Towing without a car braking system??
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, ...
Forum Discussion
As mowermech says, the states that have laws pattern them after FMVSS(for commercial vehicles) and the ones that do not have specific laws use the FMVSS.
FMVSS has separate specific braking standards for TRAILERS and for vehicles in tow.
The FMVSS does include statues which dictate which items in tow must have brakes, and which ones are excluded. FMVSS states: 393.42 Every CMV(commercial motor vehicle) must be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels, with the following exceptions:
Vehicles being towed in a driveaway-towaway operation.
To define that: The Federal definition of driveaway-towaway, according to 49 CFR 390.5 Title 49-Transportation; General Applicability and Definitions, driveaway-towaway operation means an operation in which an empty or unladen motor vehicle with one or more sets of wheels on the surface of the road way, is being transported by means of a saddle-mount or tow bar.
This is why there is NO federal standard for the various auxiliary braking systems sold for vehicles in tow. Since they are not required in any State, they are not regulated by any Federal standard. The manufacturers set their own standards. Whether they actually work at all depends on your settings, installation, and adjustments.
Those of you that have ever had a vehicle or their motor home towed probably noticed that the tow truck driver did not use a BrakeBuddy or similar braking system to tow that vehicle.
Think about what a brake system is. ALL motor vehicles, to be approved by DOT must prove that the brakes meet the minimum safety standards. I have had a few different auxiliary brake systems and NONE of them are approved by the DOT, or by any other Federal agency because they are NOT required.
Here is a link to a trailer brake control that is designed to meet DOT requirements. Trailer brake control
Show me any brake system for a toad that says that it meets the DOT requirements.
FMVSS has separate specific braking standards for TRAILERS and for vehicles in tow.
The FMVSS does include statues which dictate which items in tow must have brakes, and which ones are excluded. FMVSS states: 393.42 Every CMV(commercial motor vehicle) must be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels, with the following exceptions:
Vehicles being towed in a driveaway-towaway operation.
To define that: The Federal definition of driveaway-towaway, according to 49 CFR 390.5 Title 49-Transportation; General Applicability and Definitions, driveaway-towaway operation means an operation in which an empty or unladen motor vehicle with one or more sets of wheels on the surface of the road way, is being transported by means of a saddle-mount or tow bar.
This is why there is NO federal standard for the various auxiliary braking systems sold for vehicles in tow. Since they are not required in any State, they are not regulated by any Federal standard. The manufacturers set their own standards. Whether they actually work at all depends on your settings, installation, and adjustments.
Those of you that have ever had a vehicle or their motor home towed probably noticed that the tow truck driver did not use a BrakeBuddy or similar braking system to tow that vehicle.
Think about what a brake system is. ALL motor vehicles, to be approved by DOT must prove that the brakes meet the minimum safety standards. I have had a few different auxiliary brake systems and NONE of them are approved by the DOT, or by any other Federal agency because they are NOT required.
Here is a link to a trailer brake control that is designed to meet DOT requirements. Trailer brake control
Show me any brake system for a toad that says that it meets the DOT requirements.
