It depends… How often do you go through 1000 lbs of load? And how often do you pull over at highway speeds?
If the answer to one or both questions is “not often,” you can maybe (emphasis added) go without trailer brakes, but if the answer to either question is “all the bloody time”, you might want to consider adding them. They will wear too much and wear out the vehicle’s brakes.
(For the record, I occasionally pull a motorcycle trailer (like, once or twice a year?) with a gross weight of ~875 lbs, never goes over 55 mph, and does fine without brakes. OTOH, the point of re ~1,700 lb. Camper sho’nuff has brakes, and if not I’d add them very sweet)
