Braking System for Tow Vehicle

rgatijnet1 wrote:

catsgalore wrote:
We have a 1999 Fleetwood class A motor home and once in awhile we tow our Toyota Tacoma truck. We do not have a supplement braking system for the tow vehicle is this a must? I looked into a few of them and there quite expensive with installation.

To answer your question, NO, you do not legally have to have supplemental braking on a VEHICLE in tow.
A VEHICLE in tow is NOT a trailer. If you check any state, you will see various requirements for brakes that are required on trailers.
Don't take my word for it. All you need to do is send an email to the state DOT or highway patrol, and you will get the same replies that I did. I had previously posted some of the replies that I received and the names of the officials that responded. A vehicle in tow does not require supplemental braking.
Now with that said, I do use the Blue Ox Patriot braking system on my toad and I can tell that I can stop quicker in an emergency. I also know that if my Blue Ox fails, I can still tow my toad LEGALLY to get the system repaired or replaced. I do not have to leave my toad behind.
Now that you have the facts, you can decide what is best for you.

Although your statement is mostly correct, if somebody in law enforcement told you that brakes are not required on towed vehicles then they were wrong. The statement that brakes are not required simply because you are towing a car is correct one, but there are other laws that may require them. For example in California there is no law that says a towed vehicle must have brakes. But there is a braking performance chart that your vehicle must comply with. So if you are driving a 25 foot Class C motorhome on a 3/4 ton van chassis, and your towed vehicle is a One ton Chevy extended cab dually, then I can guarantee you that your vehicle combination will not meet the performance requirements of the chart and supplement brakes on the towed vehicle will be required.

In the research I have done, most states use a performance chart when it comes to towed vehicles, versus having a law that says brakes required at a certain weight. Now I was able to find a couple of states that do have specific laws that apply to towed cars and a specific weight, but the majority don't. I can't remember which states those were now, but I'm thinking New Hampshire was one.