Should I Get Brakes for my 1979 13' Burro? - Fiberglass RV
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Old 05-09-2021, 03:18 PM   #1
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Name: Bruce
Trailer: Burro
Ohio
Posts: 16
Should I Get Brakes for my 1979 13' Burro?

Hi.


Should I get brakes for my 1979 13' Burro? I'm towing it with a Toyota Rav4 hybrid with a tow rating of 1750 lbs. but apparently for a trailer with no brakes its rated for 1,000 lbs. I think the Burro weighs about 1,000 lbs.

What should I know about getting brakes, including what kind to get, where to get them (what kind of business), etc.

Thanks in advance for any help!
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Old 05-09-2021, 03:32 PM   #2
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Name: Lisa
Trailer: Boler 1700
Michigan
Posts: 130
Weigh the trailer. You don't know what you are dealing with until you weigh it.

We get ours weighed at a landscape supply place, costs $10.
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Old 05-09-2021, 05:13 PM   #3
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Name: bill
Trailer: 2013 Escape 19
The Mountains of North Carolina
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“I think it weighs” = you don’t know. That is not unusual, few people actually know. ~$10 at your favorite truckstop and you will know. Be sure to weigh entire trailer, not just axle.

Data first then make plans.

Typically easiest to get brakes as part of a new axle. If your axle is original, it’s time.
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Old 05-10-2021, 09:09 AM   #4
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Name: Walter
Trailer: 2017 Escape 17B
SW Virginia
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I just want to second Bill here. If your '79 has the original axle I would replace it as one of my first priorities. Then the answer to your primary question is easy, get an axle that comes with brakes.
My first trailer was a 13' Casita without brakes. Back then I didn't know any better, but I was frequently feeling uncomfortably like the trailer was pushing me on long downhills.

Walt
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Old 05-10-2021, 09:37 AM   #5
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Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
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We had a 13 foot Uhaul camper, almost identical to the Burro. It did not have brakes. Towing it with a Honda CRV it would have been real nice to have brakes on the trailer. The Uhaul was registered as weighing 1250 lb but I never had it on a scale.I suspect loaded it was close to 1500, the listed limit of the car. Before I got to replacing the trailer axle we got a great deal on a Casita 17 so bought a truck and eventually sold the Uhaul. I agree with the advice of replacing the axle with one that has brakes already on it.
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Old 05-10-2021, 10:25 AM   #6
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Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
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I view trailer brakes as a maintenance issue for the tow vehicle. Remember you are towing something that weighs close to a TON. Trailer brakes are cheap to replace and tow vehicle brakes are $$$$ to replace, don't wear them out faster than needed. And then there's that 'emergency or panic' stop. That TON is pushing the tow vehicle, have it stop on its own by having trailer brakes.
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Old 05-10-2021, 10:29 AM   #7
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Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
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Better to have and not need them
Than
Need them but dont have them.
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Old 05-12-2021, 08:26 AM   #8
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Name: Bruce
Trailer: Burro
Ohio
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Thanks. Good point.
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Old 05-12-2021, 08:28 AM   #9
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Name: Bruce
Trailer: Burro
Ohio
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Good point, thanks!
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Old 05-12-2021, 08:29 AM   #10
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Name: Bruce
Trailer: Burro
Ohio
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Thanks, Walt!
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Old 05-12-2021, 08:30 AM   #11
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Name: Bruce
Trailer: Burro
Ohio
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Thanks, Bob!
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Old 05-12-2021, 08:30 AM   #12
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Name: Bruce
Trailer: Burro
Ohio
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Thanks, Donna!
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Old 05-12-2021, 12:41 PM   #13
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Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
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When you get in a sway condition you manually apply the camper breaks a little and things streighten out. Really nice to have.
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Old 05-22-2021, 03:56 PM   #14
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Name: Bruce
Trailer: Burro
Ohio
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Thanks for the advice!

Thanks, Darwin!
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