to take some olympic style score cards to to the boat ramp!!! The real doofs like to score a minimum of 9.2, some expert idiots are expecting a 9.5 and will earn it!!

[Islandtrader]

Originally Posted by Blue_Heron

I think the author of the article misread the statute:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/...20261#0316.261

The requirement is under FS 316.261(3)(a) which is the exceptions to the brake requirement. So the 40% rule only applies to trailers under 3000 lbs that don't have brakes. I.E. if you're towing a trailer with gross weight of 2500 lbs, and it doesn't have brakes, your tow vehicle must weigh at least 6250 lbs. If your trailer has brakes, the 40% rule doesn't apply regardless of trailer weight.

At least that's how I read it.

Dave

So by this calculation, my trailer that has a GVW of 5000#(dual Axel and no brakes) and that my Sport Trac with a GVW of 6250#. That I should stay away from the "Keys" and keep my hauling to around the block...


Found this which may help!

http://www.glen-l.com/designs/trailer/trailer-wts.html

[gofastsandman]

So with light fuel, I need an f 450 and with full fuel I need brakes.