Toad brakes

dubdub07 wrote:
We can justify this conversation easily in either direction. Simple facts are that any trailer over 3000lbs in most states needs some sort of braking system but ironically most states do NOT have a requirement for a toad to have brakes. The reality is that as I watch the EvenBrake it really doesn't come on that much unless the MH brakes hard. I can adjust that but I am not going to. My 32K MH is probably going to do just fine stopping either of my Jeeps. I do agree that the safety cables should stop the toad from going awry and killing someone and if they don't, that is a manufacturer issue legally. Even in the 5 states that require brakes, they are still driven by the weight of the toad. This would indicate that the U.S. feels pretty secure about the MH stopping the toad it is pulling.

http://home.roadrunner.com/~morodat/toad-brakes-by-state.html

Bill

That is a better site than many out there, but, in regards to Montana law, it is WRONG, just like many others. Look at MCA 61-9-312 (4) for the REAL stopping distance required for any combination of vehicles!
MCA means Montana Code Annotated. The applicable code is here; http://leg.mt.gov/bills/1997/mca/61/9/61-9-312.htm

We'retheRussos wrote:
For everyone who states a concern about a toad breaking away and simple careening into whatever it hits first, also consider that a breakaway toad with aux brakes is going to become an obstacle to anything behind it. Imagine the trouble to a 18 wheeler if you passed and all of a sudden your toad broke free and came to a dead stop in front of them. Not pretty on either end of the spectrum. I havent gotten on the road yet, but my big question is...if the toad breaks away, do the brake/aux lights still work? If not, now you have a dead in the water car sitting in the road in the middle of the night.

Yes the brake lights work when the brake is applied by the pull out safety cable and remain lighted until the battery goes dead.

Forget the laws. Forget about how big your MH is and how much the brakes are rated to stop.

Take a look at your tow bar and hitch setup. Somewhere in that setup it all comes down to a single 5/8” bolt that takes all the strain when you pull or stop your toad. I suggest that anything you can do to lessen the strain on that bolt would be a wise choice. That’s why I think a supplemental braking system is a good idea.

Effy wrote:
This topic gets beat to death about once a week. I have yet to see any evidence where an aux braking system prevented an accident that would have otherwise occurred. Not saying that it doesn't happen but there is simply no data that I have seen, and I have asked on here repeatedly. /snip/

I agree it gets beat to death every time it's brought up. Most RVers want to be as safe as possible, but let's face it, there's a lot of em that are simply too cheap. (read some of the tire threads) That said, where would you look to find statistical information. If I make a panic stop, which I have, and no accident occurs, I simply change my shorts and move on. If there is an accident, a report is filed and the insurance companies do their thing and it's done. Now, if there's a serious injury and for sure if there's a fatality, things get a little more complicated. That coach that killed the trooper in Tennessee last month will be impounded and dissected, three ways to heaven. Will we hear about the results? Maybe, but probably not. For his sake I hope he was 100% legal. Otherwise, he's looking at a possible manslaughter charge or at the least a wrongful death suit. Those things only come out in a court of law. To find that type of statistical information would take more research than I have time for...if anyone is interested in doing so, I'll be happy to tell you where to look.....:B.....Dennis

We can justify this conversation easily in either direction. Simple facts are that any trailer over 3000lbs in most states needs some sort of braking system but ironically most states do NOT have a requirement for a toad to have brakes. The reality is that as I watch the EvenBrake it really doesn't come on that much unless the MH brakes hard. I can adjust that but I am not going to. My 32K MH is probably going to do just fine stopping either of my Jeeps. I do agree that the safety cables should stop the toad from going awry and killing someone and if they don't, that is a manufacturer issue legally. Even in the 5 states that require brakes, they are still driven by the weight of the toad. This would indicate that the U.S. feels pretty secure about the MH stopping the toad it is pulling.

http://home.roadrunner.com/~morodat/toad-brakes-by-state.html

Bill

26000 pounds already takes longer to stop than a car. Add the weight of a car to that and I want the extra braking regardless of the law. Stopped just short more than once with the supplemental braking. Had safety cables fray from friction somehow. Probably a low driveway pinching cable between hitch bar and roadway. One time expense is good insurance as far as I'm concerned.

For everyone who states a concern about a toad breaking away and simple careening into whatever it hits first, also consider that a breakaway toad with aux brakes is going to become an obstacle to anything behind it. Imagine the trouble to a 18 wheeler if you passed and all of a sudden your toad broke free and came to a dead stop in front of them. Not pretty on either end of the spectrum. I havent gotten on the road yet, but my big question is...if the toad breaks away, do the brake/aux lights still work? If not, now you have a dead in the water car sitting in the road in the middle of the night.

d1725829 wrote:
I am getting ready to go full time and was wondering. I know some states require brakes on toads. If I come from a state that does not require brakes, do I need brakes on my toad to visit the states that do ?

Yes.

Moved from class A forum

Nomadac wrote:

timmac wrote:
Nope its not a issue unless in a accident or highway patrol inspection, the inspection may never happen in your life time.

I don't have brakes on my toad {04 Wrangler} and don't need them, my tow-haul trans has the engine/trans brake and I can stop in a short order, also drive slower and don't tail gate and you won't need them..

That's unless your toad is very heavy..

What stops your Wrangler if were to break loose and starts careening down the highway? I guess whatever it runs into first. I hope it is not a person or an oncoming vehicle. I hope you have a large liability insurance.

That is what safety chains are for, or in my case 2 heavy safety cables, hitch welded and bolted to frame with reinforcements to hitch and rear frame on motorhome.