Do I need a brake buddy on a Honda CRV behind a 40' DP? Thanks.

Let the fun begin, if you did a search on here this is prehaps the most volitale subject ever If you value your own saftey the answer is yes. Also required by law in some states.

Will the DP stop it? Probably. HOWEVER, if you have an accident, realize not having a supplemental braking system is a good excuse for the insurance company to deny your claim. Also leaves another opening for a lawsuit because you did NOT do all you could have to be safe.I can't even tell my toad is back there but I have a supplemental braking system to protect me from lawyers.

check out what your owner's manual for the RV says about towing a toad. if it says that anything over XXXX lbs. should have a braking system, you may not read that section but the lawyer for the people you hit will have read it. and I think there should also be a breakaway system installed.bumpy

Check the law for your state and use that for a minimum. Just remember even a 40' DP will stop faster in an emergency situation if the toad has brakes than it will if the toad doesn't have brakes. You be the judge.Brake Buddy is just one of many different supplemental brake systems out there. Research before you buy.Good luckRon

Yes, this is always a very volatile subject. One of the reasons being, it frequently results in a lot of misinformation, urban myths, etc. getting spread. Those that know better then feel like they need to speak up. A previous post here is a prime example of that:...If you have an accident, realize not having a supplemental braking system is a good excuse for the insurance company to deny your claim. ..This is a very common urban MYTH, that has been proven to be false over and over and over, yet some folks still insist on spreading this myth. Really wish folks would stop propagating this myth.Your insurance may well raise your rates, or even cancel your policy after paying on a claim, where something like this happens. However, they are NOT going to be able to deny coverage, just because you exceed a manufacturer recommendation like GVWR, GCWR, braking capacity, etc. If that were the case, they could weasel out of paying ANY and EVERY claim in one way or another. Insurance would be worthless. That whole idea is ludicrous, and just needs to die, haha.Oh, and here's another one:...Also leaves another opening for a lawsuit because you did NOT do all you could have to be safe..LOL, using that 'you didn't do all you could have to be safe' logic, leads down a ridiculously slippery slope, and proves nothing.You COULD have also spent a ton more $$, and upgraded the brakes on your MH, 'to do all you could to be safe'. You COULD have also just not towed the vehicle at all, drove it separately 'to do all you could to be safe'. You COULD have also just rented a car at your destination and not brought another vehicle on the road 'to do all you could to be safe'.You COULD have also just sold the MH, drove a much safer car, stayed in hotels, 'to do all you could to be safe'.You COULD have also spent $1M on a Prevost bus conversion MH with air brakes, 'to do all you could to be safe'.(..You see how ridiculous this 'you didn't do all you could have to be safe' argument really is?)...Anyway, to answer the original, specific question: No, you do not necessarily need a Brake Buddy for your CRV. There are several other brake systems to chose from, some of which are a much better choice. I highly, highly recommend a Readybrake system over Brake Buddy.As to the more broad question, of whether you need a braking system of some kind with a CRV behind a 40' DP: Check with the laws of the states you'll be towing in, see if they require braking on a towed vehicle. If so, you'd best be adding a brake system. Doubtful you'd get stopped and ticketed for such, but still not a good idea to be ignoring laws like that. If the laws where you will travel do NOT require such, then its really a personal decision that you have to make, based on how much $$ you want to sink into it, vs just how much increased safety you think you'll get. No doubt you'd be safer and could stop quicker with a braking system added. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a ticking time bomb on the road just waiting to kill a bus full of nuns without the supplemental braking system either, hahaha. :) People towed cars with MHs for years and years without issue, long before there ever were toad supplemental braking systems. Regardless whether you chose to get a braking system or not, you should seriously consider getting some kind of break-away setup. I personally recommend a Readybrake system, with their Readystop breakaway unit. Simple cable-operated system, works great, no electronics to mess with or foul up, nothing to have to put in and take out every time you travel, and costs a LOT less than all the other systems.

Honda CRV. | Good Sam Community

lanerd
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2013
Will, I understand what you're saying. However, my post was just a simple statement...didn't mention anything else about safety, laws, weights, or urban myths...just a simple physic fact!

I agree with you, it's up to the individual to decide what is best for him/her in this very subjective issue. For me, that few less feet in stopping could be very significant.

Ron
willald
Explorer II
Jun 03, 2013
lanerd wrote:
as I mentioned previously, ANY mh will stop faster and in a shorter distance if its toad is equipped with a supplemental braking system than one without! Simple physics applies here.

Ron, I don't disagree with that. However, one has to take into account all factors with this.

If installing a braking system costs $2000, runs the risk of burning up the toad's brakes if it has a problem, yet only decreases stopping distance by a very tiny, almost non-noticeable percentage (like say in the case of a 43,000 lb DP towing a 2000 lb Miata), and the owner is only going to tow places where it is not required by law....Are you REALLY going to try to make the case to that person, that he or she should have a supplemental braking system to be safe? I'm not, and have no problem saying in that case, a brake system is not necessary.

Nothing wrong with encouraging folks to do what they reasonably can to be safe on the road. What I have a real problem with when this subject comes up, is all the legal 'scare tactics', urban myth spreading, and absolute NONSENSE and misinformation that is thrown around to try and scare people into thinking they must have a braking system on their toad. Those tactics and posts just need to die, period.

It gets old seeing the same ol' BS urban myths getting spread (like the ridiculous one about insurance not paying..ROTFL!!) over and over.

..And for the record: I have a supplemental braking system. We use a Readybrake system with Readystop breakaway on both of our toads that we tow behind our 36' Georgetown. Works great, and for our rig, I would not want to tow without it. However, just because I personally have determined for our setup that a braking system is appropriate, does not necessarily mean that is or should be the case for everyone. :)

Will
univmd
Explorer
Jun 02, 2013
Our braking system was not working for quite awhile, and we had no idea it was not working while towing. We got it fixed under warranty. We basically have it just in case the CRV breaks loose, we want it to stop.
lanerd
Explorer II
Jun 02, 2013
I agree with Bumpy... and as I mentioned previously, ANY mh will stop faster and in a shorter distance if its toad is equipped with a supplemental braking system than one without! Simple physics applies here. Granted, with a toad that is only 10% of the mh's weight, that distance may not be a whole lot, but it may make the difference of coming into contact with something or not.

Ron
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
moparmaga2 wrote:

TEXAS § 547.401. BRAKES REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or combination of those vehicles shall be equipped with
brakes that comply with this chapter.
(b) A trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is not required
to have brakes if:
(1) its gross weight is 4,500 pounds or less; or
(2) its gross weight is heavier than 4,500 pounds but
not heavier than 15,000 pounds, and it is drawn at a speed of not
more than 30 miles per hour.

WOW, I'M LEGAL! Who Knew! I love living in the great state of Texas, where common sense is still common.

do you only expect to tow your toad in Texas?
bumpy
moparmaga2
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
Bumpyroad wrote:
az99 wrote:
Don't argue with an idiot. They can only take you down to their level.

I certainly agree with you. and I consider anybody who tows a toad and is too cheap to buy a braking/break away system to be fit that description.
bumpy

Maybe you can use your Civil Suit winnings to purchase one for me?

I am leaving this month for a 10,000 mile trip to Alaska and back and have to save my money for Diesel. I hear it is pretty expensive in British Columbia on the way up.

If you buy one for me, I will put it in and take pictures for proof.

Help a brother out.

There is no Safari Requirement for trailer brakes. The warning in the sidebar says to consult my local regulations. I know you are going to make me look up my local regulations, so I preemptively did it. Even I was surprised!

Here they are in all their glory:

TEXAS § 547.401. BRAKES REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or combination of those vehicles shall be equipped with
brakes that comply with this chapter.
(b) A trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is not required
to have brakes if:
(1) its gross weight is 4,500 pounds or less; or
(2) its gross weight is heavier than 4,500 pounds but
not heavier than 15,000 pounds, and it is drawn at a speed of not
more than 30 miles per hour.

WOW, I'M LEGAL! Who Knew! I love living in the great state of Texas, where common sense is still common.
Popsie
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
daverich wrote:
Will the DP stop it? Probably. HOWEVER, if you have an accident, realize not having a supplemental braking system is a good excuse for the insurance company to deny your claim. Also leaves another opening for a lawsuit because you did NOT do all you could have to be safe.

I can't even tell my toad is back there but I have a supplemental braking system to protect me from lawyers.
One of my best friends owns an insurance agency. If insurance companies could deny your claim because you did something negligent, they would never pay a claim that was your fault (failed to stop at a red light, turned left in front of oncoming traffic, driving drunk and hit a tree, etc. etc.). And if you get hit with a lawsuit, the insurance company will have to pay (up to your liability limit -- which should be in the millions of dollars if you have any sense) -- and they will be defending you in court.

Does your auto or RV policy have language that calls for a specific exclusion of coverage regarding supplemental braking when towing? If so, please quote that policy section. My policies do not have that exclusion.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
moparmaga2 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
be assured that when I win my civil suit against you It will also include paying off my legal fees.
bumpy

Ok, back to the real world were not everyone is a bazillionaire with money laying around to give to Bumpy when he wins his civil suits against them.

I would be curious to what kind of RV bumpy owns, to gauge what kind of experience he may have with this subject. Bumpy, have you owned a 40 + foot Diesel Pusher as we are discussing here, that weighs in excess of 35,000 lbs? If you had, you would know you will not feel any perceptible difference as long as your toad is below a reasonable weight.

True, there are some laws in some states that state you must have a toad braking system, however, these laws are general. The requirements are the same, no matter is you have a 8,000 lb class B towing 4,000 lbs or a 60,000 lb Newell towing 4,000 lbs. There are quite a bit of a difference between these scenarios.

To the OP. I choose not to have a towed Braking System. My present Motorhome weighs 43,000 lbs going down the road. It has 8 tires, on it, thus 8 sets of brakes.

My Jeep toad weighs 4000 lbs. I honestly cannot feel the difference, no matter if I have the Jeep behind me or not. It accelerates the same, it brakes the same, it gets the same gas mileage. Trust me when I say that the itsy bitsy Jeep is not going to push a 43 foot, 43,000 lbs motorcoach with 8 22.5 inch air braked tires through a intersection. The motorhome is going to do what it will, regardless of any backtalk the Jeep wants to give it. :)

If I had say a 14,500 lb Class C towing a my Jeep, I would have supplemental brakes on my tow vehicle.

I would recommend trying the CRV out behind your motorhome first on a few test runs. If you can perceive any difference with the CRV attached, you can always order a breaking system.

in case your attention span is not that great, IIRC I indicated that if your owner's manual states that if you tow over xxx lbs. you needed a toad braking system, etc.... I assume that your 43,000 lb. RV does not say that?
and I consider the breakaway feature to be almost as important as the extra braking provided on your toad.
bumpy
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
az99 wrote:
Don't argue with an idiot. They can only take you down to their level.

I certainly agree with you. and I consider anybody who tows a toad and is too cheap to buy a braking/break away system to be fit that description.
bumpy
az99
Explorer
Jun 01, 2013
Don't argue with an idiot. They can only take you down to their level.

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