Community Forums

Cooperhawk · 10-26-2013, 11:04 AM

I use the magnet lights but instead of placing them on the trunk lid I put them in the back window. No problem so far.

StevieG · 10-29-2013, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masijeff

I recently purchased a tow dolly off of Craigslist. My queation is "Do you need to have the towed veichle lights working or are the tow dolly lights OK?

I have an ACME EZ tow dolly and only use the dolly lights. I towed from Maine to Georgia this year and never had a policeman pull me over.

spritz · 10-29-2013, 10:10 PM

I think its all about preference, I think it looks nice having the Car marker lights on at night. No I meant the car lights not the magnet lights.
Nope I use wax not Zep. Now that I got rid of all the oxidation I wax twice a year and I use detailer in between coats.

Scarab0088 · 10-29-2013, 10:55 PM

I am with StevieG on this...Don't use add'l lights on my toad with the dolly.

Have towed with a dolly from VA to CA and every state west of the Rockies...many times.

But recently, a member here on iRV2 expressed that if he was still a patrol officer (retired po-po reportedly) he would cite every dolly tow driving at night without add'l lights for the load (car on the dolly) being past 3 feet beyond the dolly. Can you guess if that member used a dolly or flat towed?

So, I guess that it may be smart to have marker lights on the toad. Of course safe is smart, so add'l lights are a good idea even if they are not required.

Safe travels

michelb · 10-30-2013, 05:30 AM

Here's a link from AAA on trailer light laws for various states Trailer Lighting | AAA/CAA Digest of Motor Laws

At a quick glance, it appears most states require lights at the rear of the trailer / vehicle. One problem though is that in this link, in many cases they don't make the distinction between trailer and towed vehicle but there might be different laws for each.

(Kentucky has a pretty interesting one that it also requires a green light on the front).

That said, I agree that it's not something that appears to be enforced but if you're ever in an accident and didn't have the proper lighting, you could be in trouble (e.g. if someone runs into the back of your toad and you don't have the proper tail lights, you might be held responsible even if you are the one that was hit).

cenfl · 10-30-2013, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevieG

I have an ACME EZ tow dolly and only use the dolly lights. I towed from Maine to Georgia this year and never had a policeman pull me over.

Likewise, We used our Master Tow dolly this summer from Florida to New Hampshire with the dolly lights only and no issues with LE.

DAN L · 10-31-2013, 02:00 AM

recently a tv news story showed that someone was involved in a traffic stop for not having a working license plate light on his car...
not being towed.

geezerb · 10-31-2013, 11:04 AM

I rented a U-Haul dolly and hauled from Montana to central Texas. There were no surge brakes on the dolly and a 4 way connector supplying stop and turn lights. Wouldn't U-Haul put you at odds with the law if they were giving you equipment that violated the law? As a side note, I never drove at night.

geezerb

Mr_D · 10-31-2013, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelb

Here's a link from AAA on trailer light laws for various states Trailer Lighting | AAA/CAA Digest of Motor Laws

At a quick glance, it appears most states require lights at the rear of the trailer / vehicle. One problem though is that in this link, in many cases they don't make the distinction between trailer and towed vehicle but there might be different laws for each.

Be careful with that site linked above. There are serious flaws in it that I have found over the years as has been noted above also.

bailiff · 10-31-2013, 11:22 AM

On the 11-7 shift, I would continually look for reasons to stop vehicles including lights not working. The main reason was to ask for permission to look through their car for contraband. (Jacksonville was well known for this) On the other hand, I didn't pull over grandpa driving his class A along the expressway because his towed vehicle on the dolly did not have additional lights. As others have also said, we tow our Accord on our Master Tow dolly without additional lighting.

Pds47 · 10-31-2013, 01:04 PM

Tow with dolly lights only Demco kar kaddy.

Led lights on dolly are very bright. If you look at most trailers you will see the lights are usually on the fenders which are at least 4 feet or more from the rear overhang of the trailer.