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From what I can tell the only trailer regulation in Massachusetts is that any trailer over 10,000GVW is required to be inspected. Most other states require brakes over a certain GVW. But in MA there is nothing at all written about brake requirements, let along any trailer under 10k lbs. Does anyone have any other info about trailer regs in MA.
i have heard, don't know for sure,but you need trailer brakes on 2 axle trailers.on one of the axles. i will see soon enough. i bought 2 new torsion bar axles for my trailer. and did not buy brakes yet.
__________________ " I think we're gonna need a bigger boat!" Make Mine Novi
Common sense - and industry practice - will tell you that brakes on at least one axle are recommended for trailers with a capacity of 3000 pounds or more.
Forget about the laws, for your own and other peoples safety I would put brakes on any trailer over 3000 #'s. Your vehicles brake system is designed to stop the vehicle and its cargo, this is determined by the GVWR. If the GVWR of your tow vehicle is 9000 and your truck weighs 7500 that gives your truck 2500 pounds of capacity. Anything over that amount your brakes will not safely stop going down long steep grades or in a panic situation. There isnt a pickup or an SUV made that could stop anything more than a 5-6 thousand pound trailer without brakes. Masachusetts better take a look at their laws if this is the case.
Mass. General Law, Ch.90 S7, states that ..every trailer or semi trailer having an unladen weight of more than ten thousand pounds shall be equipped with air or electric brakes.
common sense should prevail. reguardless of how careful i am on any given day. there are 100's of drivers out there that are far too distracted with their hi tech gadgets and less concerned with driving safely. not to mention those who drive recklessly on a regualr basis. i am guilty of such acts on occasion. stopping on nice clean dry level roads with a trailer that has no brakes can be nerve wracking in tight situations. now compund that with wet roads and your trailer will most definatly pass your towing vehicle. you can not defeat the laws of physics. that situation, even without hiting another vehicle or hurting anybody, will cost anybody more than a new stainless disc brakes kit. especialy in this"sue me state".
__________________ " I think we're gonna need a bigger boat!" Make Mine Novi
Wow. I think Pa. is 3000# and Brakes on every Axle. I know some People buy Boats in N.Y. or OH. and bring them to PA. and can not get them inspected because Brakes on only one Axle. Lots of variation State to State.
This should be a federal law, trailers should be built 50 state legal like vehicles and campers. An 6-10 thousand pound trailer without brakes is a disaster waiting to happen!!
This should be a federal law, trailers should be built 50 state legal like vehicles and campers. A 6-10 thousand pound trailer without brakes is a disaster waiting to happen!!
The only reg I could find on this is, Large heavy duty "Commercial Use" trailers 10,000 or greater require annual brake inspection.
Recreational boat trailers 10,000 or greater do not need inspection annually. But it wouldn't be a bad idea to get them checked every couple of years.
Trailer brake regulations in Massachusetts 
