Dinghy brakes or not?
I'm hesitant about this topic because I will probably get lectured but I'm wondering how many of you flat tow with no supplemental brakes? My situation is a 30 ft motor home towing a 2700 lb. Chevy So...
Forum Discussion
I wasn't going to respond, but......
Do yourself a favor and review the states you may wish to visit's braking requirements. As previously said, some states require braking for VEHICLES over 1500 lbs and some 3000 and some none. Note that I said VEHICLES. If you check the Vehicle Code in those states, you will find they say something like "towed vehicle", not "MOTOR VEHICLE". Since CA requires a towed vehicle over 1500 lbs to have brakes, I never had an issue because I understood they were required.
I would never listen to anyone who says: "I been towing for 50 years without brakes and never had a problem". Good for him. Doesn't mean you won't 1/2 mile from home.
I have towed with a 3/4 ton Diesel, a 4700 International diesel with disc brakes and a 36' Motorhome on a Freightliner chassis equipped with airbrakes. I have towed with a tow dolly and 4 down. I am presently towing a Ford Ranger 4 down (weighs 3300 lbs) equipped with air applied brakes. Everything I have towed had a breakaway switch. Common sense says you don't want any toad getting free and passing you down the hill!
I have experienced brake fade on the 3/4 ton towing a 5er with exhaust braking. I Never had a problem with the International because it was designed to stop much more than the GVW of my vehicles. I have noted that in my MH I CAN tell the difference with the supplemental braking on my toad disconnected. (Not on purpose, I assure you)
IMHO, if you tow something on a dolly or 4 down, you need a breakaway and supplemental braking to be safe. I will tow nothing without supplemental brakes.
Make a good decision now and you won't have regrets later!
Do yourself a favor and review the states you may wish to visit's braking requirements. As previously said, some states require braking for VEHICLES over 1500 lbs and some 3000 and some none. Note that I said VEHICLES. If you check the Vehicle Code in those states, you will find they say something like "towed vehicle", not "MOTOR VEHICLE". Since CA requires a towed vehicle over 1500 lbs to have brakes, I never had an issue because I understood they were required.
I would never listen to anyone who says: "I been towing for 50 years without brakes and never had a problem". Good for him. Doesn't mean you won't 1/2 mile from home.
I have towed with a 3/4 ton Diesel, a 4700 International diesel with disc brakes and a 36' Motorhome on a Freightliner chassis equipped with airbrakes. I have towed with a tow dolly and 4 down. I am presently towing a Ford Ranger 4 down (weighs 3300 lbs) equipped with air applied brakes. Everything I have towed had a breakaway switch. Common sense says you don't want any toad getting free and passing you down the hill!
I have experienced brake fade on the 3/4 ton towing a 5er with exhaust braking. I Never had a problem with the International because it was designed to stop much more than the GVW of my vehicles. I have noted that in my MH I CAN tell the difference with the supplemental braking on my toad disconnected. (Not on purpose, I assure you)
IMHO, if you tow something on a dolly or 4 down, you need a breakaway and supplemental braking to be safe. I will tow nothing without supplemental brakes.
Make a good decision now and you won't have regrets later!
