Towing without a car braking system??

[supercub]

Just curious how many out there tow without a brake system. I have a brake system that has a light plus audio to alert you when the brake is on. Since I have a diesel pusher with an exhaust brake, which I use, I seldom have the aux brake system engage. So I was wondering, how necessary is it to actually have a brake system in the tow car if one has an exhaust brake?? Thanks
Brian

[rdmike]

Is it just me, but don't you feel better knowing you have a breakaway in the event something was to break disconnect whatever? I pull a ford fiesta.. small as it is, i dont need brakes behind my dp but feel this is what is right. Never gave it a thought.

[koda55]

From reading all 10 pages, the only conclusion I can make is, "if you want to have an auxiliary braking system have one installed, If not then don't." For my piece of mind I have the m&g brake system and the emergency brake away system. As two people have mentioned their tow did brake away and were very lucky that it did not hit or kill someone. I tow a 3100 lb HR. For me peace of mind is important.

[Lancslad]

So we put 3000miles on our RV towing a 1976 MG Midget. Was only 1750 lbs so no aux brake. The weight was like having 6.or 8 people in the RV, a full water tank and all our groceries!! The MG broke away in Florida at 10 MPH (poor welding of the tow bracket) so we sold it.
We now have a Dodge Dakota, 4000 lbs, so for safety (for you and us) we got a Blue Ox Brake system. I havn't used it yet but Blue Ox says the Dodge will never pass me driving down the interstate and thats comforting to know!!!

[45Ricochet]

Well I now know what gets the MH threads shut down :B Having been away the last two weeks and I sign in to 40 new posts on this subject. Being new to a MH and toad I thought the brake system was a normal. In fact looking around in camp sites nearly if not all coach's I've seen have one or another.
Mine don't come on to often, only in a panic stop.
I will say this to the crowd who don't use em, BETTER NOT HIT ME.
Signed any civil attorney
Same goes for the F250 hauling a Mobil Suites 42", 18K lb fiver.

[creeper]

Regardless, does it help, sure. Could it save your toad from total lose or even damage, sure. For us a braking system is cheap insurance. You buy it once and should last you a lifetime. So why not.

[msmith1199]

Kayteg1 wrote:

1rickw wrote:
In California the towed car must have an Auxillary Braking System if that car is more than 1500 pounds!!! I use the BrakeBuddy, but set it so that it will only activate if I stop very quickly.

Do you have any link to support that theory?

He got this info from one of the websites that sell aux brake systems. In California a "camping" trailer is the only towed object that is required to have brakes at 1500 pounds. All other trailers don't require brakes until they are 3000 pounds. Towed motor vehicles only require aux brakes if you can meet the standards in the braking performance charts.

[msmith1199]

1rickw wrote:
In California the towed car must have an Auxillary Braking System if that car is more than 1500 pounds!!! I use the BrakeBuddy, but set it so that it will only activate if I stop very quickly.

100% not correct.

[Kayteg1]

1rickw wrote:
In California the towed car must have an Auxillary Braking System if that car is more than 1500 pounds!!! I use the BrakeBuddy, but set it so that it will only activate if I stop very quickly.

Do you have any link to support that theory?

[1rickw]

In California the towed car must have an Auxillary Braking System if that car is more than 1500 pounds!!! I use the BrakeBuddy, but set it so that it will only activate if I stop very quickly.

[rgatijnet1]

I previously gave a link for one TRAILER actuator braking system that was DOT approved, because TRAILER brakes are required, in both Commercial and private use above a certain weight.

[mowermech]

rgatijnet1 wrote:

mowermech wrote:


shall be equipped with brakes controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle, which shall conform to the specifications set forth in subsection (e) of this section and shall be of a type approved by the Commissioner.

That's the way it looks, yes.

Now try to find any RV toad braking system that is approved by the Commissioner. There are none since the Commissioner is only interested in Commercial vehicles governed by the Feds.

That brings up an interesting question; exactly WHAT must be "approved by the Commissioner"?
The braking system of the vehicle, or the actuating mechanism that is installed to actuate the vehicle braking system?
Of course, ALL vehicle braking systems are currently USDOT approved, and very likely approved by the DOT Commissioner of North Carolina. However, it is likely that NONE of the commonly used auxiliary brake actuating systems for towed vehicles have such approval. I don't know that they must be approved.
Also, note that it is required that such a braking system must be capable of being operated or controlled by the driver. Which auxiliary brake actuator has that capability?
State Departments of Transportation are usually concerned with ALL the vehicles that operate on their roadways, not just the "commercial" units, just as the FMVSS sets safety standards for ALL vehicles, not just "commercial" units.

[rgatijnet1]

mowermech wrote:


shall be equipped with brakes controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle, which shall conform to the specifications set forth in subsection (e) of this section and shall be of a type approved by the Commissioner.

That's the way it looks, yes.

Now try to find any RV toad braking system that is approved by the Commissioner. There are none since the Commissioner is only interested in Commercial vehicles governed by the Feds.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

Gjac wrote:

Brakes.

(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop such vehicle or vehicles, and such brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall conform to regulations provided in this section.

(b) Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 1330, s. 39.

(c) Every motor vehicle when operated on a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle, and shall have all originally equipped brakes in good working order, including two separate means of applying the brakes. If these two separate means of applying the brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes.

(d) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with at least one brake which may be operated by hand or foot.

(e) Motor trucks and tractor-trucks with semitrailers attached shall be capable of stopping on a dry, hard, approximately level highway free from loose material at a speed of 20 miles per hour within the following distances: Thirty feet with both hand and service brake applied simultaneously and 50 feet when either is applied separately, except that vehicles maintained and operated permanently for the transportation of property and which were registered in this or any other state or district prior to August, 1929, shall be capable of stopping on a dry, hard, approximately level highway free from loose material at a speed of 20 miles per hour within a distance of 50 feet with both hand and service brake applied simultaneously, and within a distance of 75 feet when either applied separately.

(e1) Every motor truck and truck-tractor with semitrailer attached, shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels, except trucks and truck-tractors having three or more axles need not have brakes on the front wheels if manufactured prior to July 25, 1980. However, such trucks and truck-tractors must be capable of complying with the performance requirements of G.S. 20-124(e).

(f) Every semitrailer, or trailer, or separate vehicle, attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle, and having a gross weight of two tons, and all house trailers of 1,000 pounds gross weight or more, shall be equipped with brakes controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle, which shall conform to the specifications set forth in subsection (e) of this section and shall be of a type approved by the Commissioner.

It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation engaged in the business of selling house trailers at wholesale or retail to sell or offer for sale any house trailer which is not equipped with the brakes required by this subsection.

This subsection shall not apply to house trailers being used as dwellings, or to house trailers not intended to be used or towed on public highways and roads. This subsection shall not apply to house trailers with a manufacturer's certificate of origin dated prior to December 31, 1974.

(g) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a trailer when used by a farmer, a farmer's tenant, agent, or employee if the trailer is exempt from registration by the provisions of G.S. 20-51. This exemption does not apply to trailers that are equipped with brakes from the manufacturer and that are manufactured after October 1, 2009.

(h) From and after July 1, 1955, no person shall sell or offer for sale for use in motor vehicle brake systems in this State any hydraulic brake fluid of a type and brand other than those approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. From and after January 1, 1970, no person shall sell or offer for sale in motor vehicle brake systems any brake lining of a type or brand other than those approved by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Violation of the provisions of this subsection shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1937, c. 407, s. 87; 1953, c. 1316, s. 2; 1955, c. 1275; 1959, c. 990; 1965, c. 1031; 1967, c. 1188; 1969, cc. 787, 866; 1973, c. 1203; c. 1330, s. 39; 1993, c. 539, s. 359; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2009-376, ss. 10, 11.)"

Note Subsection (f):
"Every semitrailer, or trailer, or separate vehicle,... having a gross weight of two tons..."

This is the only law I have found in my research that could be said to specifically address towed vehicles. Note that such a combination of vehicles must still comply with the provisions of Subsection (e), which is a braking performance standard such as that set by FMVSS!

So if I understand the legal req's brakes are only needed on a towed vehicle weighing more than 4000 lbs. Is that your interpretation?

A very, very dangerous situation, all things considered. #4,000 pounds down without brakes is a very large problem. I certainly wouldn't do it. :S

[Skid_Row_Joe]

The biggest problem in addition to the loonger braking distances, is that towing any 4-down vehicle without aux. brakes in a panic stop would put major stress on your tow bar and hitch mount. This is the equally big problem. Don't do it, just because your DP has 8-down air-brakes and a Jake-brake system. The towed vehicle without brakes is a huge problem, folks!