Car dolly

The brakes and lights on the dolly are considered enough. Some people put magnetic mount lights on the car too, or wire in the car's rear lights. But legally the dolly lights are adequate, as far as I've found. Maybe someone can cite otherwise.

Lights on the toad can only help.

I have seen way too many dolly lights not working. They are easily hidden by the towed, get the **** bounced out of them due to the fender mount, fenders and light damaged by turning too sharp, wires come disconnected and corroded. I feel that the further to the rear the light are the better the safety. I hate coming up on someone then guessing what their intention is only to find out the signal was blinking or the brake lights on but blocked from my view.

I use a dolly and the time I took to rig my lights was minor and well worth the safety. My only wish is that I would have spent the money for a set of LED magnetic mounts.

But it is legal.

I do not disagree with the other posts. I have the ACME dolly with led lights BUT I also purchased a set of magnetic lights for the towed car. It is not hard to run the connecting wire to the four pin connector on the coach. I have never had any problem with them. I will give you a word of advice though----go to Advance Auto and get a couple of rolls of the split plastic conduit to run the wires in. It does help protect the wires from turbulence which will eventually lead to broken wires as well it looks better too.

The dolly I have came with a factory wired second 4 pin connector on the fender to connect rear lights of the car or magnetic mounted rear lights. These
are required where we live, but not every where.

It only makes sense to have the rear corner of a towed vehicle illuminated. The tow dolly fenders are easily 12 to 15 feet forward of the rear of the vehicle so I'd bet a dollar to a Krispy Kreme Donut that dolly lights alone would not be adequate or legal. Plus, if viewed at a bit of an angle, one would only see one light.

What I believe makes them legal is the reflectors on the rear of the toad, like having a red flag on a long load.

I "thought" that some states have a requirement that the tail lights be within xxx distance from rear of the towed equipment so a car being towed would require additional lights on the back. at $18 at Harbor freight, it is sort of silly not to buy a set of magnetics, JMHO.
bumpy

Snowman9000 wrote:
Someone will be along shortly to disagree. :) :) :)

I'm not disagreeing but, It could be a matter of interpretation,
The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code:
§ 4924. Limitations on length of projecting loads.

(a) General rule.--Subject to the provisions of this subchapter limiting the length of vehicles and loads, the load upon any vehicle or the load upon the front vehicle of a combination of vehicles shall not extend more than three feet beyond the foremost part of the vehicle, and the load upon any vehicle operated alone or the load, other than a nondivisible load, upon the rear vehicle of a combination shall not extend more than six feet beyond the rear of the bed or body of such vehicle.

(b) Red flags and lights.--If the load on any vehicle extends more than four feet beyond the rear of the vehicle, a red flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square shall be displayed at the end of the load. During hours of darkness, a red light shall be displayed in the same position in lieu of the flag or cloth.

(c) Compliance with maximum length limitations.--Subsection (a) does not permit loads to exceed the maximum limits set forth in section 4923 (relating to length of vehicles).

(d) Exceptions.--Except for subsection (b), this section does not apply to a motor vehicle specifically designed and being used to:

(1) transport roof trusses; or

(2) transport live trees for transplanting.

Is a towed vehicle a load? It's being towed, not operated.
Are the lights on a dolly only to make it legal while being towed empty? :W

I had a motorcycle lift on the back of a MH. The question was did it need it's own lights or were the lights on the MH enough. I was told the rule in most states was lights had to be within 4 feet of the rear most part. Hence additional lights on the list were needed.

edited my first post, deleted this one.