Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

[shawnd Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close shawnd]

My sister's fiance would like to borrow the Prado to tow a 2250kg Jayco Camper Trailer about 20km within the Perth metro area. Essentially moving it to a new location.

My Prado only has 1500km on the ODO and has had its first service but it has NOT been fitted with a brake controller.

Would it be ok?????

Thanks in advance for your comments.

[trackers Member Find all posts View Profile Close trackers]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Hi,
The only point that i would make is that any unit being towed over 750kg, must have brakes fitted....be very carefull!!
heers

[Strider Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strider]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Keep in mind your insurance will most likely be void in the event of an accident :roll:

[ss--ss Member Find all posts View Profile Close ss--ss]

Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Are you sure it's 2250kg. I've never seen a camper trailer that heavy. Usually the heaviest would be the Jaycos & goldstreams but they are under 1500kg.
I once had a hire jayco & they gave me a portable unit that plugged into the cigarette socket, did the job for 4000klm.

[lissted Member Find all posts View Profile Close lissted]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

First question does it have electric brakes or over rider brakes? My guess would be electric for a van that weight but check. Your good deed trying to help out could turn to sh#t if things go wrong. My advice would be call a tilt tray and reverse it on then at the other end move it into place. To bigger risk just to help someone out I think.

[zerosecta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zerosecta]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

My sister's fiance would like to borrow the Prado to tow a 2250kg Jayco Camper Trailer about 20km within the Perth metro area. Essentially moving it to a new location.
My Prado only has 1500km on the ODO and has had its first service but it has NOT been fitted with a brake controller.
Would it be ok?????
Thanks in advance for your comments.

Do-able in theory as long as ther are no big down hill sections and you keep a very very very long safe braking distance but with that said it without a doubt a - Kamakazi Mission

[shawnd Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close shawnd]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Thanks guys for your comments.

Any one south of the river in Perth WA with a vehicle with a brake controller that might be able to help us out??

Looking at a trip from Kardinya to Cannington.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Any camper over the legal gross weight of 750kg should have some sort of braking available. Does this have mechanical braking (eg hydralic coulping to tigger breaks when the vehcile brakes are applied and inertia pushes the trailer faster than the vehcile) or electric brakes? If it does not then I would think it would be impossible to register.

If it has electric brakes then how about you head to a trailer hire yard and see if you can hire an eletronic brake controller. I think I have seen these that either source power from the trailer socket or require power from an additional source such as a cigerette socket.

[vh_ofc Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close vh_ofc]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

The info on the brakes is all good. Another consideration is I would not be in a hurry to tow heavy loads until it is well and truly run in. I use 3000km minimum, which was the advice from another vehicle manufacturer I owned.
Cheers
Mike

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Hi Fellas. If you own a Prado and can't drive it 20km towing a heavy trailer without pulling out your hair with worry - sell it and buy a people mover you bloody pussy's. I would'nt lend my Prado to do the job but would offer to tow the trailer myself. Crikey, we used to tow bloody great caravans without any trailer brakes with HQ holdens and didn't think twice about it. What's the grief? Cheers, Derb.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Hi Fellas. If you own a Prado and can't drive it 20km towing a heavy trailer without pulling out your hair with worry - sell it and buy a people mover you bloody pussy's. I would'nt lend my Prado to do the job but would offer to tow the trailer myself. Crikey, we used to tow bloody great caravans without any trailer brakes with HQ holdens and didn't think twice about it. What's the grief? Cheers, Derb.

Hey Derb,

Understand the sentiment completely ...... but over here (if the van is 2250kg) it is breaking the law.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Hi Fellas. If you own a Prado and can't drive it 20km towing a heavy trailer without pulling out your hair with worry - sell it and buy a people mover you bloody pussy's. I would'nt lend my Prado to do the job but would offer to tow the trailer myself. Crikey, we used to tow bloody great caravans without any trailer brakes with HQ holdens and didn't think twice about it. What's the grief? Cheers, Derb.

I can't see it being a problem at all, until something goes wrong. Like some one pulls out in front of you, and you cant stop, and you total thier car, and maybe your new prado, and hurt somebody, or god forbid kill somebody. Then the Lawyers get involved and your insurance company walks away cause you were towing a heavy trailer with no brakes, then the lawyers are getting valuations done on your house to see how much compensation to sue you for!!!!!!!!
chances are nothing would go wrong, but if it does you have an awful lot to loose for doing someone a favour.

The thing that puzzles me is why do they own Jayco but having nothing to tow it with :?

Cheers Andrew

[rumy Member Find all posts View Profile Close rumy]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Hi Fellas. If you own a Prado and can't drive it 20km towing a heavy trailer without pulling out your hair with worry - sell it and buy a people mover you bloody pussy's. I would'nt lend my Prado to do the job but would offer to tow the trailer myself. Crikey, we used to tow bloody great caravans without any trailer brakes with HQ holdens and didn't think twice about it. What's the grief? Cheers, Derb.

Derb

in a civilized world we have laws and safety standards ... idiots like you that go out and kills kids because you are some sort of macho idiot. $65000 vehicle that would not be covered by insurance and you would risk that for a few hundred dollar tilt tray service ... shows how stupid some people are. Get a tilt tray service to do the job safely and tell your sister's fiance no.

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Hey Fellas. This isnt a bloody battleship you are talking about. It is a trailer weighing just slightly more than the prado. It isnt about being a dick and going like hell on the open road and scattering the chooks. It is about driving within the city limits in a sensible manner and taking a bit of care. However, if you are not comfortable with that - it is fine. I still can't get over the anxt and horror at the suggestion of towing what is just a damn trailer with a perfectly adequate vehicle ( it is not a nissan micra). I think we have gone PC mad. Just my 2 bobs worth. Cheers, Derb.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Towing a 2250Kg Camper without a brake controller

Hey Fellas. This isnt a bloody battleship you are talking about. It is a trailer weighing just slightly more than the prado. It isnt about being a dick and going like hell on the open road and scattering the chooks. It is about driving within the city limits in a sensible manner and taking a bit of care. However, if you are not comfortable with that - it is fine. I still can't get over the anxt and horror at the suggestion of towing what is just a damn trailer with a perfectly adequate vehicle ( it is not a nissan micra). I think we have gone PC mad. Just my 2 bobs worth. Cheers, Derb.

Different country and different laws. You can not legally tow anything over 750kgs here in Australia with out assisted brakes on the trailer. What you are suggesting brakes laws and is not in the spirt of this forum. End of story.