I'm buying a 2015 Honda Fit as a tow behind my Class A. I'm 30,000 lbs it's 2500 lbs do I need a braking system in the car? ...Doug

Only if it comes disconnected from your MH. In many states, a braking system is required over 1,500 pounds.

California (which it looks like you are in) requires brakes on any trailer over 1500 pounds. You could try to make the argument that a tow behind car is not a trailer, but not sure if that would work...Personally I feel that if your total load with toad is under the GVWR of your motorhome, you would be fine since clearly the brakes are designed for that weight. Anything over GVWR, I'd want brakes on the trailer. But that's just my rational opinion, and I doubt the CHP would agree lol. All the braking companies would say yes, you do. But I've seen some compelling arguments relating to the wording of the CA law (with regards to whether a toad is a trailer, and also some wording about the law stating a required stopping distance as opposed to brakes or not. I don't know, but some googling would probably lead you down an interesting rabbit hole about it... tldr: in California, yes you do. Most likely. :B

Verify language. A towed motor vehicle is not a trailer in many states.OP: what is make and model of MH?

yesIMHO it is foolish not to have one with out a break away system also.bumpy

MNC, I am a Californian and up until a couple of years ago did not have a SBS on my toweds, at that time the law on SBS'ss was a performance base law. Able to stop in X feet ax X speed, I went to the local CHP office where I had gotten a copy of the law and kept it in my RV, on my last visit, I was told the law had been changed and now towed vehicles were covered by trailer laws. I don't really feel that is true and the Chippy didn't have time to give me a copy of the law so I just put a SBS on my towed. Prior to my current GMC Canyon I had towed Suzis and didn't feel I needed extra braking, the Canyon is heavier than a Suzi and I can tell it.I like stay in place systems but have a brake buddy now because I bought it really cheap at a close out sale.So my answer is get it, it is cheaper than not being able to stop when you need to.

Dinghy Towing | Good Sam Community

moondogcooter
Explorer
Aug 10, 2020
wildmanbaker wrote:
Only if it comes disconnected from your MH. In many states, a braking system is required over 1,500 pounds.

Not sure what disconnected from my motor home means? BTW Its a 6 speed manual shift.
enblethen
Nomad
Aug 10, 2020
Some auxilary braking devices come with a breakaway feature that if the tow bar comes detached from the MH, a cable is pulled locking brakes on the toad.
Aux braking is a good idea, but is not always required by law.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Aug 10, 2020
“Not sure what disconnected from my motor home means?“

The hitch/connector between the MH and the toad pops off, breaks, loosens, a bolt breaks....
wildmanbaker
Explorer
Aug 10, 2020
Lwiddis wrote:
“Not sure what disconnected from my motor home means?“

The hitch/connector between the MH and the toad pops off, breaks, loosens, a bolt breaks....
Thank you Lawrence, Fear of loosing the Toad is the main reason we have a braking system installed on our Toads.
phil-t
Explorer
Aug 11, 2020
moondogcooter wrote:
I'm buying a 2015 Honda Fit as a tow behind my Class A. I'm 30,000 lbs it's 2500 lbs do I need a braking system in the car? ...
Doug

"need" is a four letter word in my book, regardless of the law. WANT is a much better term for adding a braking system to your toad for dingy towing.
sehunter
Explorer
Aug 11, 2020
Here is the current requirement for motorhome towing trailers and vehicles 4 down.

CA DMV
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Aug 11, 2020
phil-t wrote:
moondogcooter wrote:
I'm buying a 2015 Honda Fit as a tow behind my Class A. I'm 30,000 lbs it's 2500 lbs do I need a braking system in the car? ...
Doug

"need" is a four letter word in my book, regardless of the law. WANT is a much better term for adding a braking system to your toad for dingy towing.

yep, it never surprises me that folks here will spend $100,000+ for a RV, $20,000 for a toad, $8000 for Full Body Paint to impress the neighbors, and won't spend $2000 for a safety item. they will look for some excuse, to justify not having a braking system, i.e. my MH will stop us, a towed car is not a trailer, the law doesn't mandate it, etc. etc.
bumpy
enblethen
Nomad
Aug 11, 2020
Sehunter: That is a not requirements. That is just some information. Need to find the law!
way2roll
Navigator II
Aug 11, 2020
Despite the law or capacities, I wouldn't set up a car to tow without a supplemental braking system and breakaway kit. We had the ready brute elite tow bars and it had a mechanical braking system included in the bar, super simple and a no brainer. You will stop quicker with less work for the MH brakes and it's just plain safer for minimal cost. Anything worth doing is worth doing right.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Aug 11, 2020
Bumpyroad wrote:
phil-t wrote:
moondogcooter wrote:
I'm buying a 2015 Honda Fit as a tow behind my Class A. I'm 30,000 lbs it's 2500 lbs do I need a braking system in the car? ...
Doug

"need" is a four letter word in my book, regardless of the law. WANT is a much better term for adding a braking system to your toad for dingy towing.

yep, it never surprises me that folks here will spend $100,000+ for a RV, $20,000 for a toad, $8000 for Full Body Paint to impress the neighbors, and won't spend $2000 for a safety item. they will look for some excuse, to justify not having a braking system, i.e. my MH will stop us, a towed car is not a trailer, the law doesn't mandate it, etc. etc.
bumpy

Most brake systems only operate in emergency braking situations. Normal braking and they don’t activate. So yes the coach brakes are doing all the stopping and are rated at the full GCWR.