tow dolly Brake?

I am very happy with surge brakes. Electric brakes are more vulnerable over time (learned that with years of boat trailering). Surge brakes are much simpler and have less to go wrong. Yes straps are a pain but gets much easier with practice. I have multiple vehicles that are towable with a dolly so that made my decision to go with a dolly. I also use the dolly with my B van. No brake controllers required in my mutiple tow vehicles was a plus also.

Go with the dolly with brakes. Surge brakes are simplest.

The U-Haul lobby pressures the state governments for the exemption concerning brakes.

I towed my Corolla without brakes on my older Demco dolly for a few years and had no problems. Before going on a cross country trip last year I installed electric brakes and it made a world of difference when stopping. I feel better knowing that I am traveling safer with them. It was not that expensive to do it, although I did all of the work myself. JMO

IMO it is best to have brakes either electric or surge. What would stop the dolly and car if it came loose and continued rolling? It would not stop until it hit something. With brakes they have a breakway switch that will operate the brakes on the dolly and bring it to a stop.

wny_pat wrote:

katysdad wrote:
Most all states require aux braking on towed vehicles over 3000 lbs. Some even on smaller cars.
Doesn't have anything to do with how heavy the MH is.

Here is a chart for easy ref.

Towing Laws

Those laws are for trailers, not tow dollys.

Dolly's aren't considered trailers here in NY but how about other states? I would assume that there are states that consider them trailers or require them to have brakes. I also use one with brakes.

One other key if you are only worried about complying with law is what does the owner's manual say for the motorhome? Many say ANY towed vehicle or trailer must have aux brakes.

katysdad wrote:
Most all states require aux braking on towed vehicles over 3000 lbs. Some even on smaller cars.
Doesn't have anything to do with how heavy the MH is.

Here is a chart for easy ref.

Towing Laws

Those laws are for trailers, not tow dollys.

Most all states require aux braking on towed vehicles over 3000 lbs. Some even on smaller cars.
Doesn't have anything to do with how heavy the MH is.

Here is a chart for easy ref.

Towing Laws

Get the brakes!!! First, over the time of use the addition of surge brakes in the initial cost is really not much.
I once had a dolly without brakes. I was towing down a steep mountain grade from apple country back down to the freeway. Half way down it began smelling my brakes, then they became soft under-foot. I safely pulled over, told the family that it was time for lunch and this looked like a good place. We had a picnic, let the kids play, and killed about 2 hours. I felt the lugs were now cool to the touch, so I preceded slowly the rest of the way down, in 2nd and 3rd gear. Before the next trip I traded the dolly in for a Demco KarKatty II with surge brakes, and used it well for over 25 years.
Happy Trails