Can I tow my TT without a battery?

stevemorris wrote:
around the block to a repair shop, maybe

I wouldn't take mine anywhere without a fully functioning braking system including the breakaway system

here, in Ontario Canada, its the law

the thought of a 4000 pound vehicle rolling at even 50 kph(30 mph) out of control with no brakes, is enough to convince me

Ontario is one of the few places where the breakaway switch is NOT REQUIRED by law.

This website has an MTO summary of brake requirements

http://www.jarexon.ca/safety/mto-requirements

colliehauler wrote:

Howie3 wrote:
Thanks for the quick replies everyone. No point in taking any risks so I'll put the battery back on for the short trip.

Howie

And you would be legal, required by law to have.

Not true everywhere.

Good idea: YES
Legally required: MOST PLACES, NOT ALL

You may be correct on Federal specs. Even with a 2500 or larger truck trying to stop on a slick road with no trailer brakes is a bit shakey.

John

Rumblejohn wrote:
Federal and state law requires any trailer over 2000lbs to have brakes and a functional breakaway system, whether electric, hydraulic or air brakes. That is of course for use on public roadways.

Well not exactly..

Unless Federal laws have changed in the last couple of years, 3,001 lbs and higher OR if the trailer exceeds 50% of the tow vehicles towing capacity was the requirement for brakes on a trailer..

States MUST follow at least the MINIMUM Federal requirements BUT the States have the OPTION to exceed Federal requirements..

Some States have done that by requiring trailers exceeding 2,000 lbs to have brakes and some States only require the Federal requirement of 3,001 lbs or higher..

In PA, ANY trailer with a GVWR of 3,001 lbs or higher IS REQUIRED TO HAVE BRAKES.. I know that as a fact because I OWNED a utility trailer for 10 years which had a registered GVWR of 3,000 lbs.. It did not have brakes and was completely legal for me to tow.. PA also does not require a annual inspection for trailers of 3,000 lbs or less GVWR..

Trailers in PA of 3,001 lbs GVWR and higher are required to have a annual state inspection AND one of the MAJOR items they inspect is the BRAKES AND THE BREAK AWAY system..

If 2,000 lbs was Federal law then PA would have to change their requirement to the Federal requirement.. PA has not changed their rules so that would mean the Federal law is 3,001 and up..

You can easily buy NEW popups and utility trailers with 3,000 lbs and less which do not have brakes. On those, brakes are sometimes an optional "package" but if you do add brakes then the break away rule now comes into play.

Since you are in Florida, there is a good chance that Florida has a lower requirement since you made that statement..

Federal and state law requires any trailer over 2000lbs to have brakes and a functional breakaway system, whether electric, hydraulic or air brakes. That is of course for use on public roadways.

MudChucker wrote:
A point to not regarding that break away, I have heared time and time again that you don't need the breakaway, but if you have it, it must work....


not true !

http://www.rvda.ca/ProvBrakeReqts.asp

Please explain what is "not true"..

From the website you posted many of Canada's Providences REQUIRE trailer brakes at 2,000 lbs or more and some at 3,000 lbs or more.

And if the trailer is equipped with trailer brakes then a WORKING breakaway system is a required item..

The US also pretty much follows the same requirements..

It is pretty much the law if your trailer is equipped with brakes that it must have a fully functional break away system if you want to tow it on PUBLIC ROADS..

The only way I know that you can have a fully functional break away is to have a fully charged battery ON YOUR TRAILER (not sure how surge brakes work for that but there is a provision on those for break away purpose also).

Never tow with a non function break away.. Even my current TT when I bought it I spent a few hrs trouble shooting and repairing the break away system BEFORE I took it out on public roads..

around the block to a repair shop, maybe

I wouldn't take mine anywhere without a fully functioning braking system including the breakaway system

here, in Ontario Canada, its the law

the thought of a 4000 pound vehicle rolling at even 50 kph(30 mph) out of control with no brakes, is enough to convince me

MudChucker wrote:
A point to not regarding that break away, I have heared time and time again that you don't need the breakaway, but if you have it, it must work....


not true !

http://www.rvda.ca/ProvBrakeReqts.asp

not true is correct. most, maybe all, states require that a breakaway on vehicles with electric brakes and require it operate if the trailer is disconnected from the tow vehicle.

My 2004 Aliner folding trailer is less than 1000 lbs and came without electric brakes. Since my TV is a small SUV I added electric brakes and a breakaway switch for extra safety - The breakaway switch and cable was less than $10.

A point to not regarding that break away, I have heared time and time again that you don't need the breakaway, but if you have it, it must work....


not true !

http://www.rvda.ca/ProvBrakeReqts.asp