Supplemental Brake... Necessity or Preference
We seem to have a good number of discussions on the issue of the need for supplemental brakes... Unfortunately many of the discussions are not very productive in terms of giving those who have an open...
Forum Discussion
Rich wrote:
I have gotten great information from these postings. I tow a Saturn Sl2 that weighs just 2375 pounds and barely lets its presence be felt in my 34 ft.
Rexhall Rolls Air with a Chevy Chassis....I purchased a supplemental system for safety reasons, but as "anti-lawyer" insurance also. Would hate to get in a serious accident and have the insurance company lawyers saying that all is not
well because I had no supplemental system in place....Just about no one mentioned that the law in CA. calls for supplamental braking when towing anything weighing more that 1500 lbs....(it used to be 3000 lbs.) I would rather err on the side of caution than to be held liable and/or not fully covered in the event of an accident.
With regard to supplemental brakes, California's towing laws specifically reference towed motor vehicles separately from trailers. For towed vehicles it is determined by the weight classification of the towing vehicle and its ability to stop within a prescribed distance for its weight class at 20 MPH, while towing the vehicle. If it can do this then supplemental brakes are not required. A breakaway device is still required by California.
It is detailed here, with links to the 2 applicable sections of California law (sections 26458 and 26454):
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f77/flat-tow-yes-2237/index22.html#post453106
