What do you tow? Would you do again?

[Dogpatch]

Originally Posted by searchinferu

Just sayin Hi so I can get the emailed links to this. Thanks.....and "HI,"

Just an FYI that if you click on "Thread Tools" just down from the top, it will allow open to where you can subscribe to any thread you are on at the time.

[draboo]

First time "toaders" this year. Just purchased a 1992 Geo Tracker 2wd manual tranny and a Roadmaster dolly. We are looking forward to our 5 month hiatus starting around May 1st. .

[MisterT]

2014 Ford Fiesta SE and 2014 Thor Palazzo 33.3 300hp Diesel Pusher
with BlueOx Alpha tow bar...

We love the Fiesta - just put it in neutral and GO!
Purchased it Ford certified used, with warranty - and no odometer miles added when pulled four down. I did add a battery cutoff switch located
next to the battery under the hood. This allows the vehicle to not lose battery charge while towing.

We've pulled it behind our Palazzo cross country several times in the last 8 months, over 18k miles, and it still only has several hundred miles on the odometer since we bought it(grocery store, etc).
It is also one of the lightest and easiest vehicles to TOAD - we would not
even know it's there if it were not for our rear camera.
Also, because it is so light - we do not use any type of brake assist - and have never needed one, even through the many mountains of the northwest and the smokies in TN.


We've also previously used a tow dolly. Never again!

Love it : ) [photo: Chicago's McCormick Place truck marshalling yard, overnight]

[slemnah]

MisterT, you might want to check state laws. Many states require a braking system in the toad in the event the tow bar or hitch fail. I am not sure I want to have to tell my insurance company that I wasn't in compliance in the off chance that the car comes loose and Kills someone.
Steve

[Clayobx]

Originally Posted by slemnah

MisterT, you might want to check state laws. Many states require a braking system in the toad in the event the tow bar or hitch fail. I am not sure I want to have to tell my insurance company that I wasn't in compliance in the off chance that the car comes loose and Kills someone.
Steve

You beat me to the punch Mister T. You don't want that liability, trust me I had a dear friend that lost his toad. No, braking assist! They were lucky as the Roadmaster cross bar went to the pavement and dug into the asphalt stopping the Jeep before damage or striking another person. Not going to hi jack this thread as the subject of to add a braking system or not has been hashed over many times. Do yourself a favor and search the topic.

[MisterT]

Towing World Official Website


my Fiesta is only 2,500lb, so brakes are not required in most states -
also, insurance does not look at laws, or even who is at fault, the
liability claim would be paid by the insurance regardless.

[MisterT]

FL if towed vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lbGA none
AL none
MS brake hook-up required
LA none
TX none
NM brake hook-up required
AZ none
CA brakes must be sufficient to stop within a specific...
NV if towed vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lb
UT none
CO none
KS none
OK none
AR none
TN brake hookup required
SC if towed vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lb
NC none
VA none
WV none
KY none
MO both vehicles require brakes
IA none
NE none
WY none
ID none
OR none
MT none
ND none
SD brakes and lights required
MN Brake hook-up required except where brakes on towi
WI required when vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lb
IL required when vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lb
IN none
MI none
OH none
PA none
NY none
VT none
NH none
ME none
MA none
RI none
CT none
NJ brake hookup required
DE If towed vehicle over 4,000 pounds, brakes must co
MD none
DC 3,000lb
HI brake hookup required
AK if exceeds 3,000lb


a few of these are not self-explanatory, so you might have to
dive deeper into the state's website to find out more details,
though most state authorities probably do not enforce these
laws, if they are even aware of them.

[AppleUser]

Originally Posted by MisterT

Towing World Official Website
my Fiesta is only 2,500lb, so brakes are not required in most states -
also, insurance does not look at laws, or even who is at fault, the
liability claim would be paid by the insurance regardless.

Why do you place your and other's safety on a law or not? Seems to me safety ought to be a matter of common sense regardless of towing laws. Auxillary brake equals shorter stopping distance. That shorter distance just might make a difference in an emergency.

[Dogpatch]

Yes, insurance would likely pay for the damage unless possibly negligence could be proven.
I understand having a light vehicle that would not make enough difference when pulling to have a need for subsidiary braking. That's not the issue in my books. At minimum, I would think it responsible to have an emergency breakaway system in place. This would likely save the vehicle and have a better chance at saving a life if it broke away from the coach.

Even if insurance did pay for damage, I don't think that would save you from a civil suit causing bodily harm or death. You can bet that the affected family's lawyer would be looking into every nook and cranny to prove negligence. You still may not win in a civil suit, however, having a brake system will show at least you tried to be safe in your towing practices.

In my mind, it just isn't worth the bit of money or hassle I save by not having a braking system.

Just my opinion of course.

Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do.

[Clayobx]

I Agee Dogpatch, well stated!

[desertvince]

Pleased with the Fiesta, quick attach with Roadmaster Tow and Air Force One braking system, put in neutral, and disconnect battery--with an added battery cutoff switch.

Our last MH was a Journey 32T that was a bit "underpowered", but the light toad did not seem to add to that problem. Love the Air Force One that we added with the new "to us" MH.

Here is a bit of history, in 2011, when Ford came out with the restyled Fiesta, the software for the transmission was not correct and they had to replace a good number of Fiesta transmissions after being towed. In our case, required to replace tranny and the engine! No problems after that warranty job.

[DeanDDS]

We tow a 2014 Ford Raptor behind a 2009 newmar mountainaire 4528 using a Blue-ox advent a tow bar, Air Force SMI braking system no issues at all with towing.

[Scottybdivin]

Originally Posted by DeanDDS

We tow a 2014 Ford Raptor behind a 2009 newmar mountainaire 4528 using a Blue-ox advent a tow bar, Air Force SMI braking system no issues at all with towing.

Very nice. I like your choice in Mh's too (see my sig). We just started towing our 2014 F150 platinum. I am amazed at how the ISM 450 barely feels the F150 behind it. Curious what kind of fuel mileage you are getting. I got the idea after meeting all the Nascar guys on I-10 the last few years. They were headed west to Phoenix for a race, and we were headed east going home after a race. We must have passed 30 - 40 rigs each year, towing a 1/2 ton CC pickup with a golf cart in the bed. At the time we were towing a 5th wheel toy hauler with a Kawasaki Mule and a full size Weber gas grill in the garage, so we found it very appealing to have the ability to carry a golf cart with us, when we got a motorhome.

[DMTTRANSPORT]

Originally Posted by MisterT

FL if towed vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lbGA none
AL none
MS brake hook-up required
LA none
TX none
NM brake hook-up required
AZ none
CA brakes must be sufficient to stop within a specific...
NV if towed vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lb
UT none
CO none
KS none
OK none
AR none
TN brake hookup required
SC if towed vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lb
NC none
VA none
WV none
KY none
MO both vehicles require brakes
IA none
NE none
WY none
ID none
OR none
MT none
ND none
SD brakes and lights required
MN Brake hook-up required except where brakes on towi
WI required when vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lb
IL required when vehicle weight exceeds 3,000lb
IN none
MI none
OH none
PA none
NY none
VT none
NH none
ME none
MA none
RI none
CT none
NJ brake hookup required
DE If towed vehicle over 4,000 pounds, brakes must co
MD none
DC 3,000lb
HI brake hookup required
AK if exceeds 3,000lb


a few of these are not self-explanatory, so you might have to
dive deeper into the state's website to find out more details,
though most state authorities probably do not enforce these
laws, if they are even aware of them.

Hawaii.....