In California, some type of brakes is required on all trailer coaches or camp trailers with a gross weight of at least 1,500 pounds. According to the state's Vehicle Code 26302, trailers and semitrailers manufactured and registered after Jan. 1, 1940, traveling at a speed of at least 20 miles per hour and weighing 6,000 pounds or more must be equipped with brakes. Trailers registered after Jan. 1, 1966, and weighing more than 3,000 pounds are required to have brakes on at least two wheels, and those manufactured after Jan. 1, 1982, and equipped with air brakes, need brakes on all wheels.
California Vehicle Code Section 26454 b(3) governs the stopping distance which must be provided by a trailer's brakes. It states that "Any combination of vehicles consisting of a passenger vehicle or any motor vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 lbs. in combination with any trailer, semitrailer or trailer coach" must have a maximum stopping distance of 40 feet when traveling at a rate of 20 miles per hour at any time and under any conditions.
Unless the gross weight exceeds 1,500 pounds, motorcycle trailers are not required by California law to be equipped with brakes. However, if you do opt to install brakes on your motorcycle trailer, be sure they are properly adjusted and do not brake harder than the motorcycle. Otherwise, braking may cause your motorcycle to flip backward over the trailer.
