Towing 4-wheels down.....braking required for vehicle?

[VA-Apraisr]

Bought a 2018 Jeep Wrangler and moving from a tow-dolly to this setup. Wondering if the auxiliary braking system is required. I didn't have anything other than emergency cable brake for trailer in case it came detached from the RV. I've bought a used Blue Ox towing bar and was looking at a Blue Ox braking unit that sits on floor of tow vehicle. Just seeing what the best setup is to be safe. Thanks!!

PS: Ok, I ordered the NSA Ready Brake receiver surge brake and one question: Do you guys just turn on running lights if driving at night, or did you run additional wiring?

[Tom_Barb]

garyemunson wrote:

That law is not a reciprocal

who says that?

[mike_kellie]

Have the Blue Ox base plate with the NSA Ready Brute and surge brake system on a 17 2 door Rubicon. To answer the electrical question, we use the magnetic stop-tail lights from e-trailer that eliminated all wiring to the Jeep. It can eat batteries (6-AAA batteries each) but no wiring! I have a small cargo rack over the spare tire that I also velcro strap these lights to ensure they stay put. Love them-

[garyemunson]

The thing is, your state may not require braking on a towed vehicle depending on weight but there are plenty that do. That law is not a reciprocal one so if you get in a wreck and your equipment does meet the requirement for the state you are in, you can be in serious financial and legal trouble. Not worth taking the chance!

[MDKMDK]

This independent website info is about a year old, so it's not 100% verified, but probably close enough to give you an idea of who requires what for towed vehicle braking.

https://support.rvpartshop.ca/support/solutions/articles/62000212074-dinghy-towing-braking-laws-by-s...

A bit more, Canadian only..

https://www.rvda.ca/content.asp?contentid=161

Same, US only

https://rvibrake.com/en-ca/pages/flat-towing-law

FWIW, I tow a 2016 4 door Wrangler 4 down and use Blue Ox everything. NO problems to date.

[Lwiddis]

https://trailers.com says "yes!"

Virginia Trailer Brake Laws
Trailers must be equipped with brakes if the gross weight exceeds 3,000 lbs.
Trailers must be equipped with at least 1 red brake light on the rear of the vehicle.

[klutchdust]

X2 on the NAS ready brake kit. Set up my 08 Jk wrangler and it worked exactly as advertised. The few people I know personally that have used braking systems that sat on the floor of the vehicle have had issues. The surge brake type are amazing.

[valhalla360]

Most states require trailer brakes at 3000lb (some are slightly different weights).

How much does your Jeep weigh? I'm guessing it's over 3000lb.

[wildtoad]

Take a good look at the NAS Ready Brake kit. The brake actuator sits between the receiver and the tow bar. An aircraft quality wire runs between the brake actuator and the brake pedal on the Jeep. (There are actually two wires but the connect together). Easy to set up, virtually fool proof, no power needed at the Jeep.

NAS also has the same type setup in case the tow bar fails for emergency braking.

[Grit_dog]

Grab your popcorn, this will get good!

-To recap, you've been towing a toad (not the wrangler, presumably something that needed the front wheels off the pavement to tow, on a dolly that had only breakaway brakes, but no (surge or electrical) service brakes? While that isn't really possible unless the service brakes weren't working (and subsequently the breakaway would also not work), you "were" comfortable with that setup but now questioning because you have a 4 down setup or a heavier toad, or just now learned that you may not have been as "safe" as you thought you were?

Just looking for some context.

FWIW, the "safest" solution is to have brakes on the toad and 9 of 10 rvnetters will tell you the same thing.

The real question is not for us to comment on and that is how safe is safe enough?
There's enough threads on this to choke a horse, where the best course of action may not be re-gurgitating all of that, but rather let you read the volumes of words already in print and let you decide for yourself.