Toad &a brake assist
I am towing a Honda CR-V l, weight 3500 lbs, do I really need a brake assist In the car? Seems like a lot of hassle.
Forum Discussion
mowermech wrote:Dutch_12078 wrote:willald wrote:
I actually live in the one state mowermech is referring to, I believe, that does require such (North Carolina). However, even with NC, the laws are soooo vague, its just about impossible to comply with it completely. Mowermech has the details, but NC basically says it has to be a system they approve of, but nowhere will you find anything saying just what types of systems they 'approve', hahaha. (right, mowermech?)
Gee, I hope my ReadyBrake system I use is one they approve of. :R Oh, wait, its not, since I can't engage or control it manually from the Motorhome. Guess I'm going straight to jail, now, huh? Hahahahaha. :)
ReadyBrake, M&G, etc. are NOT "brake systems" in themselves, so no approval should needed. They are simply "brake application systems" that apply the Federal DOT/NHTSA approved existing brake system on the vehicle that presumably NC approves as well. If they don't, that's a whole different issue...
This is the applicable portion of the NC law (20-124):
"(f) Every semitrailer, or trailer, or separate vehicle, attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle, and having a gross weight of two tons, and all house trailers of 1,000 pounds gross weight or more, shall be equipped with brakes controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle, which shall conform to the specifications set forth in subsection (e) of this section and shall be of a type approved by the Commissioner."
Note that the brakes must be "controlled or operated by the driver" and must be "of a type approved by the Commissioner".
Is a surge brake controlled by the driver? Is it of a TYPE approved by the Commissioner? Does the braking conform to Subsection (e)?
If not, it is apparently not legal in NC!
Where does it say the operating system must be approved? The brake system itself needs to be of course. And yes, since a properly designed surge brake system only operates the towed vehicle brakes when the towing vehicle brakes are applied by the operator with sufficient force to activate them, they would appear to fall within the law in my opinion. Have all of the various handicapped hand operated brake controls been "approved" in NC? Have your leg and foot been "approved" in NC for that matter? ;)
