Towing without a car braking system??

Your gross COMBINED vehicle weight rating (GCWR) means that your coach's engine, transmission, and braking system is designed to handle that amount of COMBINED weight, including your coach, your load, and anything in tow.
The towed braking system MAY allow your vehicle to stop a little quicker in an emergency situation.

Ours is kind of new to us and only towed about 250 miles so far. The towed vehicle brake only came on 2 times for about a second. I figured if I really had a hard braking situation it would engage more and longer. Gain set to 3 on the Patriot. IINM it is law to have one in many states.

It is my understanding that some states require an auxiliary braking system for towed vehicles/trailers. Some have weight minimums other just require it.

We towed a Mustang convertible for some 6 years without a braking system and never had a problem. My understanding is a braking system is required if the car (trailer) weighs more than 3,000 lbs. The Mustang weighed about that much.

We replaced the Mustang with a Hummer, which weighs about 4,600 lbs, and we use a Roadmaster braking system connected to our air brakes on the coach. It works great.

I was warned by several friends not to use the box type that fits in front of the driver's seat and depends on changes in inertia to detect a braking action and press down on the brake pedal. Apparently, they frequently fail and apply the brakes when not required. Still, a lot of RV owners use these systems. They connect to the power outlet in the dash and can be moved to any towed vehicle, so they don't require any modifications to either vehicle.

About 12 years ago MY TOWED BROKE AWAY FROM ME! Yup, it really happened. The mounting bracket on the Saturn Vue (custom made by the hitch shop) failed and as I was stopping at a light one a lightly traveled road I saw the Saturn slowly begin to pass me on the right. OMG!!! I was able to stop, hop out of the motorhome, open the unlocked car and set the emergency brake before it got too far ahead. (I was 12 years younger then). The shop made it right by me. No one was hurt. Anyway, I now use a ReadyBrake with the Saturn and a we have a new diesel motorhome. I do not have a "brake in use" light or indicator. Seems silly with the ReadyBrake configuration. I probably don't need the auxiliary brake, but I believe it is required in some states, and it is just a safety thing. I would not travel without a "break away brake". You could kill someone.
JMHO

Supercub,

We've got almost the same DP, ours is a 2005 Fleetwood Excursion 39S, only we're towing a 2002 Jeep Wrangler which is just over 3,000#.

We've been up and down the Alcan, all through western Canada, all through the western US, through western Colorado up to Steamboat and Eisenhower Tunnel, into Teton NP from the west, I think that was 8 or 10 miles of either 8 % or 10% grades, through lower Utah with a 14% downhill grade and over the continental divide I don't know how many times. We don't have a braking system on the Jeep and I've never felt a need for one. If the toad was heavier, maybe, but not with the current set up.

Bill

Fishinghat wrote:


I was warned by several friends not to use the box type that fits in front of the driver's seat and depends on changes in inertia to detect a braking action and press down on the brake pedal. Apparently, they frequently fail and apply the brakes when not required. Still, a lot of RV owners use these systems. They connect to the power outlet in the dash and can be moved to any towed vehicle, so they don't require any modifications to either vehicle.

I would not take any more advice/warnings from these "several friends". I used a brake buddy for many years with no issues. I adjusted it so that it would only come on under relatively severe braking, didn't want the toad to stop the motorhome, and plugged it into a separate jump/emergency start battery jobby so it wouldn't run down the toad battery or need another wire from the MH.
I used it in several different toads.
and for those who don't use a braking system, check your owner's manual and see if it isn't recommended for toads weighing over xXX lbs. just because you didn't read it doesn't mean that the lawyer for the people you hit won't.

bumpy

I have not found one single state that required auxiliary braking on a "vehicle in tow". All of the responses I received were almost exactly the same as this one from Florida:

A vehicle towed behind a motor home would be exempt from the braking requirements in Florida statute 316.261 as a drive away, tow away operation. Please contact me if you have any other questions.

Lt. Jeff Frost
Florida Highway Patrol
Public Affairs Officer
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 45
850-617-2279
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
www.flhsmv.gov/fhp
Jefffrost@flhsmv.gov

I can guaranty that every company that sells braking systems will say that Florida REQUIRES a braking system but they cleverly fail to mention that the braking system is for trailers, which a toad is NOT. Do not confuse the two things being towed.
SOME states, such as California, only require a braking system if the combined vehicles CANNOT stop within a specified distance at a certain speed. This distance is fairly long and most RV's with properly operating brakes can bring everything to a halt well within the distance specified.

It seems silly to have a supplemental braking system on a toad when your coach has so much stopping power. But I've got it anyway.

I think the real value is if the toad ever gets disconnected. I'd hate to see my truck travel for a long distance and potentially injure someone. So from that perspective, I'm happy to have it.

For me, I think there are several things to be considered. First, if you want to be legal, you need to follow your State rules.

I previously owned a 2005 Diplomat with drum brakes and towed my 2012 4 door Silverado. The Diplomat brakes worked well, but they needed some help stopping that Silverado in some situations (using an SMI Air Force One). I now tow the same truck with my new coach that has front disc brakes, rear drums and drums on the tag axle. I only see the brake light, indicating that my brakes are being applied, in the last few feet of a stop.

I'm looking at getting a lighter/smaller car to tow (CRV) and doubt I need any additional braking help. With that said, I agree with "kalynzoo", that everyone should have some type of break away system. In California, brakes are required on 1500 pounds and above. So...... to be legal, I'll need brakes, but my coach won't need any help to stop a 3500 pound vehicle.

I don't think it's been discussed, but I wonder if a break away "only" system would meet the standards that States impose, like California. I doubt it, but I would feel confident with just a break away when towing a small car with my coach.