I am considering purchasing an open trailer to haul my 944. It has electric brakes but on one side only. Is this typical or even advisable?

Thanks!

 

You mean only one of the axles has brakes? (not one side as in right side only as it would basically pull the trailer to the side that brakes = very, very bad). This is very common on open trailers as they are not that heavy - and one with a 944 which is a pretty light weight car it's not as big of a problem - unless the vehicle towing it has bad brakes.

 

Most of the open trailers that I see have brakes on both axles, including mine. I wouldn't buy one with single axle brakes.

 

Honestly on an open 20' or smaller trailer one brake axle is just fine unless the tow vehicle is under braked in the first place or even an open trailer is the limit that you can pull. When I would pull a racecar and over 1000lbs of equipment in a 1/2 truck without trailer brakes - it was very easy and you did notice the trailer back there and it made me drive safer leaving more braking and following distance. Once I put just one brake axle I hardly ever noticed the trailer under braking. On a small open trailer one is enough and adding a second is just diminishing marginal returns.

Once you move to enclosed trailers or the much larger open ones it does make sense to have all axles with brakes.

 

Bull,

I have a Trailex 7541 with brakes on only one axle. This is a very common open trailer. Does that mean it is unsafe? I guess I'll call Carl at Trailex and tell him I have an unsafe trailer.
I wonder what he'll say.

 

Most of the open trailers come with a single axle brake. Mine is a single axle and I have no problem what so ever. The one thing that you will absolutely require is a good brake controller. Do not cheap out on this piece of equipment, the newer trucks are plug and play withthe controllers. For reference my car weighs in at about 3300 lbs and my trailer is around 2000 for a total of 5300 lbs which is about the limit for most 1/2 ton trucks unless you get all of the leveling gear and then you can go heavier which would justify going with dual axle brakes.

 

I never said they were "unsafe", I said I wouldn't buy one. And many manufacturers won't sell you one if it has the capacity to carry most of our cars plus wheels/tires, tools, etc.

If you look further into Trailex's offerings (my shop is a Trailex Dealer), you will see that brakes on both axles are now standard (and have been for some years) on the CT-7541, CT-8045 and CT-8060. Only the small CT-7031, which has a carrying capacity limit of 3100lbs, is available with single axle braking. When you call Carl, he will point out that brakes must be added to the second axle in some States, which is a $233 option on the CT-7031. Tell him we said "hi"!

 

I've had my open traile since 1997 and it's only had brakes on one axle. Never a problem towing with my Suburban and my 90C2 on board. It was years before I had to have the brakes replaced, so it doesn't seem that they were working that much harder to compensate. With all that said, if you're buying it new, spend the extra cash and buy brakes on both axles

 

Thanks Bull! Learn something everyday.

 

Thanks, guys.

The trailer is a 16' open trailer with electric brakes on one axle. I will be towing a 944 cup car (around 2,600 lbs) and may add a tire rack as well. My tow vehicle is a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. with a 5.7 hemi, rated at 7,200 lbs towing capacity. It sounds to me like I should be OK with this trailer.

Thanks!

 

Yes. Be sure to check on what the total gross vehicle capabilities are and do not exceed them and you should be OK.

 

I pull a 16' open trailer with either a H5 Honda or 944 Spec car with a 2500HD and one brake axle - I often forget it is behind there. You'll have no probs with your setup. If you move up to a bigger trailer such as an enclosed one then you'll want both brake axles due to the extra weight.

 

Hi guys it's Carl @ Trailex this is not a matter of just being safe it is state law. Some states require 2 wheel brakes, some require 4 wheel. Check your state laws or call us we will help.

 

What is required in New Jersey and Pennsylvania (I can register in either state)?

 

ALL WHEEL BRAKES IN BOTH NJ AND PA.