electric brakes absolutely necessary??

Yes you need brakes, but do you need eletric brakes? What is the trailer fitted with...seems most Jayco off-roaders come with electric brakes these days. If it has electric brakes fitted, then you are required to have them working, given the combination specs and vehicle specs. If it has override brakes then stick with those, since modifying the tailer would be costly.

I thought a tralier/Van 2t and over had to have electric brake away brakes fitted.

actually that was what I thought but when I converted my boat trailer from US to OZ in February the pits was happy with 2t and overrun brakes .. it is rated down to 2t from 2.7t as it was in the US and has simple overrun brakes. Over 2t you need break away brakes .. well that was WA in January .. all I can tell you ..
I am working on a custom trailer at the moment and have two companies involved and both said the same thing .. up to 2 no problem .. over 2 it gets expensive :)) ..
have fun
gmd

Wizard, very good of you to post on building trailers but the question is to the requirement of electric or over-ride. It's the law to have em, yes, but....... which?

I would advise electric where any trailer has the capacity to push the car. I love em.

No I read the post again and again and again and it was whether to have their Xtrail wired up for electric brakes or quote "Some people have said we can 'get away with it', others have said it MUST be done. There seemed to be a difference of advice and some foolish suggestion by a Nissan dealer that they don't need them.

I read nothing about deciding between override and electric. The Design Rules provide the guide to building trailers and caravans and the types of braking systems they are permitted to have.

From that a person would deduce that if the trailer over 750 KG MUST be fitted with brakes then you would naturally assume that the tow vehicle have the means of operating them.

Since their van has electric I can't see why over-rides are an issue? In addition the manufacturer specs require a braking system over 750 kg as well. Seems simple to me...but over-ride, what the......

"electric brakes absolutely necessary??" is an integral part of the question posed I would have thought and still do. It is the heading.

Ive heard the Technoshia Prodidgy(sp?) is a fantastic brake controller.

If I can offer another piece of advice to a newby. When seeking information or advice about anything caravanning ring a caravan dealer or repairer. When I bought my first van the dealer told me what I needed and fitted it all. I realise your not buying from a dealer, but where to get the right help.

As you may have noticed the Nissan dealer is, well lets not mince words..an idiot..to suggest you don't need a brake controller. Correct nformation like this is also available from your state transport authority as well.

Most of these numpties don't know the first thing about caravans and braking systems. Which I learned first hand when I had my trailer wiring stuffed up when I bought my car as they didn't know which pin powered the van and had the reverse light circuit hooked up instead! Not withstanding the fact I needed a brake controller as well.

Good luck in the adventure that comes with learning more about caravanning.