Thought on brakes for my Compact

If they are already present, it will only cost a little time and screwing-around to run some leads to the cut wire ends to see if there is any hope they still do work. I would not count on them much though, and would plan on spending to replace them anyway.

I know that the brakes had to have been an optional-equipment add-on for the Compact, and not many had them. However, since they are present it shouldn't take a lot to be able to renew them. There will be some expense involved, like the brake assemblies, possibly drums, wiring, and the controller for your tow vehicle. But it is not a prohibitive cost factor. Personally, I would start rounding up the parts to get the job done, small-trailer question or not. All of the recent discussion about safe towing is enough to convince me of the added safety bonus it would be giving you. Mountains of Tennessee or no, safety first!

Compacts are 13ft to tongue, 10ft box and 6' 6" wide. They weigh aprox. 1100lbs from factory.

I do not have brakes on my 62 and have driven it up and down and around some big mountains, same with my 65. I have pulled them both with a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, small SUV. No problems.

Many people have pulled much larger trailers with no Problems.  BUT  has yours or someone elses life ever depended on now fast you can stop? I have to admit that in my life I have towed 20,000 lb loaded trailers without brakes with no problems, but that was because I was lucky. Had someone or thing pulled out in front of me who knows who might have died.
I have brakes on all my trailers now. I would hate to have to live with the knowledge that if I had brakes on the trailer and been able to have stopped a few feet quicker some child on a bike would still be alive. Plus if something causes your trailer to start swaying many times a light tap on the trailer brakes will straighten it out. Another thing to remember you are stopping loaded weight which usually is several hundred pounds more than advertised weight. Also be advised that if you have an accident in a state that has a brake weight limit that you exceed you could be facing a felony prison sentence if someone is killed.
What I am saying is make up your own mind and decide if you want to spend a few hundred dollars to make you and your loved ones safer or take your chances then live with whatever happens. Good Luck in what ever you decide.
One additional thing they will weigh your trailer as it sits you will not be allowed to unload it. The charge could be vehicular homicide.

Hooking the current brakes up is not an option as one of them was stuck out not allowing the camper to be towed at all, so I had to tear them apart. If I decide to go that route I will have to buy new brakes, which I have priced out at around $100 including wiring. Just thought I would get opinions and see what other have and how they feel about them.

And as to bigbill's reply, getting passed by a big rig or whatever and getting trailer sway can quickly be remedied by a tap on the brakes. Having experienced that with our old 21 footer, brakes saved me from having to change pants at the next rest stop.

Some states don't even have a limit but do you ever tow it out of state? If involved in an accident they will go by the laws in the state of occurrence for both civil and criminal charges. You may tow a million miles and never have an incident or you might be having a bad day and pull out in front of someone. We never plan on an accident, if we knew they were coming they wouldn't be an accident. On a normal stop most vehicles will stop a lite trailer without much effort because of power brake systems. BUT hook up your trailer and get your speed up to a reasonable speed of 50 mph and attempt an emergency stop as you would if a semi had just pulled out blocking the entire road right in front of you. measure the distance traveled before a complete stop. Now do the same thing without the trailer. Then decide if a few hundred dollars would be worth the investment to maybe prevent serious injury or worse to you or your loved ones, not even thinking about other people you could cause injury to. I know you think I am nuts because you could never have an accident, be found legally  responsible and be sued for millions of dollars or wind up behind bars for several years. Something like this could only happen to someone else, like McDonald for selling hot coffee.
I don't wish to sound like a pessimist but stuff happens and the life you save could be mine. By the way my Silverado has a tow package of 9000 lbs and my trailers still have brakes on them. Life teaches us many things some we learn easy some we learn the hard way. Just my thoughts may God bless you and keep you safe.