towed brake suggestions

[bob_wiss]

I have just recently downsized from a heavy class A to a much smaller and lighter coach by over 50 %, Never used a tow brake but now strongly recommended Ihave one.I agree, So when it comes to towed brake I need some unbiased suggestions. Rig now is winnebago 25ft 11k lbs to pull a chevy tracker 2990 lbs. Thanks for any tips and any decision will be 100% my own.

[Hank85713]

when we bought our rv, the guy had an SMI brake system on his towed veh. Said he would remove and give to us. Well he did and i installed it on a new hyundai elantra. It is not visible in any location as the unit goes under the hood, the system taps into the vacuum system at the brake booster and there is a small activation cylinder on the brake pedal arm. It is hooked to an on/off switch which is in the vehicle and out of sight. We towed this summer about 4500 miles and the only issue was that I did not have a charge line on the line for the hyundai. About 2 hrs later we had one and no issues after that. It does take some gtting used to to avoid the cylinder on the pedal but depending on the veh it could be a non issue. The hyundai is fairly cramped for the controlls so it can have more room for the passengers!

Anyhow from what I have seen it is competitively priced with all the others, does not require anything more than hooking up the light cable and putting a switch in the on position. No getting in out to install/remove anything then trying to have astorage issue for the component when not in use!

[willald]

rvibrakesupport wrote:
Here's the basic question we ask at it here at RVibrake. What does the law actually say? Here is what Federal Regulation Title 49 says:

Federal Regulations Title 49 (49CFR571.4) of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (10-01-08 edition) defines a 'trailer' as follows: “Trailer means a motor vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by another motor vehicle."

And here are each state's trailer laws: http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/trailer-brakes/HERE

I hope this helps!

Yep, it does. It basically proves the point thats been made many times on here: You cannot believe or trust 'towing laws' posted on web sites owned by supplemental braking companines (like RViBrake).

Note in your Federal Regulations Title 49, it says: "Trailer means a motor vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by another motor vehicle."

...As mowermech already said, NO car or truck any of us are towing, was designed from the factory to be drawn by another motor vehicle. They had to be modified to do that.

Soooo, like has been said soooo many times: The definition of a 'trailer' as defined by Federal Regulations title 49, pretty much excludes a vehicle being towed behind a MH. Sooo, many of the 'towing laws' that get quoted and thrown around simply do not apply.

...Not that a supplemental braking system isn't a good idea. They are an excellent idea, and something everyone should seriously consider if they're going to tow a car behind a Motorhome. I use one (ReadyBrake) and always will. However, nobody should be deluded into thinking such are required by law in most states, 'cause it simply is not true.

IMO, one of the reasons laws are like this: Can you imagine how ridiculous, difficult and obscenely expensive it'd be for anyone running a tow truck business, if they were required by law to rig any broke down car they tow with a supplemental brake system? LOL, you think getting a tow when you break down now is expensive, imagine how bad it'd be if tow truck drivers had to do this!

[mowermech]

Here is what that list says about Montana:
Montana

All trailers and pole trailers with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 3,000 lbs. or greater must be equipped with brakes acting on wheels. All trailers and pole trailers with a GVW of less than 3,000 lbs. must be equipped with brakes on all wheels if the total weight of the trailer or trailers does not exceed 40% of the GVW of the towing vehicle.

Every trailer and pole trailer equipped with air- or vacuum-actuated brakes and every trailer and pole trailer with a GVW in excess of 3,000 lbs. must be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels that are designed to be applied automatically and promptly, and remain applied for at least 15 minutes upon breakaway from the towing vehicle.

A towing vehicle and all trailers being towed must have 1 control device that can be used to operate all service brakes.

Here is the actual Montana law:
61-9-304. Brakes required on all wheels -- exceptions. Every vehicle must be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels except:
(1) trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers of a gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, provided that:
(a) the total weight on and including the wheels of the trailer or trailers may not exceed 40% of the gross weight of the towing vehicle when connected to the trailer or trailers; and
(b) the combination of vehicles consisting of the towing vehicle and its total towed load is capable of complying with the performance requirements of 61-9-312;
(2) any vehicle being towed in driveaway or towaway operations, provided the combination of vehicles is capable of complying with the performance requirements of 61-9-312;
(3) trucks and truck tractors having three or more axles need not have brakes on the front wheels, if the vehicle was manufactured before July 25, 1980. However, the trucks and truck tractors must be capable of complying with the performance requirements of 61-9-312.
(4) special mobile equipment;
(5) the wheel of a sidecar attached to a motorcycle or to a motor-driven cycle, or the front wheel of a motor-driven cycle need not be equipped with brakes. However, a quadricycle, motorcycle, or motor-driven cycle must be capable of complying with the performance requirements of 61-9-312.

Can you see what the "list of laws" left out?
Note that if the combination of vehicles can comply with the provisions of MCA 61-9-312, trailer brakes are NOT required!

Now, exactly what IS a "trailer"? For the answer, we need only look at MCA61-1-101(82)(a) & (b):
(82) (a) "Trailer" means a vehicle, with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and constructed so that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.
(b) The term does not include a mobile home or a manufactured home, as defined in 15-1-101.

Note that the definition is very specific; a trailer is designed for carrying PROPERTY, and for being DRAWN BY A MOTOR VEHICLE.
An automobile is designed primarily for carrying PEOPLE, and is NOT designed to be towed, it must be modified for the purpose.

While the quoted list is fairly accurate, I can only say again, do NOT rely on ANY list of towing laws that you find on the internet. That list will not make a good witness if it comes to a court case!

[rvibrakesupport]

I hope everyone doesn't mind me joining the conversation. I've had a good chuckle at some of the comments in this and other related threads...and some aren't unwarranted. 😃

This has been and will continue to be a debated topic, and it should be. We're talking about your safety and the safety of others. So I'll keep it short and unbiased as possible.

Here's the basic question we ask at it here at RVibrake. What does the law actually say? Here is what Federal Regulation Title 49 says:

Federal Regulations Title 49 (49CFR571.4) of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (10-01-08 edition) defines a 'trailer' as follows: “Trailer means a motor vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by another motor vehicle."

And here are each state's trailer laws: http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/trailer-brakes/HERE

I hope this helps!

[Retired_VSP]

mowermech wrote:

Retired VSP wrote:
I am getting ready to tow for the first time and bought a brake buddy....my car weighs less than 2000 lbs.....blue ox tow bar and 33' gasser class a........going I-40 from Tennessee to California ......a man at Camping World said I shouldn't need supplemental braking......that it's a matter of preference......any thought on this...I know most states only required it if the tow exceeds 3500 lbs.

"I know most states only required it if the tow exceeds 3500 lbs."
Sorry, but I don't think that is true. It doesn't even apply to TRAILER brakes! Some states require TRAILER brakes on any thing over 1500 lbs. UNLADEN weight, other states require brakes on trailers based on GVWR, either 3000 or 3500 lbs, depending on the state.
Montana, California, and many others have a Braking Performance Standard Law. You must be able to stop within a certain distance from 20 MPH on a level, clean, hard, surface. In Montana it is 40 feet, in CA, IIRC, it is 45 feet. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards also have a Braking Performance Standard.
Also, in many states the definition of TRAILER does not include towed motor vehicles!



I have yet to see any list of towing laws on the internet that has this issue correct!

Well said.....actually Virginia Code is silent regarding specific brake requirements on toweds......but Va Code 46.2-1070 addresses brakes on trailers and the 3000 pound rule applies...personally I wouldn't pull a towed without supplemental braking system .....

[tropical36]

ronfisherman wrote:
Check out Ready Brake. Easy to setup and use.

My preference as well and we have one that's been tried and proven. Not only is it the best bang for the buck, but very simple in design and one that should provide for trouble free performance, as well.

[Stealth1]

Don't hesitate, RVIBrake 2 system! Super easy to install, easy to operate and great Customer service!!

[mowermech]

Retired VSP wrote:
I am getting ready to tow for the first time and bought a brake buddy....my car weighs less than 2000 lbs.....blue ox tow bar and 33' gasser class a........going I-40 from Tennessee to California ......a man at Camping World said I shouldn't need supplemental braking......that it's a matter of preference......any thought on this...I know most states only required it if the tow exceeds 3500 lbs.

"I know most states only required it if the tow exceeds 3500 lbs."
Sorry, but I don't think that is true. It doesn't even apply to TRAILER brakes! Some states require TRAILER brakes on any thing over 1500 lbs. UNLADEN weight, other states require brakes on trailers based on GVWR, either 3000 or 3500 lbs, depending on the state.
Montana, California, and many others have a Braking Performance Standard Law. You must be able to stop within a certain distance from 20 MPH on a level, clean, hard, surface. In Montana it is 40 feet, in CA, IIRC, it is 45 feet. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards also have a Braking Performance Standard.
Also, in many states the definition of TRAILER does not include towed motor vehicles!
I have yet to see any list of towing laws on the internet that has this issue correct!

[dsouthw524]

I have used a Brake Buddy for thousands of miles with a couple of MHs and towed vehicles. I still have and use the same unit for over 15 years. It has aided us in heavy braking situations several times - no brakeing problems!

[Retired_VSP]

I am getting ready to tow for the first time and bought a brake buddy....my car weighs less than 2000 lbs.....blue ox tow bar and 33' gasser class a........going I-40 from Tennessee to California ......a man at Camping World said I shouldn't need supplemental braking......that it's a matter of preference......any thought on this...I know most states only required it if the tow exceeds 3500 lbs.

[Off_Pavement]

I don't believe there is a perfect supplemental braking system out there. Everybody has their own idea what is best being it simple or complicated with bells and whistles. What works best for you will be based on a how often you plan on towing (note the Brake Buddy comments above), what road conditions do you expect to tow in, and how deep your pockets are.

We've towed a Jeep Wrangler of one sort or another over 100K miles and have had three different brake systems. We started with an air activated system when we a class A DP with air brakes, but when we downsized to a 23' class C, we switched to a Roadmaster Invisibrake. This system is great and it's only shortfall in my opinion is its inability to control the towed vehicles brakes independently.

When we got our new Wrangler last year, I installed US Gear's Unified Tow Brake. If you are interested, you can read my review... Unified Tow Brake (UTB) Review

[Heisenberg]

RVI2

[Dutch_12078]

X2 on the ReadyBrake. Hooking up is literally a "snap" after a one time installation.

[rockhillmanor]

I'll just chime in about what I used. When I was a newbie starting out I just went for the same o same o standard Brake Buddy. It works fine BUT......

After going full time and hooking up and unhooking more often now that I was on the road full time, it got REAL old getting on my knees to shove that brake buddy in and hook the brake clamp on, etc etc.

I had a Tracker also and they are small and low to the ground. Which makes it literally a pain to put the Brake buddy in and out.

I highly suggest you take the suggestions from the forum members that have the different types of brake assist that is inline with the tow bar. Trust me you won't be sorry.