Towing a motorcycle trailer (brakes or no brakes)

[Gizmoman]

Now that I seem to have figured out my power issues (only took 5 years) and upgraded the transmission to a 5-speed with improved internals, I am ready to look at towing my BMW R1200RT behind us. The bike weighs approximately 500 lbs - possibly 550 with all the luggage attached.
The van has 16" rims and 215/70R16's so my stock brakes are fine but nearing their limits. I figure adding the trailer and bike will add another 800 lbs at least, not to mention the kayak and other related camping gear, I'd really like to have a trailer with brakes.
Trouble is, I can't find a motorcycle trailer with brakes. I am looking at the Kendon https://www.kendonusa.com/product/single-ride-up-srl-stand-up-motorcycle-trailer/ or the Stinger https://www.stingertrailer.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrvuy1vW52QIV0oN-Ch3LZQZ5EAAYASAAEgLeIPD_BwE because they fold up nicely and offer easy loading.

I could build my own but figure by the time I get all the bits and deal with the details, it would be just as much or more cost-wise but it would have brakes. I could also make a rack that would carry the kayak over or beside the bike - allowing me to get it off of the roof.

Just putting this out there for opinions or any links to small trailers with brakes.

Thanks,
Jim
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82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale).

[MarkWard]

Jim, it is very likely they are using off the shelf axles. We have a shop here in WPB called the Expediter, if you can find out if the trailer axle has the 4 bolt flange at the base of the bearing spindle, the brakes are sold as complete assemblies and bolt to the axle. Here is a link to the Expediter. They have a downloadable pdf searchable catalog. https://www.expediter.com/ They might ship.

World of difference with trailer brakes. I don't currently tow with our vanagon, but have towed my race car on a 2 axle trailer and the tow vehicle actually stops better with the trailer than without.
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☮️

[Abscate]

Braking an 800 pound trailer with trailer brakes is overkill. Most states don't require them until 1500 pounds and those regs are conservative.

If you can tell braking difference with an 800 pound trailer either your brakes are no good or the load is horribly unbalanced - get about 150 pounds on the tongue if you can
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.ssS!

[Gizmoman]

[DanHoug]

that's a pretty light load to have trailer brakes on. finding a balance on the brake controller between no braking and smoking the trailer tires will be a very fine line.

i'd totally go without trailer brakes for towing an RT. but i'm reckless and irresponsible as i drive MCs in the first place. you'll feel the load a bit braking i won't deny, but it'll make you a smoother driver to anticipate. and in a panic stop with trailer brakes i'd worry about the wheels locking and it sliding sideways into traffic. it's all about the load.

-dan

[hdenter]

At #800, I would be surprised if you could fine tune the electric brakes for such a light load. Especially if you did much driving on gravel roads. I would be concerned that if you got them tuned to work on smooth asphalt, you would undoubtedly lock up every time you touched the brakes on loose gravel. Do they make hydraulic trailer brakes that small?

Hans
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'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[Zeitgeist 13]

What about a mechanical tongue brake?
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[Gizmoman]

[fxr]

Hydraulically damped mechanical surge brakes work very well - but you have to find good donor car rear brake drums. Old Mini rears are excellent for this, I've built a trailer using those and it was very predictable when towing it. Not a hint of snaking or jack-knifing, the only downside was having to stop and disengage the brakes in order to reverse. A m/c trailer is so short though that it's almost impossible to reverse it without it taking far more time (and providing laughs all round) than just unhitching it and doing it by hand.
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[Sodo]

How do those “not brake” if you reverse the trailer uphill? Are there two leading shoes? Is there a way to lock it out to reverse?
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[Gizmoman]

[jackbombay]

[RichBenn]

Brakes not needed. I`ve had WAY more than you've got and can hardly tell it's there. 1500 lbs, like another said, is the rule in many places.
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Rich

[Abscate]

[Gizmoman]

[Abscate]

FOrgot to add, sorry.

A surge brake can either be locked out with

1:a pin, where you stop, go back, fuss with coupler, then put a pin in to disable the brake for backing..

A drum brake probably won't need to be locked out to backup
A disc brake WILL need to be locked out

or

2: A Reverse brake solenoid, which you wire into the reverse light circuit, which stops braking in reverse from the driver seat. More complicated, electrical stuff, wiring, and another leak point on the hydraulics.

I lock out mine with a pin.
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.ssS!

[Borg]

I built a little trailer to tow my F650 Dakar behind the van, putting a few thousand miles on the set up over the years. Never had any braking issues, even while cruising down Highway 1 from Crescent City to San Luis and back home to Puget Sound.
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Steve

[AndyBees]

I've towed a popup camper on two very long road trips without any braking issues. My Van is an 84 Tin-top with TDI engine. The camper weighs 1200 lbs plus deep cycle battery and propane tank.

On the last road trip, there were four adults and all their luggage (and a dog), including tents and related stuff for side excursions without the camper.

So, I suspect total weight was easily close to 2,000 lbs.

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'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI. 1989 Tin-top
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine. Seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003.

[kevinhinny]

I towed two BMW GS motorcylces (650GS and R1200GS) with stock brakes and it handled fine. Obviously one must take into account the extra weight and dirve accordingly.
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1984 Wolfsburg Westy
1986 Syncro GL Tintop
1991 Syncro Tintop

[Gizmoman]

Thanks all for the informative responses!
No trailer brakes it is - with care.

Thank you all.
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82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale).