Lights on Tow Dolly

[ScoobyDoo]

Well, I'm likely to get in trouble again.
My state, back when I was studying to get my drivers permit, when you where hauling something that stuck out the back of your car, daytime need a red flag, night a red light. In the mid '80s all the lumber yards had free twine to tie your load down, and red plastic flags with the yard's logo, so you could safely get the lumber home.
Much later, when moving permit loads, if extended to the side, need flags or lights. If the load extended to the rear, had to mount had to mount tail, brake, turn, and ID lights. Yes, this is a CMV.
Next, look at tow trucks. Many load the car up, and carry it ahead of the taillights, but the ones that tow will mount tail, brake and turn lights on the broke down car. Another CMV.
Now I understand that RVs are not always required to follow the rules for CMVs. And I also understand that even when the law applies, it is more likely to be enforced when a CMV is involved.
But anytime regulations discuss vehicle lighting it is under the heading of Safety Equipment But not having working lights on the back of your trailer is very unlikely to hurt YOU so there is no reason for any RVer to worry about it...

[RandDescape]

...
I submit that no dolly maker seller or renter provides the harness connections to power said lights. The dolly lights .. yes the all do ..... but to light the car taillights also or light bar you would need a splitter or homemade connections to do so.
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Not sure if they still do it - but when I bought my ACME Tow Dolly https://cartowdolly.com in '16 it came with the harness already wired to power the dolly lights and had a 4-flat connection for my toad. I paid about $375 including parts for my dealer to install the diode kit in the rear light assembly and tie that up under the car to a 4-flat connector out the grill.

If having those lights on the back of the toad helps the cell phone distracted driver behind me on a rainy day see I'm braking or turning 2 seconds earlier than they would see the dolly lights then I consider that a great investment. There are enough hazards on the roads today from poorly maintained roads, people weaving through traffic and general overcrowding that I want to help that driver behind me know what I'm doing as soon as I'm doing it.

The ACME dolly worked great for us. Never had an issue with fenders touching our Rogue in the 8,000 miles we used it. Surge brakes just worked even in the mountains, the dolly did everything we wanted it to do.

[Glennabbott1]

I put a set of the magnetic LED lights on the rear of our Caravan. Ran the wiring harness through the interior behind panels, out through the firewall and through the lower grill opening. Then I made a harness to connect both the dolly and magnetic lights to the motorhome at the same time. Can never be too visible.......opinions vary.
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[arcaguy]

Here's an interesting link, but it's late at night and I have to get to sleep but I think it only applies to manufacturers.


https://icsw.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/st.../Trlrpstr.html

[Gary RVRoamer]

It's going to vary by state. Florida law requires only that the tail lights be visible when the car is loaded on. If the dolly's own lights are readily seen, the car's own light are not required nor is an auxiliary (portable) light set needed on the back. Of course, visibility is a matter of a LEO's judgement when in actual use.


Other states will have different rules.