Buy/Sell a cargo trailer for cross-country move: How much depreciation these days?

[Titanpat57]

I think before you go on the attack you should completely think your comment through. You have absolutely NO control in an emergency situation. Trailer brakes won't save you in wind gusts or if you are cut off/run off the road and start spinning/tumbling. Situational awareness is the only thing you have control over. Reading other posts you will see that is the common point people are bringing up. Read the road ahead, watch for idiotic drivers, drive to the conditions of the road or 10-20% less, and look for people preoccupied with items other than driving are things that will save you. Even vehicles not towing have been know not to stop in time if there is a wreck in front of them.

By all means, if you are maxing out your tow rating INSTALL BRAKES! If you are new to towing, nervous about towing, live in a state that doesn't trust it's citizens; follow their laws. If brakes were required on every trailer, they would be sold with every trailer. The gub'ment would mandate it!

not on "the attack"...just pointing out the obvious...as you stated, trailer brakes may or may not make a difference, but common sense would dictate (or experience) that will ultimately be better off with brakes in the event of things going south. The person I quoted felt the 4runner would be fine WITHOUT trailer brakes with a 3000-4000 trailer...and I COMPLETELY disagree with that, and feel it is completely irresponsible to tow a load like that, with a truck like this, and rely on stock brakes.

I don't think you need a politician to point that out, your sense of personal responsibility to people you share the road with should help you make that decision.

 

[nevada]

here in Washington, any trailers 3500lbs or over are required to have tandem axles, and brakes. I think maybe only on one axle, but most have them on both.

finding a trailer under that weight with brakes is all but impossible.

 

[TonyJ124]

not on "the attack"...just pointing out the obvious...as you stated, trailer brakes may or may not make a difference, but common sense would dictate (or experience) that will ultimately be better off with brakes in the event of things going south. The person I quoted felt the 4runner would be fine WITHOUT trailer brakes with a 3000-4000 trailer...and I COMPLETELY disagree with that, and feel it is completely irresponsible to tow a load like that, with a truck like this, and rely on stock brakes.

I don't think you need a politician to point that out, your sense of personal responsibility to people you share the road with should help you make that decision.

The statement I made was suggesting that UNDER 3000 pounds (NOT 3-4000), with good driving practices, you would be ok without brakes for such a highway trip. You can plan your whole life around "what ifs" but when do you stop?? If I planned on some clown hitting me in traffic everyday, I'd never leave the house. All I can do is mitigate my personal risk by driving defensively and proceeding how I feel comfortable.

To put that 3000# number into prospective, how many 20ish foot boats do you see on the road? How many of those trailers have brakes? Neither of my late '90's era boat trailers had any brakes...and they came in around 3000# loaded, both were pulled safely and without incident for many miles behind my Pathfinder and later a full size Bronco. How about tow dollies? If i'm dolly-ing a 2002 vw golf that weighs 2900# am I being unsafe because theres not even a provision for brakes? Why would a manufacturer sell something that was dangerous and socially irresponsible? Why would haulmark offer a brand new 6x12 enclosed trailer rated at 3500# capacity with no brakes if it was outright dangerous to tow more than 1000# without brakes?

Sure, it ABSOLUTELY makes safe, logical sense to have brakes, I would never argue that. I'm sorry if it read like I was making a case AGAINST brakes, that absolutely wasn't the point. I'm all for brakes, in any situation there is the option for brakes, go for it. Something is always better than nothing! The connect I failed to make in my soapbox rant above, was that when buying second-hand, you may not have the option for brakes, I apologize for not clarifying. If the OP doesn't feel comfortable towing without brakes, then FFS, go buy a trailer with brakes or rent the double axle uhaul that has surge brakes!

I'll go ahead and tow what and how I'm comfortable with. I apologize to the OP for the thread derail, that wasn't my intent!