Tow dolly what do I need
I have a fleetwood Discovery w/ 275HP CUMMINS Turbo Diesel with Allison 6-Speed Electronic Transmission. I want to get a tow dolly for my 2012 Ford Fusion which can run 4 down. The MH can tow 5000 l...
Forum Discussion
Effy wrote:PastorCharlie wrote:jerseyjim wrote:
IF you can tow 4-down, forget the dolly. 4-down is easier and cheaper. What you need is a baseplate and towbar. More than one company makes them...I use BlueOx for my baseplate and Roadmaster for my towbar. Then you have a choice of using magnetic lights or a diode kit for your toads' brake and marker lights.
I would suggest you not doing it yourself...at least this time. Check with an RV dealer or Camping World. Most likely under $1500 for everything.
IMO with your motorhome and the weight of the Ford Fusion, one of those "aux. braking systems" are not needed at all. But that's MY opinion.
Most all states require a braking system.... the MH will probably stop it on normal terrain but the LE will also stop it and give an invite to their justice center.
I hear this a lot on this forum that law enforcement will fine you etc etc. I would love to hear one documented instance where a MH was stopped pulling a toad simply to validate they had supplimental brakes. It's not required in a lot of states, hence why they manufacture and sell tow devices without them. You guys crack me up. Good idea? depends on your setup. Required? depends on state and set up.
A few years back I did my own research on this issue. I didn't check all 50 states, but I went through about 20 of them including ones where people said they did have such a law. I think I found two states that actually had a law that described towing a motor vehicle and said that a aux brake system was required. I think Canada does have a law requiring the aux brake system. Most of the other states I check had braking performance requirements. Basically there is a chart that says at this speed you have to be able to stop this fast. This is the law California uses when it comes to towing motor vehicles. California does have a weight law on trailers, but not motor vehicles. The only way I know of that law enforcement can enforce this braking performance requirement is to have you get out on the road and get up the speed and slam on the brakes and see how fast you can stop. In all my years as a cop I never once saw this take place, even by the Highway Patrol.
