TOAD Braking System Question...

J-Rooster wrote:

Effy wrote:

mowermech wrote:
"I'm not aware of any accidents or fatalities associated with Blue Ox, or any other tow bar."

I am not aware of any accidents or fatalities that can be directly attributed to the lack of an auxiliary braking system or breakaway system.
It would appear that such systems play on the paranoid fears of people, and are actually not needed. I wonder how many miles vehicles were towed before such systems were invented?
Of course, such systems ARE a GOOD IDEA, but is there any justification in reality for them?

I agree with this, however there are states that require aux brake systems. I couldn't tell you which ones and neither can most people on this forum due to the lack of and mis-interpreted data (hence the periodic heated arguments on the subject), but the aux brake companies will tell you the states are more numerous than there really are. I think it's funny that some states require them yet no system on the market is government rated. Makes no sense. I have read that some systems will actually cause issues like lock ups and failures. I have also heard stories of accidents avoided by having them although I am not sure how you'd ever prove what didn't happen. And I've heard that not having them is the foundation for negligence and losing your entire life savings and thrown in jail - doom and gloom. No one has ever proven that's happened either (I've asked several times)but you'll see it one here repeatedly. I think a law degree comes in the box with each system. And requests for relinquishing your driver's license if you don't.

Effy, go to the three w's then brakebuddy dot com/towing laws and it gives you all the info on towing in all 50 States + Canada. States in the U.S. that have no towing laws are Kansas, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming all other States have towing laws that use weight as a factor in towing.

I can't speak to all states, but THAT list of laws is WRONG about Montana! It quotes TRAILER towing laws, and the legal definition of "trailer" does not include towed passenger cars! See MCA 61-1-101(82)
Montana does, however, have a braking performance law. See MCA 61-9-312.

Note: Wyoming also has a braking performance law. See Wyoming Statutes, Title 31, 31-5-950.

I have never seen a List Of Towing Laws that is accurate. Not one!