Anyone from MA using a trailer?
 

I'm having a hard time speaking with someone live from the DMV to answer this question.

Does anyone here happen to know the trailer laws in Massachusetts? I want to trailer my C4S using my X5 but don't know if I need to have an electric brake controller installed or can I do with the "surge brakes"?

I don't want to have to muck around with a brake controller. I am looking to buy an aluminum trailer that's roughly 850 lbs to carry a car that would be roughly 3300 lbs. Total pull is definitely less than 5000 lbs.

Thanks!

I don't have personal knowledge of MA laws on surge brakes, but they have been variously banned and permitted in many jurisdictions over the past few years as regulators tussle with the issue. Even if they are legal at one point in time, they may not be in the future. Also watch out for the regulations about crossing state lines (DOT doesn't like surge brakes, so there are reportedly issues towing across a state line even if surge brakes are legal in both states - perhaps that won't apply to you). Edit: I found the US federal law, and it was revised to allow surge brakes in 2007. Apparently some states changed their regulations to match that law.

Finally, check what the surge brake trailer weight limit is. There may be additional trailer weight laws that apply to you if you don't have electric brakes.

Surge brakes are great for one time use rental trailers. If I owned a trailer, I would just go ahead and get electric brakes, as they are lower cost, easier to maintain, and work better.

Good luck.

Eh, it's not like you're towing anything valuable...

(There actually IS a reason surge brakes are not preferred.)

off-topic but be sure to put your C4S on the trailer backwards, you don't want to have the weight of the engine on the back of your trailer, the combo will handle much better.

so where else do you cheap out? safety wise i mean. are you planning on tracking the C4S? do you have a cheapo helmet? use your brake fluid for multiple events?

get the electric brakes dude.................

Buying an aluminum trailer vs. a steel trailer isn't exactly "cheaping out". I'm more wondering if it's major "overkill" to have electric brakes and I'm worried about the installers gutting and screwing up the electronics of my X5...

it is major overkill right up to the point where you kill yourself or someone else. :D

were it me i would be more concerned about the trailer hitch install. that involves cutting or bumper replacement as far as i know.

if you are going to drop a chunk of change on the aluminum trailer get the electric brakes. you never know dude, you might actually buy a real tow veficle some day. :rofl:

Does anyone else actually have some fact based, "value added" comments?

It is not at all overkill. It is the most appropriate braking solution for your vehicle/trailer combination. A trailer brake controller will cost you about $50, plus installation if you don't do it yourself. Your BMW dealer won't know how to install the trailer brake controller, but there are detailed posts on here documenting it, and any competent trailer shop will be able to do it. It won't screw up your X5, there is an LCM connection to connect the trailer brake controller to.

I do recommend that you use the factory hitch, and the factory wiring connection. Any cutting that may be required is to the lower trim pieces, and not to the structure.

Thanks JCL... I didn't think it was that cheap. If so, then it's a no brainer. But from the searching I did, the electric controller install looks to be harder than the hitch install. I did the hitch install myself and I was the one that contributed most of the pics into the forum post #9 here

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...hitch-e70.html

What's an LCM connection? From the searching I did, the electric brake controller seems to be a bit more involved...scares me to to fiddle with the electrics and it scares me even more to pay someone else to screw it up for me ... :(