Hello.Long time member and have been driving my American Coach Revolution 42T for over 2 years now and LOVE it. I just upgraded my 2007 Ford Escape (towed it with a two wheel tow dolly) to a 2017 Ford Edge. I have lusted over flat towing for the past 24+ months, now that I have a vehicle that I can do it with my question is this:My rig can tow 15,000 lbs. Do I really need a supplemental brake system for a car that has a curb weight of 4,000 lbs? I seriously doubt I will even know it is back there. I am completely confident the rig will stop the car.What say the crowd? Do I need it or will I be okay with out it?

Check you state laws. In Tennessee, we can tow up to 4000 without brakes. So far, it has worked for us.

GreenSalsa wrote:Hello.Long time member and have been driving my American Coach Revolution 42T for over 2 years now and LOVE it. I just upgraded my 2007 Ford Escape (towed it with a two wheel tow dolly) to a 2017 Ford Edge. I have lusted over flat towing for the past 24+ months, now that I have a vehicle that I can do it with my question is this:My rig can tow 15,000 lbs. Do I really need a supplemental brake system for a car that has a curb weight of 4,000 lbs? I seriously doubt I will even know it is back there. I am completely confident the rig will stop the car.What say the crowd? Do I need it or will I be okay with out it?This question has came up many times and again I say, if it will stop any quicker and even for the distance of an inch, then install the thing already and be done with it. Pretty simple to do with a NSA READYBRAKE, too. Good bang for the buck, simple and trouble free. You might want to install the READYSTOP break away while you're at it, for some peace of mind if nothing else. I did see some pictures of the whole front end, ripped off of a toad once. Don't ask me how or why, it just was.

Yes! My Prevost can tow more than your rig but after towing my Jeep Liberty (about 4000#) for a year or so I finally got around to installing an M&G braking setup like I had on my previous very heavy toad. The difference is like night and day especially in those rare moments where some idiot requires you to really get on the brakes.On the legal side, supplemental braking is likely required in your State. Not doing so and then getting involved in an accident, even if it's not your fault, will likely get you tied up in some unnecessary litigation that could have been avoided for less than $1000.

Night and day: not a slight difference, a noticeable difference, a meaningful difference--no, night and day. I doubt it.

Many times we read questions like 'will my jillion HP 1/2t pull this?' Sure, but will it stop it? No. Stopping is the most critical issue. You could save a life.

Supplemental Brakes Confession Time | Good Sam Community

PastorCharlie
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
Green Salsa, in NY and NC under 1,000 lbs. is the limit for no brake system. There is no state where it is legal to tow without a braking system if the tow is 1,000 lbs. or more.

http://www.brakebuddy.com/towing-laws
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Dec 29, 2016
PastorCharlie wrote:
Green Salsa, in NY and NC under 1,000 lbs. is the limit for no brake system. There is no state where it is legal to tow without a braking system if the tow is 1,000 lbs. or more.

http://www.brakebuddy.com/towing-laws

Actually I contacted several states and got the actual interpretation of the laws regarding a "vehicle in tow", which is DIFFERENT than a "trailer in tow" that the brake manufacturers use. I have posted the actual responses from several states on this forum before but suffice it to say that a "vehicle in tow" is not required to have supplemental braking in any state that I contacted.
That said, I do use a Blue Ox braking system in my toad but I also know that I will NOT be breaking ANY laws if my Blue Ox fails and I want to continue on my trip.
If I worried what a jury would do, I guess I would never drive a motor home, or any vehicle, at all.
slickest1
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
The last thing I would worry about is a jury. It is just common sense to put a braking system on a toad. I have had to make a panic stop once. I was darn glad I had toad brakes because if I didn't have them I am sure I would have hit the guy that pulled in front of me.
If you think about it towbars are rated mostly UP to 10,000 lbs. some are less than that. When you slam on the brakes the weight of your toad is in motion and the stress that you have put on that towbar would be alot more than what you are pulling.For what it costs it may be the cheapest insurance you can get.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
Effy wrote:

Beating a dead horse here but I read countless stories of people being charged for texting while driving. Happened to my sister. .

Did it make it into the paper,"EFFYs sister ticketed for texting"?
if so it was a very slow news day.
bumpy
Effy
Explorer II
Dec 29, 2016
Bumpyroad wrote:
Effy wrote:

Beating a dead horse here but I read countless stories of people being charged for texting while driving. Happened to my sister. .

Did it make it into the paper,"EFFYs sister ticketed for texting"?
if so it was a very slow news day.
bumpy

Yes. Most citiy newspapers/sites have a section to read daily police briefs . It was a normal news day. If I recall there were several citations for texting and driving. If it were an accident involving a casualty a texting crash usually makes headline news. Pretty similar to most city papers. I assure I can find tons more stories on texting driving crashes than you can for civil suits on the lack of supplemental braking .
wildmanbaker
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
As Ron stated, not many states require a supplemental brakes. We have a 34' gas MH and have towed 2 times without a braking system. There is not much difference between having brakes on the toad and not having them, in my opinion, but that's worth what you pay for it. My concern was if the toad came loose, and started off on its own. That is why I installed a supplemental brake system. I have forgot to turn on the braking system from time to time, and not really noticed it. What I notice more that no aux brakes is leaving the steering wheel lock, and leaving the emergency brake on. Boy, do I get some great looks from people when I get out to release the emergency brake.
wildmanbaker
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
The regulations concerning rec. towing are not easily found, as they are in different sections of the states regulations, not just in the towing sections. I have found that our state has them scattered out in 4 sections of the regs.
HighwayJunky
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
I also questioned the need for added braking for a small fiat which we tow. But, after checking state laws for towing I decided to buy a Brake Buddy and save any grief from a potential lawsuit associated with an accident with injury....People look for a reason to sue these days...
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Dec 30, 2016
wildmanbaker wrote:
I have forgot to turn on the braking system from time to time, and not really noticed it.

With normal driving and braking you're not supposed to notice any difference if adjusted correctly. It's when you stop fast where the braking kicks in.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Dec 30, 2016
Don't buy the the opinions that it is required by law.
Buying small tractor in Nebraska, I was offered new 7000 lb equipment trailer with no brakes. I was driving 4000 lb SUV and would be perfectly legal.
Toads are not trailers and are legal to tow with no brakes in all states last time I was checking, but there might be updates in last years.
Still if you can find brake system that is really reliable and doesn't cost more than the toad, you can't go wrong with it.
BTW since the incident above, whenever I drive in Nebraska I make sure I don't do sudden braking.