[Medic1]

I have had our Shabah 202 for four years but I have never trailered it, our boat is in a covered slip on a lift and we have left it there all year and get the appropriate servicing done it seasonally. We live close to Wichita, Kansas and are planning on going to Shell Knob Missouri with friends on Table Rock Lake. I would like to take our boat this year but have some questions? I really am not sure what our boat weighs and size of vehicle needed to tow it. Also, the trailer has tandem axles but the trailer does not have brakes wasn't sure if that would be a problem in the hills around table rock.
I plan on bringing the trailer in to town and inspect the tires for dry rot and repack the bearings anything else I should check? We have a 2007 Yukon XL with a tow package, should I be concerned about the boat trailer not having brakes? Is this something I should consider adding? Thanks

[ShabahZ280]

You should have nothing to worry about with towing your 202 with a Yukon XL. If I remember right, it has around 8k of capacity.

Depending on the laws of your state, brakes may be required for the trailer's front axle. Are you sure it doesn't have brakes? Most tandem axle trailers at least have surge brakes, because tandems are meant to carry heavier boats. If it truly doesn't have brakes, definitely put them on. Go with electric brakes. It'll be easier, and you can control the braking inside the Yukon with an electric brake controller. Otherwise, without brakes, you're using only the Yukon's brakes to slow you down, and you've added basically the equivalent of another Yukon behind it, pushing forward. Not only will it be a safety hazard, (and possibly illegal), you'll wear the brakes out VERY quickly.

Yes, check the bearings, and the tires for dry rot. Also check all the lighting to make sure everything works. Make sure you've got an appropriate sized spare tire for the trailer, and that your registration on the trailer's tags is current, and in the Yukon. I have a separate "trailering kit" I keep in the back of my Excursion with a 6 ton bottle jack, a few 2"x6" pieces of wood, and a universal tire iron that I know fits the trailer lugs.

Hope this helps!

[DCB_MINDED]

Agreed with ShabahZ.... With no trailer brakes, your stopping distance will DOUBLE under the best of conditions..... add some rain or downhill grade, and you are talking probably triple. There is nothing like a good brake setup on your trailer. I towed mine home when I bought it (about 45 miles) with no brakes on the trailer...... Had the pucker factor TWICE! If you shop around, you can add electric brakes to your setup for around 400 bucks. Or you can risk it, and possibly crash your truck/boat/family. I put together a tutorial in the how to section on the site that breaks down the steps to do it. If you are going to re-pack the bearings, then you will already have everything apart to do the brake install as well. Let me know if you want more info and I will be glad to help!

[Zackattack]

it took me so liong to write my response, these other guys answered it very well.

[Dredd]

I'm not saying you don't need trailer brakes but, if you come in to Shell Knob from 39 the hills really aren't horrible... unlike the routes from Wichita that my in-laws have sent me on . I think the best route I have found is simply 44 to Mt. Vernon and then 39 all the way down.
Come on Summer!

[DCB_MINDED]

Originally Posted by Dredd

I'm not saying you don't need trailer brakes but, if you come in to Shell Knob from 39 the hills really aren't horrible... unlike the routes from Wichita that my in-laws have sent me on . I think the best route I have found is simply 44 to Mt. Vernon and then 39 all the way down.
Come on Summer!

Pizza and beer on the lake..... can't get any better than that! How did you get Pizza Hut to deliver on the water? Must have been one good tip!

[garyg]

Medic1 FOR MY 2 CENTS WORTH YOU HAVE GREAT TOW TRUCK. WE HAVE A 2004 YUKON XL 4 WHEEL DRIVE WITH TOW MODE.WE PULL A 2000 Z 272 BOAT AND TRAILER WEIGHT OVER 8600 POUNDS. I HAVE TOWED A LOT AND THINK BRAKES WHOULD BE A GOOD INVESTMEN FOR STOPPING QUICK IF YOU WHOULD HAVE TOO.I REMMBER ONCE WHEN I WAS ON WET PAVEMENT AND HAD STOP QUICK AND THAT THE TANDEM BOAT TRAILER HAD NO BRAKES AND IT PUSHED THE STATION WAGON LIKE WE WERE ON ICE.FOR YOUR SAFETY AND YOUR FAMILY I THINK BRAKES WOULD BE WISE INVESTMENT. BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. I HAVE HAD STOP A COUPLE OF TIMES PULLING OUR Z 272 AND HAVE NO TROUBLE STOPPING QUICKLY AND SAFE. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF TABLE ROCK LOOKS LIKE A GREAT LAKE GARY G

[Dredd]

Originally Posted by DCB_MINDED

Pizza and beer on the lake..... can't get any better than that! How did you get Pizza Hut to deliver on the water? Must have been one good tip!

There's a cool answer to that question! There isn't a lot of development around Table Rock but there is a marina every 5 miles or so. That was a great trip. We took an afternoon and boated from one end of the lake to the other, stayed the night, and boated back the next day.

[darkcalling]

Only other thing I can think of that hasn't been mentioned unless I missed it. I would carefully inspect the trailer if not used and stored inside the bunks might not be that great, just a thought.

[Hudson River Steve]

Neither of the states you mentioned (Kansas and Missouri) require trailer brakes but I wouldn't tow anything over 2000 lbs without them. I trailered a 21 ft bow rider for years with a std length Yukon and needed the brakes on the trailers numerous times...even had the trailer brakes lock up a few times in panic stop situations. Check out this web site for a summary of brake requirements by state state brake laws