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!