Community Forums

Mr_D · 01-01-2018, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Applefarmer

Most states require a brake system if toad is over 2000#. You need to meet the requirements of the state you are towing in

That is for trailer towing, not a motorized vehicle towing another motorized vehicle. That changes the requirements.

Dennis4809 · 01-01-2018, 07:12 PM

Check your owners manual, but most MKZ engine/driveline configurations can to be towed on a dolly. 3.7 engine is 4 up or 4 down, but no dolly. 2 liter AWD is 4 up only.

Good luck,

rcrevolution · 01-02-2018, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis4809

Check your owners manual, but most MKZ engine/driveline configurations can to be towed on a dolly. 3.7 engine is 4 up or 4 down, but no dolly. 2 liter AWD is 4 up only.

Good luck,

Ours is 2.0 turbo. Towable on a dolly.

rcrevolution · 01-02-2018, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forest Grump

Mine broke, split in half. It was totally dependent on a single bolt and nut in the yoke. The threads wore enough for movement and the nut bolt and yoke just pulled into two. I now have a demco tow bar and a variable rate wireless electric portable brake pedal system. Works as advertised will never go back.

Which brake unit do you have?

TonyMac · 01-03-2018, 05:42 PM

Our MKX has All Wheel Drive and flat towing is ok, so it trailering. Dolly is a NOPE with AWD, ok with Front Wheel Drive. I still tow my 2000 Blazer, as it opens more territory to explore and it gets alot of bumper damage from that big bus 4 feet in front of it that I don't want on my Lincoln.

hohenwald48 · 01-04-2018, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forest Grump

Mine broke, split in half. It was totally dependent on a single bolt and nut in the yoke. The threads wore enough for movement and the nut bolt and yoke just pulled into two. I now have a demco tow bar and a variable rate wireless electric portable brake pedal system. Works as advertised will never go back.

How long had you been using the Ready Brute tow bar? Did you contact Ready Brake and what did they have to say?

One more thing to check on a regular basis.

Forest Grump · 04-19-2018, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hohenwald48

How long had you been using the Ready Brute tow bar? Did you contact Ready Brake and what did they have to say?

One more thing to check on a regular basis.

I took the tow bar apart and examined each part to determine the point of failure. I had noticed that the yoke is horizontal, about 8” long and had free play. A single bolt holds the two articulating sections together, grade 8. One articulated section section was threaded. The nut has a threaded hole with a set screw. The threaded articulating section was badly worn, enough for the bolt to be pulled through. The bolt did not break. The threads though had worn badly and the nut was pulled off the bolt during separation. There was a gouge mark on the bolt from the set screw. The unit was about 6 to 7 years old. Maybe 7,000 miles of use.

This design allows the whole yolk to be pulled down or up sometimes rather dramatically. I checked the website for any replacement or maintenance parts. Couldn’t find any. I compared what I had to what was available new and the substantial load and design differences of the new bar. I decided the best place for the old bar was the metal junk bin at the dump.

I bought new and have about 6,000 miles on the new tow bar and it is showing no signs of wear and much easier to use. Solid as a rock.

If you have one of these check to see if there is any free play or if the two arms go down on their own when it is not hooked up. If it rotates easily or if the arms drop with their own weight you might have an issue devolving in my opinion.

Forest Grump · 04-19-2018, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

That is for trailer towing, not a motorized vehicle towing another motorized vehicle. That changes the requirements.

CALIFORNIA CODE

26458 The braking system on every motor vehicle used to tow another vehicle shall be so arranged that one control on the towing vehicle shall, when applied, operate all the service brakes on the power unit and combination of vehicles when either or both of the following conditions exist: (1) The towing vehicle is required to be equipped with power brakes. (2) The towed vehicle is required to be equipped with brakes and is equipped with power brakes.

Ront77 · 04-19-2018, 04:55 PM

We have towed a 2006 Jeep Liberty 4wd 4 down for many years without a brake behind our Revolution 40c. That being said, I was always a little uncomfortable, especially in quick stops.
After installing a NSA Ready Brake System I can really tell the difference, especially in quick stops. GLAD I DID IT!

Forest Grump · 04-19-2018, 04:59 PM

California does require toads to have a braking system and a breakaway system.

26458 The braking system on every motor vehicle used to tow another vehicle shall be so arranged that one control on the towing vehicle shall, when applied, operate all the service brakes on the power unit and combination of vehicles when either or both of the following conditions exist: (1) The towing vehicle is required to be equipped with power brakes. (2) The towed vehicle is required to be equipped with brakes and is equipped with power brakes.

Forest Grump · 04-19-2018, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcrevolution

Which brake unit do you have?

BRK2016, Patriot II Brake

Forest Grump · 04-19-2018, 05:20 PM

Last summer we were returning from Lake Tahoe with the TOAD in tow. It was a steep narrow downhill mountain road with a hairpin to the right ahead. A car coming in the other direction cut their turn short in the hairpin and was entirely in my lane. I slammed on the brakes and both the motorhome and blu ox patriot system worked perfectly stopping my vehicles just before I was going to slam into them, I was stopped, he was stopped in my lane then he moved out of the way.

Coming through Vegas in a rain, at 55 mph the car in front of me came to a sudden stop. Evidently she, yes she, couldn’t see because her wipers had not worked in so long so she stopped, dead stop, in the #2 of the three lanes in 55 mph traffic. I was able to control both vehicles bringing them to a crawl just as she decided to accelerate when she saw and heard me coming up behind her.

isa · 04-30-2018, 05:29 PM

It is obvious to me that Forrest Grump failed to read the California Vehicle Code with respect to towed vehicles in its entirety. If he had then he would have noticed that in Division 12, Chapter3, Article 2, Section 26454 (b) (5) he would see that if a towed vehicle is less than 3000lb. then all it needs is to prove that it can stop in a distance of 35ft. from a speed of 20mph. No need for any auxilliary braking device or breakway requirements etc. etc.

Please folks , if you are going to tow another vehicle go to your own states DMV plus any other states that you might be travelling in and get the true information there. Do not rely on what people write in this forum and above all do not rely on any manufacturer of auxilliary braking devices for truthfull information on towed vehicle requirements.

Finally, there are no Federal Statutes with respect to auxilliary brake requirements. If you go to the federal statutes on towed vehicle braking, you will find that there is a table that gives you a speed versus a stopping distance requirement.

Forest Grump · 04-30-2018, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isa

It is obvious to me that Forrest Grump failed to read the California Vehicle Code with respect to towed vehicles in its entirety. If he had then he would have noticed that in Division 12, Chapter3, Article 2, Section 26454 (b) (5) he would see that if a towed vehicle is less than 3000lb. then all it needs is to prove that it can stop in a distance of 35ft. from a speed of 20mph. No need for any auxilliary braking device or breakway requirements etc. etc.

Please folks , if you are going to tow another vehicle go to your own states DMV plus any other states that you might be travelling in and get the true information there. Do not rely on what people write in this forum and above all do not rely on any manufacturer of auxilliary braking devices for truthfull information on towed vehicle requirements.

Finally, there are no Federal Statutes with respect to auxilliary brake requirements. If you go to the federal statutes on towed vehicle braking, you will find that there is a table that gives you a speed versus a stopping distance requirement.

Don’t see where that negates the law I quoted, brakes, brake away switch, lights etc. If it has a braking system the law I quoted says you need to be tied into it.