Wrangler toad

mowermech wrote:

Then how does Utah write tickets to out-of-state Jeep drivers who have oversize tires that extend beyond the fender flares?

Not all tickets written are correct, that's just a fact. I guess then NY troopers could write me for not having an inspection, even though my state doesn't require them.

Often the vehicle traffic laws will will have a disclaimer such as, "registered in this state". Which some officers ignore, forget that the exemption for out of state residents are in a part of the law few read or are just going off their cheat sheet.

Vehicles equipment violations generally only apply to vehicles registered in that state. Which would be different then actual "moving violations".

Now as far as writing out of state jeep drivers, they are probably only dong that because the Jeep drivers are causing a nuisance. That's a petty thing to write or singled out. Nor have I seen the summons to see if it's an equipment violation or an unsafe operation violation. .

Here's my toad, not a wrangler but it sure serves me well. Have a radio frequency brake from blue ox.

FIRE UP wrote:


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Now, here's the LEGAL deal. In all but VERY FEW states, it is required to have auxiliary brake systems in your toad. You can go on line and simply do a search for legal towing your toad behind your RV with or without brakes and, you'll find charts that tell you which states demand it and which don't.
...

Scott - you're right on every part but the legality of it. Aux brakes are a good idea, and many rigs need them in order to meet certain braking performance criteria.

But in legal terms, most of those charts online are wrong, for a variety of reasons.

1. First and foremost, they mostly reference trailer laws, and many states make a distinction between a trailer and a vehicle being towed.
2. Some of the quoted "trailer" laws are even quoted incorrectly.
3. Consider the source - many of those charts are published by sites that are trying to sell these products and provide justification for those purchases.

I am NOT making a case for not using these types of auxiliary brakes. But I prefer to be very clear about what is and is not legal.

Personally, I no longer have a dog in this fight... I flat-towed my Jeep for many years, but a couple years ago I bought a flatbed trailer for the Jeep to ride on, with brakes on both axles.

racer99 wrote:
We are thinking of buying a older 2002-2006 wrangler which would be auto trans and want to tow it 4 down,are brakes a must or can we tow it without brakes

Well, I have a 2004 Wrangler Rubicon as my Toad; and I don't have an aux brake installed. I have never felt that I had the need for one in 15K miles of driving.

Now, having said that, it is my understanding that it is certainly better to have one, and I do have one, I just do not have it installed yet.

When I drive the RV, with the Toad behind, I drive like I ride my motorcycle; with the attitude that EVERYONE is out to crash into me. With this mindset, I leave all sorts of extra room in every direction around me.

I certainly recommend having the aux braking as, "Going is optional, but stopping is mandatory."

But reality is that if I need to use aux braking, EVERYTHING loose in the RV is going to be flying forward; something I try to avoid as much as possible. I like the things in cabinets to be reasonably close to where they were when I put them in there.

Yes you can tow it without auxillary braking just fine. My parents towed a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 40'DP and I tow a wrangler. I can barely tell that it is back there. I do not know the issues of legality and probably most beat cops don't know either.

Tom/Barb wrote:
As far as equipment goes, When you are legal in your home state, you are legal in all states. It's in the federal interstate commerce laws.

Laws concerning operation of the vehicle are state by state. as posted.

I think this is a violation of the Tenth Amendment. :B
I agree with the last two posters. Individual states have the right to establish and enforce their own equipment requirements.

Got to agree with mowermech - try explaining the interstate commerce laws to a state trooper on the side of the road and you're hosed. Virginia can't make you get an inspection sticker to drive through the state, but they sure as heck can nail you for having a radar detector in use. Besides which, I don't believe there are that many states that don't require supplemental braking anyway. It's just not that hard to do. We use the Invisibrake in our Wrangler - permanently installed, never any equipment to mess with, doesn't run down the battery, completely out of sight and works great. I might not worry about my own safety sometimes, but I'd hate to think I hurt someone else by trying to save a few bucks and a little hassle.

Tom/Barb wrote:
As far as equipment goes, When you are legal in your home state, you are legal in all states. It's in the federal interstate commerce laws.

Laws concerning operation of the vehicle are state by state. as posted.

Then how does Utah write tickets to out-of-state Jeep drivers who have oversize tires that extend beyond the fender flares?
While Reciprocity Agreements are in place between most states (not all states, I have read, are signatories to such agreements), such agreements usually only cover registration, insurance, and driver licensing requirements.
Please quote Chapter and Verse of the Federal Interstate Commerce laws/regulations/rules to which you are referring.

As far as equipment goes, When you are legal in your home state, you are legal in all states. It's in the federal interstate commerce laws.

Laws concerning operation of the vehicle are state by state. as posted.

"Now, here's the LEGAL deal. In all but VERY FEW states, it is required to have auxiliary brake systems in your toad. You can go on line and simply do a search for legal towing your toad behind your RV with or without brakes and, you'll find charts that tell you which states demand it and which don't."

SORRY,that just isn't true! While many states (and the FMVSS) have a braking performance law, and the state laws closely mirror the FMVSS, most states do not have any law that specifically addresses braking on a towed motor vehicle. In fact, I know of only one, NC, that does (see GS20-124). The lists of laws found on the internet almost always specify TRAILER brake laws. Nearly all states have a list of legal definitions, and the definition of a trailer usually does not include a towed motor vehicle. For an example, see Montana Code Annotated (MCA) 61-1-101 (82) (a). For an example of a braking performance law, see MCA 61-9-312.
So, is a braking system on a towed vehicle a GOOD IDEA? YES!!
Is a braking system required by law in "most" states? If you can stop the rig within 40 or 45 feet (depending on the state) from 20 MPH on a clean, dry, level, hard surface, probably not.
Are the lists of towing laws published by braking unit manufacturers factual?
Not even close!