Wilson2055
Portland, OR, USA
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Joined: 08/05/2003
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I am looking at buying my first pop-up trailer (1988 Coleman Shenadoah) and plan to pull it with my 1995 Nissan Quest. My owner's manual states that I can tow up to 3,500#. The Shenandoah I am looking at has a base weight of 1220#. I realize that doesn't include the weight of items I stow in the trailer.
My owner's manual states that any towing over 1000# requires the use of trailer brakes. The pop-up I am looking at does not have brakes. I am trying to determine how critical trailer brakes are in my case. I plan to use the trailer 4 or 5 times a year, traveling 400 or less miles each trip.
I am new to towing and would appreciate your comments on this subject. If trailer brakes are a must have, I'll suck it up and buy them.
Thanks,
Don
Oregon
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shawnu138
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 08/04/2003
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I tow my trailer with my Aerostar and my trailer has brakes. I wouldn't go without them. My pop-up is a 12 foot box and pretty heavy (Forest River Flagstaff) but I find it really comforting that when I hit the brakes, my trailer brakes are coming on too.
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Heavy Murphy
California City California
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Joined: 06/23/2003
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If it was me I'd get them. I towed my Niagara home when I bought it with my Nissan 4x4 truck without a brake controller. Stopping distance easily doubled. Now granted Niagara is a heavy mama, but those brakes sure are reassuring. Normal towing is with my Previa using a Pridigy controller. I got in an accident on my last trip with the Niagara. I stood on the brakes and both the van and the trailer locked up and reduced the damage to just scrubbing off my license plate. Without the brakes I would have killed that poor sap.
Rich and Michelle Hodgson
Tiffany, Megan, Cory
1991 Previa, 2001 Coleman Niagara
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6MISFITZ
Fort Erie, ON, CANADA
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Joined: 04/15/2003
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Nothing is safer in "towing and stopping" than having electric brakes
and a good brake controller in the tow vehicle.
AN emergency stop in traffic on a busy highway is not unheard of these days and adding at least another 1220 pounds of trailer to this scenario WILL NOT RESULT IN A QUICK AND SAFE STOP.
Your trailer will probably closer to 1500 going down the road with propane, groceries, linens, etc.
If you have to turn in the slightest degree while stopping in an emergency, you risk a very quick jackknife with all the weight back there. Elelctric brakes are the way to go.
You trully do NEED them and if there is an accident, your insurance company will pay to fix if you had brakes. No brakes on a trailer that exceeds the 1000# limit stated in the owners manual and they will cancel you on the spot.
Mom, Dad, 4 kids, 2 Camping Dogs
Express 2500 LS (135"WB) 6.0L, 4.10, G80, PYO wheels, HENSLEY & McKesh
Prowler Regal 320DBHS w/QUAD BUNKS
MISFITZ RACING
MFCC Member
Rallies Attended 4, 7 Un-Rallies
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Wilson2055
Portland, OR, USA
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Thanks all for your comments!! I will be calling to get estimates on trailer brakes tomorrow!!!
-Don
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Turn Key
North Central Texas
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Joined: 06/01/2002
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You can tow without brakes but i never recommend it. They ARE worth the cost.
Turn Key, DW and Tilly, The Camping Boston Terrier
'03 Chevy 2500HD, 4X4, X-Cab, Long-Bed
'04 K-Z "Durango", 275RK ("Sunday Haus II")
Twin Kayaks, "The Ride" by Wilderness Systems
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SnappyCamper
Dallas, Tx. U.S.A.
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I have the tekonsha voyager brake controller. I keep seeing posts about the prodigy controller. What is the difference??? Thanks in advance.
SnappyCamper
The Wife and Daughter
2002 Subaru Forester
2002 Coleman Yuma
When Life Passes You, Down Shift!
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mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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You can look here: http://www.tekonsha.com/ for the data on both.
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hgernhardtjr
Parkersburg, WV USA
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Joined: 01/22/2003
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SnappyCamper... the Voyager and Prodigy both work well and either will do the job properly. The Prodigy simply does it better and you FEEL the difference ... no jerking, no having to brake and release to prevent squealing trailer tires, etc. as with other controllers. Using the Prodigy makes it feel almost like the trailer is not there when braking.
Henry & Debbie Gernhardt 45+ years of camping and still counting,
one daughter still at home and 6 grandkids
Trail-Lite Bantam B-21, Ford 4.6L E-150 Conversion Van, Tekonsha Prodigy
Yamaha EF3000iseb Tri-Fuel neighbor-friendly, super-quiet generator
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florida forester 1
Brooksville, Florida
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Do you really think a medium sized PU (2000#) requires anything more sophisticated than the Voyager model? It seems to have fewer electronic gizmos ...but the mechanic says it's all you need with a popup camper. Something with too many buttons and bells and whistles would scare off my wife i think.
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