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

60 Replies

OLYLEN
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
It's not the dead weight you need to stop , it's the weight in motion. So now at 60mph it weight either 6 or 9 times the static weight. Try a bicycle to find out. ride very slow hit the brakes, puts you over the handle bars. Now get to 15 MPH , try stopping, takes a several 10's of feet. you were able tyo stop the MH just short of the stopped school bus alone add the toad and your 10' into the bus. With something like the ready brake/brute system your not much over the tow bar alone. No brainer for me.

LEN
GreenSalsa
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
Okay guys, thanks for the feedback--I will get them installed.
onecb
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
The only thing that occured to me was if there ever came a time where I wish I had a brake on the towed It may very well be too late and something really bad may have happened. So I put one on and have used it everytime we go.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Honestly, I'm not sure of the legal towing limit in our State. It didn't matter because I WANTED a braking system for our tow vehicle along with a break-a-way feature. The first toad, we had the M & G installed, on the second one, we had the Air Force One installed.

My feeling is that when it's time to stop 'PRONTO', I wanted all the help I could get. I didn't want the weight of the toad to push me. When every inch counts, you want to stop as fast as possible.

Mainly, I wanted a break-a-way system so if the toad were to ever get away, the car would stop on it's own.

Get a braking system.

Safe travels,
MM.
et2
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Based on legal ramifications you hitting and injuring someone, why would you even think of not doing it. It's just common sense there's a definate benefit to it. This has been discussed recently on this forum in length. And at 4000 lbs many states require you use one. If you had a 15,000 pound toad would you consider it and why?

Other thread
SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
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.
irishtom29
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Night and day: not a slight difference, a noticeable difference, a meaningful difference--no, night and day. I doubt it.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2016
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.
tropical36
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
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.
Johno02
Explorer
Dec 28, 2016
Check you state laws. In Tennessee, we can tow up to 4000 without brakes. So far, it has worked for us.

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Supplemental Brakes Confession Time

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