Fy a coupla articles on trailer brakes ...
http://www.boatingworldonline.com/Trailering.htm . I'm in about the same
boat as you with a Cherokee/3000 lb boat/shorland'r trailer. I keep the
tires/brakes on the jeep in good shape, the trailer tires/bearings in good
shape, and pay a lot of extra attention while towing ... so far no problems
.... but I have no confidence in my ability to maintain trailer brakes so's I
know they're actually working. If I move up, I'll get a trailer with brakes
for sure, for now I'll go without. Fyi, Shorland'r puts brakes on trailers
over 3100 lbs capacity ...
http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/t_boat_3100_f.html ... you may get some cost
info at their site.

"Klwasson" wrote in message
...
I will be traveling cross country pulling my 17 foot runabout (2500 pound
boat/trailer) with my Jeep Cherokee and I am seriously thinking about
buying
some brakes for my trailer. I have been thinking about it for years
anyway for
safety reasons. Looking at the Shorelandr web site, it seems that I will
have
to purchase an entire axle assembly and the hydraulic brake actuator
tongue.
Is this correct? Wow, this the better part of the whole trailer. Maybe I
should just buy a whole new trailer? I will call Shorelandr on Monday for
a
price, but anyone have any idea how much these brake kits will run me?

I am also going to purchase a spare tire, wheel, and mounting bracket.
This
trip is going to be expensive. These are things I have needed anyway, but
it
still hurts the pocket book.

The last time I moved cross country, I paid an outfit to load the
boat/trailer
onto their trailer and move it out. The move cost me $1800, and hoisting
it on
and off their trailer cost me $100 on each end. Now I'm beginning to
wonder if
I should just go that route again.

Thanks for any advice...

Kevin