Brakes or no brakes?

[Jayco-noslide]

I have now towed a Chevy Sonic(2700 lbs.) behind our 30 ft. Class C for 4 1/2 years with no braking on the Chevy dinghy. So far no problem at all. I know I could have to make a panic stop someday but the chance is reduced by good defensive driving and taking it slow. Next spring we will trade for a Ford Focus hatch(around 3000 lbs.) or a Honda Fit (2500 lbs.). If the Ford, I will definitely go with braking but am considering continuing with no braking if the much lighter Honda. Frankly, I want to save the $2000 or more expense of brakes and the hook-up. Not sure what I'm asking. I know the easy and obvious response is to have brakes regardless of dinghy. I don't think it's this black and white. I feel the the MH/Sonic stops as well as our previous truck/5th wheel and catastrophe can happen with brakes or from something not related to stopping. If I find clear state laws always requiring brake that would make a difference but frankly I can't find very good info.

[hohenwald48]

Bumpyroad wrote:

hohenwald48 wrote:


According to most rapid toad brake advocates on these forums, I guess he will now have to spend the rest of his natural life doing hard labor at Ft Leavenworth for his crime of driving with no toad brakes.

:E 🙂 :E

no but his insurance rates will go thru the roof. and a civil suit might leave him broke.
bumpy

It's possible his insurance rate may go up a little. Usually does when you have an at fault accident. He seems to still enjoy traveling around in his motorhome so it doesn't really look like a civil suit left him destitute from the accident.

Traffic accidents happen all the time on US highways and aren't usually the bankrupting multi-million dollar law suits that a lot of folks like to predict. They are usually settled out of court.

Contrary to what some folks claim, the sky will not fall if you don't have toad brakes or drive 50 pounds over weight.

[Bumpyroad]

hohenwald48 wrote:


According to most rapid toad brake advocates on these forums, I guess he will now have to spend the rest of his natural life doing hard labor at Ft Leavenworth for his crime of driving with no toad brakes.

:E 🙂 :E

no but his insurance rates will go thru the roof. and a civil suit might leave him broke.
bumpy

[hohenwald48]

I recently read on a different forum about a guy who pulled his toad without toad brakes. He had to stop fast in the rain and did so with no problem. However, his toad swerved to the side and ended up 90 degrees to the back of the motorhome. A car in the oncoming lane smashed into it and did a good bit of damage. So I guess stopping fast is not the only reason for toad brakes.

According to most rapid toad brake advocates on these forums, I guess he will now have to spend the rest of his natural life doing hard labor at Ft Leavenworth for his crime of driving with no toad brakes.

:E 🙂 :E

[RJsfishin]

I don't need brakes IMO, and I respect those who think they do.
Seems like those who think they do would respect those that don't.
I think they are just PO'd that they spent all that money, and we were smart enuff not to ?? If thats not the case, ok, but either way I just wish they would quit their snibblin !!

[hohenwald48]

jplante4 wrote:
It's never mentioned in these brake discussions, but you're not really getting a full braking action on the toad anyway with the engine off. Unboosted brakes don't have the stopping power of boosted ones, correct?

I think that is an inaccurate statement. Unboosted brakes have exactly the same stopping power as boosted brakes. It just takes more pedal pressure to produce that stopping power. Most toad brake systems are perfectly capable of producing that extra pedal pressure.

I use a Ready Brake Elite tow system. Tow bar and brakes in a single unit with nothing to install or de-install when connecting/disconnecting. I got it for $500 off Craigslist and then spent about $350 more for installation components, base plates and lighting. I did all the work myself.

[Lancslad]

To answer the OP question I paid about $750 for a new Blue Ox Patriot on E bay. Won't leave home without it!!!

[mowermech]

I am merely pointing out the fallacy behind the "BUT, BUT, EMERGENCY!" line of reasoning.
Of course, you and others are welcome and entitled to read anything into whatever is said. Personally, I read what is written, and never attempt to add or detract from it. I also make every effort to mean what I say, and say what I mean. The only thing one can find when reading "between the lines" is empty space!
I find it rather intriguing that no effort was made to refute the timing of an emergency scenario. Actually, the facts are readily available online, with a simple google search
No, your house hasn't burned down, and quite likely won't. Neither has mine (although the kitchen was set on fire many years ago).
I haven't been struck by lightning, either, but it is just as or more likely that it will happen than a situation arising where the difference between life and death is a brake buddy that may or may not work when it is really needed, because it is set to only actuate in the event of a panic stop and has never been used in the ten years it has been installed. Yes, it has been stated on these forums many times that such is the way many users adjust the things!

[cmcdar]

mowermech wrote:
Reality check:
If somebody stops suddenly in front of you, at 60 MPH, how far will you travel before you get your foot off the throttle and onto the brake pedal? How far will you travel between the time your foot hits the brake pedal and you come to a complete stop, even if you have brakes on every wheel?
Chances are, in the vent of a true sudden emergency stop, whoever jumped in front of you or suddenly stopped in front of you is crushed and likely dead no matter how good your brakes are!
I have been driving since 1958, and I have never had that kind of scenario happen. Seems to me getting struck by lightning is more likely...

I call BS

If you really felt so ****-sured about things never happening based on the fact that they never have so far - WHY do you have that cute littl saying in your signature - "when seconds count help is only minutes away".

Pretty sure that should read "the LAW is only minutes away"...

My house was built in 1934. It has never burnt down yet - so of course that means it NEVER WILL, right?

[mowermech]

Reality check:
If somebody stops suddenly in front of you, at 60 MPH, how far will you travel before you get your foot off the throttle and onto the brake pedal? How far will you travel between the time your foot hits the brake pedal and you come to a complete stop, even if you have brakes on every wheel?
Chances are, in the vent of a true sudden emergency stop, whoever jumped in front of you or suddenly stopped in front of you is crushed and likely dead no matter how good your brakes are!
I have been driving since 1958, and I have never had that kind of scenario happen. Seems to me getting struck by lightning is more likely...

[rockhillmanor]

cmcdar wrote:

mowermech wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

All that being said, I admit to being one of the "no braking" crowd. I towed assorted Jeep Wranglers, a Dodge Ram 1500, and a PT Cruiser on a dolly, all with no brakes. Oh, yeah, and an ATV on a single axle trailer, also with no brakes.
Nothing bent, nothing broke, nobody was injured or died.

Sure when everything is going just fine. BUT did you ever have an accident where your UNBRAKED toad pushed your MH into another car and killed someone because your braking distance increased because your toad had no brakes?

Safety features are designed to prevent accidents. Accidents are not a daily event. That's WHY they are called 'accidents'.

Being prepared and set up to PREVENT accidents should be number one when driving an RV. Its' not all about you. Apparently you have no regard for those driving around you. 😞

Thank you for that armchair psychoanalysis... Accidents do not just happen, they are CAUSED!

They are indeed CAUSED BUT that does not mean that others involed we NOT INNOCENT.

In October I was involved in an accident. I saw someone changing lanes into my lane. I had come to a complete stop. The other driver never saw me and continued to drive right into me!

A number of times I have had someone cut right in front of me then apply their brakes (on the interstate). Fortunately, I was just able to slam on my brakes and stop before hitting them.

As I said in a previous post, plenty of folks are involved in

accidents that were CAUSED by another driver.

1. Accidents CAUSED by another such as a car in front of you stopping all of a sudden.
2. RV behind that vehicle has to slam on brakes to avoid an accident.
3. Only thing is the RV's toad has no brakes so stopping distance is increased, so RV slams into that vehicle in front of him.

So who is at fault for the accident? The MH, that could not stop in what would have been enough distance to do so safely but was being pushed by the toad with out brakes, thereby increasing his stopping distance CAUSING an accident.

So those that choose not to have brakes on the toad. Do you just hope and pray everyday that no one stops suddenly in front of you? :C

[cmcdar]

mowermech wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

All that being said, I admit to being one of the "no braking" crowd. I towed assorted Jeep Wranglers, a Dodge Ram 1500, and a PT Cruiser on a dolly, all with no brakes. Oh, yeah, and an ATV on a single axle trailer, also with no brakes.
Nothing bent, nothing broke, nobody was injured or died.

Sure when everything is going just fine. BUT did you ever have an accident where your UNBRAKED toad pushed your MH into another car and killed someone because your braking distance increased because your toad had no brakes?

Safety features are designed to prevent accidents. Accidents are not a daily event. That's WHY they are called 'accidents'.

Being prepared and set up to PREVENT accidents should be number one when driving an RV. Its' not all about you. Apparently you have no regard for those driving around you. 😞

Thank you for that armchair psychoanalysis... Accidents do not just happen, they are CAUSED!

They are indeed CAUSED BUT that does not mean that others involed we NOT INNOCENT.

In October I was involved in an accident. I saw someone changing lanes into my lane. I had come to a complete stop. The other driver never saw me and continued to drive right into me!

A number of times I have had someone cut right in front of me then apply their brakes (on the interstate). Fortunately, I was just able to slam on my brakes and stop before hitting them.

As I said in a previous post, plenty of folks are involved in accidents that were CAUSED by another driver.

[mowermech]

rockhillmanor wrote:

All that being said, I admit to being one of the "no braking" crowd. I towed assorted Jeep Wranglers, a Dodge Ram 1500, and a PT Cruiser on a dolly, all with no brakes. Oh, yeah, and an ATV on a single axle trailer, also with no brakes.
Nothing bent, nothing broke, nobody was injured or died.

Sure when everything is going just fine. BUT did you ever have an accident where your UNBRAKED toad pushed your MH into another car and killed someone because your braking distance increased because your toad had no brakes?

Safety features are designed to prevent accidents. Accidents are not a daily event. That's WHY they are called 'accidents'.

Being prepared and set up to PREVENT accidents should be number one when driving an RV. Its' not all about you. Apparently you have no regard for those driving around you. 😞

Thank you for that armchair psychoanalysis.
As for your question, obviously the answer is a resounding NO.
So far, I have managed to avoid such scenarios by being an extremely attentive driver, focusing on the road ahead, never driving faster than I can see, and adjusting my speed to account for weather and road conditions. Accidents do not just happen, they are CAUSED!

[cmcdar]

I am a skin flint. I hate to spend money unneccessarily. Especially what I call "invisible money". ex. car batteries, mufflers, tune-ups, etc. I DO spend money for those things but wish I did not have to.

With that said, for me, all I have to do is look over at my DW sitting next to me and think if she is worth that relative pittance to do my best to make sure SHE IS SAFE.

None of us live in a vacuum. There are thousands of accidents on the roads every day. Nearly HALF of all those involved were NOT AT FAULT.

I don't care to play "russian roulette" with the lives of loved ones.

[rockhillmanor]

All that being said, I admit to being one of the "no braking" crowd. I towed assorted Jeep Wranglers, a Dodge Ram 1500, and a PT Cruiser on a dolly, all with no brakes. Oh, yeah, and an ATV on a single axle trailer, also with no brakes.
Nothing bent, nothing broke, nobody was injured or died.

Sure when everything is going just fine. BUT did you ever have an accident where your UNBRAKED toad pushed your MH into another car and killed someone because your braking distance increased because your toad had no brakes?

Safety features are designed to prevent accidents. Accidents are not a daily event. That's WHY they are called 'accidents'.

Being prepared and set up to PREVENT accidents should be number one when driving an RV. Its' not all about you. Apparently you have no regard for those driving around you. 😞