Towing laws

[Bird_man]

Hi I am new to to the RV forum.
I have a 29' class C 4x4 that I want to add a support vehicle to.
I was told you had to have a breaking system in alomost all states?
If the vehicle is under 3000lbs do your u still need the breaking system?
Thanks for your help!
The Bird Man

[TyroneandGladys]

Before I towed I rented a U Haul tow dolly that does not have brakes. The tow dolly that I have now has brakes. I can tell you that on more than one occasion I would have been involved in a wreck with out the brakes on the tow dolly from people pulling out in front of me. And I am within my GVWR.

[irishtom29]

If the weight of the tow vehicle and toad don't exceed the tow vehicle's GVWR then the tow vehicle's brakes are working within their intended limit and auxiliary brakes are not needed for safe operation.

Now whether or not auxiliary brakes are needed for legal operation is another story.

[mowermech]

blknomad wrote:
Lets here it for tow dollies with surge brakes.

Yes, lets! I want one. I sold my Kar Kaddy because it didn't have brakes. That was an incredibly STUPID thing to do! I can't afford a new dolly with brakes, and all the used ones I see for sale either don't have brakes or the seller wants too much (IMO) for it.

[jpmihalk]

blknomad wrote:
Lets here it for tow dollies with surge brakes.

Woo hoo!

[blknomad]

Lets here it for tow dollies with surge brakes.

[Lwiddis]

Oh Bill....you...you...ROGUE!...you.

[dubdub07]

mowermech wrote:

dubdub07 wrote:

Lwiddis wrote:
"I am fully aware of the risks and the increased braking distances"

Such a decision, Bill, is yours to make about you but you've made it for me too...to be more likely to hit my rear end when I've made an emergency stop and you can't stop in time. Ask any fender-bender attorney about your decision being reckless.

I would have to hit you first. The brake buddy is nice, but it does not do as much as everyone thinks. And the risks are small. I love stirring it up with my honesty. You would think I am an RVer gone rogue.

Bill

Once again, I feel obliged to point out the Reaction Time Distance (that distance you will travel, at 65 MPH, between the time when you realize you must stop and the time when your foot actually hits the brake pedal) AND the actual stopping distance (that distance your vehicle will travel between brake application and full stop. the faster you are traveling, the longer that distance is.) Add the two together, and that is how far your vehicle will travel after you realize "OH, LORDY, I better STOP, NOW!" and a full stop is achieved.
I have had those "STOP, NOW!" situations more than once.
A 2 point buck 4 point in Eastern count) jumped in front of my 1966 Barracuda on a two lane road at 60+ MPH. My foot didn't even hit the brake pedal when the car hit him. If I had been driving a Class A, towing a Jeep, with the best towed braking system money can buy, it would have made no difference.
I have had similar cases involving dogs and chickens.
In a true emergency situation, the towed braking system probably will make no difference at all. In a breakaway, however, it MAY help, depending on how the breakaway actuator is set up. It is entirely possible the breakaway brakes could tear the vehicle away from the towing unit, making the problems worse! The thought of my towed vehicle locking the brakes and coming to a screeching halt on a busy freeway in the midst of 80 MPH traffic is actually frightening!

And I will add that the braking of a motorhome is not just reaction, but how you brake. There is no "slam your foot down" on the brake. This could cause more damage than needed! Air brakes are a different dynamic and require finesse and practice to brake the MH. And when I use the BrakeBuddy, I rarely have it set on much more than mild braking and that only really kicks in when I brake HARD!!! But, I use it when I can and certainly on the mountain passes, cuz if your MH brakes get too hot....so the BrakeBuddy helps a little in keeping them cool.

Bill

[mowermech]

dubdub07 wrote:

Lwiddis wrote:
"I am fully aware of the risks and the increased braking distances"

Such a decision, Bill, is yours to make about you but you've made it for me too...to be more likely to hit my rear end when I've made an emergency stop and you can't stop in time. Ask any fender-bender attorney about your decision being reckless.

I would have to hit you first. The brake buddy is nice, but it does not do as much as everyone thinks. And the risks are small. I love stirring it up with my honesty. You would think I am an RVer gone rogue.

Bill

Once again, I feel obliged to point out the Reaction Time Distance (that distance you will travel, at 65 MPH, between the time when you realize you must stop and the time when your foot actually hits the brake pedal) AND the actual stopping distance (that distance your vehicle will travel between brake application and full stop. the faster you are traveling, the longer that distance is.) Add the two together, and that is how far your vehicle will travel after you realize "OH, LORDY, I better STOP, NOW!" and a full stop is achieved.
I have had those "STOP, NOW!" situations more than once.
A 2 point buck 4 point in Eastern count) jumped in front of my 1966 Barracuda on a two lane road at 60+ MPH. My foot didn't even hit the brake pedal when the car hit him. If I had been driving a Class A, towing a Jeep, with the best towed braking system money can buy, it would have made no difference.
I have had similar cases involving dogs and chickens.
In a true emergency situation, the towed braking system probably will make no difference at all. In a breakaway, however, it MAY help, depending on how the breakaway actuator is set up. It is entirely possible the breakaway brakes could tear the vehicle away from the towing unit, making the problems worse! The thought of my towed vehicle locking the brakes and coming to a screeching halt on a busy freeway in the midst of 80 MPH traffic is actually frightening!

[dubdub07]

Lwiddis wrote:
"I am fully aware of the risks and the increased braking distances"

Such a decision, Bill, is yours to make about you but you've made it for me too...to be more likely to hit my rear end when I've made an emergency stop and you can't stop in time. Ask any fender-bender attorney about your decision being reckless.

I would have to hit you first. The brake buddy is nice, but it does not do as much as everyone thinks. And the risks are small. I love stirring it up with my honesty. You would think I am an RVer gone rogue.

Bill

[Lwiddis]

"I am fully aware of the risks and the increased braking distances"

Such a decision, Bill, is yours to make about you but you've made it for me too...to be more likely to hit my rear end when I've made an emergency stop and you can't stop in time. Ask any fender-bender attorney about your decision being reckless.

[Bird_man]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[dubdub07]

It takes as long to put in my brake buddy as it does to hook up the car/jeep. And once the brake buddy is installed it takes an equal amount of time to remove it for a quick disconnect and Sonic run. It is for these reasons that I normally do not use the AUX braking.

Note: I am fully aware of the risks and the increased braking distances. It is not the increased braking distance that worries me but not having a breakaway does. There are so many cables and I can see the TOAD in my camera that it hasn't been an issue to me. When I tow in my state with the mountains, I use it as it does NOT help much when moving but if I needed to stop going down one of those passes I will need all the help I can get. Through Texas.....eh, not so much.

Bill

[Lwiddis]

Absolutely right, Tyler! When I need to stop, I want to be able to stop. 2,500 to 3,000 pounds not helping you stop makes you not stop...when you need to stop.

[mowermech]

Bird man wrote:
Hi I am new to to the RV forum.
I have a 29' class C 4x4 that I want to add a support vehicle to.
I was told you had to have a breaking system in alomost all states?
If the vehicle is under 3000lbs do your u still need the breaking system?
Thanks for your help!
The Bird Man

It depends on the laws in the state where you are currently driving.
Such laws are NOT reciprocal. It does not matter what the laws are in your home state.
Several years ago, I did a lot of research on the laws pertaining to towed motor vehicles. I found one state that may have laws pertaining to brakes for such (North Carolina). Nearly all states have laws pertaining to TRAILER brakes, but when you look at the legal definition of "trailer", quite often the definition does not include towed passenger motor vehicles. A car dolly also is not considered a trailer (it does not require a title or registration in many states).
Now, having said all that, is a braking system on a towed motor vehicle a "good idea"? Certainly!
Have I ever towed without such a braking system? Yes, several thousand miles, with no problems, towing a PT cruiser on a dolly, several different Jeeps 4 down, and a Dodge 1500 club cab short box 4X4 pickup 4 down. I have also towed trailers with vehicles on them. That is a whole different thing, trailer braking laws definitely apply.
The only braking system I would buy is the Ready Brute or Ready Brake system. No, I do not have any interest in the company or a dealer.