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dodge_guy's avatar
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Oct 20, 2017

Question on a tow dolly.

Ok. So my boss came across a Master Tow tow dolly. It needs a few things such as the plastic fenders and lights. As well as new tires. It’s from 92 according to what I can read on the sticker. It has load range “C” tires. This would give it about a 3200 lb axle capacity. Which I would guess give it approx a 7klb gross weight rating, there is a rating on he sticker, but I can’t make it out. It like old like it says 71??lbs, but here’s the thing. This dolly has no trailer brakes! Never had them! How is that possible when I’m just about any state, anything towed over 2-3k lbs is supposed to have brakes? This is new to me. but let’s say I have a minivan loaded with bikes and stuff that weighs about 5500lbs. That’s a lot of weight for a MH to try and stop. I assumed they all had brakes! I guess not. Not to mention in a breakaway event there is nothing to slow down or stop the dolly/toad.

Anyone have any input!
  • No "grey area" at all in Illinois:
    Illinopis General Assembly
    Public Act 093-0344
    "(b) Performance ability of brakes.
    1. The service brakes upon any motor vehicle or
    combination of vehicles operating on a level surface
    shall be adequate to stop such vehicle or vehicles when
    traveling 20 miles per hour within a distance of 30 feet
    when upon dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free
    from loose material."
    Nothing "grey" about that, at all, that I can see. In fact, it is the most restrictive law that my research has ever uncovered!
    Yes, I towed a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited, a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500, and a PT Cruiser convertible on a dolly on various trips around the country with no auxiliary braking system. Many trips crossed the Continental Divide, the Cascades, and the Sierras. No problems.
    I sold my DEMCO Kar Kaddy dolly because it had no brakes. I have since realized that it was an incredibly stupid thing to do!
  • No brake's on our tow dolly, towed to Alaska and back 3 time's, no problem.
  • So a tow dolly sounds like a grey area? I would still call it a trailer because it is connected to a ball and has an axle and lights. And yes empty it is perfectly legal to tow, once you strap a 3k, 4k or 5k lb vehicle to it it becomes untowable to me, at least the common sense side of me thinks that. He doesn’t do any mechanical work so anything it needs I’ll be doing. It has the ability to add brakes, which if it were mine that is what I would do.

    So now I have to ask, how many people have a braking system on their toad? whether it be built in on a 4 down toad or on a dolly axle?
  • To address the basic question, the laws in some states require brakes on any trailer over 1500 lbs. unladen weight. A dolly weighs considerably less than 1500 lbs., so in those states no brakes is perfectly legal.
    In some states it is questionable if a dolly is legally a "trailer", according to the statutes. If it is not a "trailer" under the law, it is not required to comply with the laws regarding trailer brakes. In those states, a dolly probably does not have to be titled or registered, and does not require a license plate.
    In some states, any trailer over 3000 lbs. GVWR must have brakes, often on all wheels. Again, there are often exemptions to the law.
    So, depending on the trailer braking laws in each state, a dolly without brakes may be perfectly legal, until the Braking Performance Laws come into play. Most states, and the FMVSS, have a braking performance law or regulation that states any combination of vehicles must be able to stop within a set distance (usually 40 or 45 feet) from 20 MPH on a dry, hard, clean, level surface. If the combination of vehicles can do that, it is legal. If it con't do that, better braking is required before it can operate legally. Here in Montana, that law is MCA 61-9-312.
    I have never heard of any testing for compliance being done, nor have I ever read or heard about any citations for violations of the Braking Performance Law.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Many trailers, and I would imagine at least some dollys, that don't "have brakes" DO have the mounting flanges on the axles that allow bolting a brake kit on, easy DIY job. If boss has done a brake job on a car or pickup, can do this. A good welder could of course add those flanges.

    Dolly may also have a bolted on (vs welded) Coupler, which would be easy to replace with a hydraulic Actuator (master cylinder) to apply Hydraulic Brakes.

    Or... Add Electric Brakes and install a Trailer Brake Controller in the RV. Rental dollys are Hydraulic Surge so no controller is needed. If I was going to dedicate a Dolly to one RV, I'd add Electric Brakes and a Controller.
  • The dolly was basically given to him.

    But that’s my question, how can they sell something like that with no brakes, knowing that it will be used illegally?! I would never put 5k lbs behind anything without brakes.
  • You can still buy a new tow dolly without brakes.
    I don't own one but, I would not buy a dolly that doesn't have brakes.

    Maybe your boss should keep looking, that Master Tow sounds more like a project. But, it depends on how he plans to use it.

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