Pick Up towing a Van

navegator wrote:
The State of California does not require a brake system on a towed vehicle as in cars, SUV's, small trucks only on trailers over 1500 pounds, the CHP uses a performance criteria if involved in an accident they add the weight of the towed vehicle to the vehicle towing if combined weights are more than the CCC of the towing vehicle you are in trouble, on the other hand if the towed vehicle has a brake system they consider it a a trailer.

This information comes from the California Highway Patrol as told to me by several Officers that I asked over several years.

navegator

I think this is only part true. Calif does require towed vehicle brakes is you can stop a certain distance from a specified speed. A breakaway brake is required on all towed vehicles as I recall.

Lots of info here.