Do Scamp Trailers Have Brakes? Full Explanation

Trailer brakes can be a real lifesaver when towing a travel trailer, no matter the size or weight of the trailer.

As trailer brakes greatly reduce stopping distance and help to keep the camper under control when braking, especially during emergency braking.

But do lightweight Scamp trailers have brakes?

All 16-foot and 19-foot Scamp trailers are equipped with 10-inch electric brakes, however, the 13-foot Scamp trailer does not come with standard brakes and must be added as an option.  

Why the 16 and 19-Foot Scamp Trailers Have Brakes But the 13-Foot Doesn’t?

The main reason why the 16-foot and 19-foot Scamp have brakes and the 13-foot doesn’t is due to the difference in trailer weight.

As the 13-foot Scamp trailer is much lighter compared to the 16-foot and 19-foot Scamp and light enough not to require trailer brakes.  

Different Scamp Trailer Weights

The 13-foot Scamp trailer has a dry between 1,200 and 1,600 pounds depending on how the trailer is optioned and a fully loaded weight between 2,000 and 2,200 pounds.

While the 16-foot Scamp trailer has a dry weight between 1,750 and 2,600 pounds and a fully loaded weight between 3,000 and 3,400 pounds.

And the 19-foot Scamp 5th wheel trailer has a dry weight between 2,000 and 2,900 pounds and a fully loaded weight that usually falls between 3,200 and 3,600 pounds.

For more information on the different weights associated with the Scamp trailer as well as what affects the weight of a Scamp trailer, check out our article “How Much Does a Scamp Trailer Weigh?“.

Should You Install Trailer Brakes on the 13-Foot Scamp Trailer?

Even though the 13-foot Scamp trailer doesn’t come with standard electric brakes like the two larger Scamp trailers, you can add them to the 13-foot Scamp.

But do you really need to add electric brakes to the 13-foot Scamp trailer?

While small lightweight trailers like the 13-foot Scamp are not legally required to have trailer brakes and can get away without having them, due to their lighter weight.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to have trailer brakes on your trailer no matter how small or lightweight the trailer is.

And this is especially true if you have a smaller tow vehicle.

As you are much more likely to overwhelm the brakes of your tow vehicle or lose control of the trailer with a smaller tow vehicle compared to a larger one, especially in an emergency braking situation.

Larger Tow Vehicle vs Smaller Tow Vehicle and Trailer Brakes

For example, if you were to tow a 13-foot Scamp trailer with a ¾ ton F-250 truck, you wouldn’t even know the Scamp trailer was back there.

Due to the high towing capacity of the F-250, which ranges from 12,300 to 15,000 pounds.

The problem though and why it’s a good idea to install trailer brakes to a 13-foot Scamp trailer is that no one tows a 13-foot Scamp with an F-250 or even an F-150 for that matter.

As the whole point of the lightweight camper is that it can be towed with a smaller and lighter tow vehicle, such as a small SUV or even a mini-van.  

Which have a much lower towing capacity that can range from 3,000 to 5,000 pounds.

So while you might be able to get away with towing a 13-foot Scamp trailer with say a Honda Passport for example, without trailer brakes, it’s less than ideal.

As you can easily overwhelm a small tow vehicle’s brakes without trailer brakes on steep downhill grades or in emergency braking situations. 

Which can lead to longer stopping distances and premature wear and tear on your tow vehicle’s brakes.  

How Much Does it Cost To Install Trailer Brakes on a Camper?

To install trailer brakes to a basic single axle camper, the parts will usually cost anywhere from $150 to $250.  But if you plan to have an RV dealer install them, you will need to add another $300 to that cost. 

As RV dealers usually charge around $150 an hour for labor and the installation of the brakes should take about 1 to 2 hours. 

So the total cost for parts and labor to install trailer brakes to a camper will usually cost anywhere from $300 to $500.  

However, this is not the total cost of adding trailer brakes to the camper, if your tow vehicle is not equipped with a brake control or the wiring needed to control the trailer brakes. 

Because if your tow vehicle doesn’t have a brake controller or the necessary wiring, these items will need to be added, as well, which will usually cost another $100 to $300 depending on whether you install them yourself.  

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that the cost to install trailer brakes to a camper can vary greatly depending on the type of travel trailer you have.

For example, things such as whether or not your camper has a single or double axle and whether or not your camper has an axle that can accommodate brakes can both have a big impact on the cost of trailer brakes.

Because if you have to add brakes to two axles this will usually double the cost and if you have to swap out the axle this can be even more expensive.  

Do Most Trailers Have Brakes?

Most travel trailers have brakes, however, lightweight and ultra-lightweight campers such as small teardrop trailers and small stand-up trailers don’t always have brakes.  

So while there is no exact rule that applies to every travel trailer, in general, the smaller and lighter the trailer is, the less likely it is that the trailer will have brakes, while the larger and heavier the trailer is the more likely it is that the trailer will have brakes.  

What Trailers are Required to Have Brakes?

The weight of the trailer is the deciding factor on whether or not a trailer is required to have brakes.

As heavier trailers that weigh more than 3,000 pounds are usually required to have trailer brakes, while lightweight trailers that weigh less than 1,500 pounds are usually not.

So how do you know whether a particular trailer and weight are required to have trailer brakes?

Whether a trailer is required to have trailer brakes for a specific weight depends on what state you plan to tow the camper in, as each state has its own towing laws and guidelines.  

For example, states such as California and Idaho require any trailer over 1,500 pounds to have trailer brakes, while the state of Alaska doesn’t require trailer brakes until the trailer exceeds 5,000 pounds.

However, with the exception of a few states, most states usually require a trailer to have brakes if the trailer weighs more than 3,000 pounds.

For a complete list of each state and their specific tow limits without trailer brakes, check out this super helpful article on the AAA website by clicking here.  

How Much Can I Tow without Trailer Brakes?

The amount of weight you can tow without trailer brakes depends on which state you plan to tow the trailer in.

However, for most states with the exception of a few, if the trailer weighs less than 3,000 pounds, you are not legally required to have brakes on the trailer.

Remember though that just because you may not be legally required to have trailer brakes for a specific weight, it’s usually still a good idea to have trailer brakes on the trailer regardless.

So you don’t overwhelm your tow vehicle brakes and so the trailer doesn’t push your tow vehicle when stopping, leading to longer stopping distances and premature wear and tear on the tow vehicle’s brakes.  

But if you’re looking for a specific weight, where it would be ok to tow a trailer without trailer brakes, I would say any trailer under 1,000 pounds should be ok to tow without trailer brakes.

As long as you’re well under your tow vehicle’s max tow capacity and your tow vehicle is in good working order.  

Can You Pull a Trailer Without a Brake Controller?

If the trailer is equipped with trailer brakes, then you must have a brake controller installed in your tow vehicle, as this is the device that communicates with and controls the trailer brakes.

Because without the brake controller, your trailer brakes won’t work.

So the only way you could pull a trailer without a brake controller is if the trailer you were towing was not equipped with trailer brakes. 

If you’re looking for lightweight travel trailers that you can tow with a small SUV or even a mini-van, check out our article “What is the Lightest Travel Trailer on the Road Today?“.