Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Toads and Motorhome Related Towing
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-21-2009, 10:30 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
DandS's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 920
Towing Laws

Having read many threads on this issue and not wanting to start a further useless debate on aux. braking vs no aux. braking, can anyone point me to specific wording in any state laws which mandate a brake system in the toad ? I have reviewed many states regulations and most all refer to a "towed trailer" with specific wgt. limits above which braking is required. I have never found any wording specifically on a towed vehicle.

Just curious
__________________
Dave
2010 Canyon Star 3647
2010 Ford Escape
DandS is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 07-21-2009, 11:14 AM   #2
Moderator Emeritus
 
TXiceman's Avatar
 
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
Blog Entries: 21
I have often wondered just what circuitiry is installed in a motorhome that can detect between 4000# on rocks on a utility trailer or a 4000# dinghy in tow?

You have to meet the requirements of all of the states that you operate the motorhome in, not just your home state.

Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
TXiceman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 12:03 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
DandS's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 920
Your point is well taken, I hadn't thought of that. But I am curious if you could receive a ticket vs. the state law if you didn't have a brake assuming you were over the wgt. limit for that particular state. I use a BrakeBuddy even though my toad only weighs 2300# and would be under the limit in almost all states but I'm wondering if I would be illegal if I didn't use it in a state with a lower limit such as Ca. which I think has 1500# limit.
__________________
Dave
2010 Canyon Star 3647
2010 Ford Escape
DandS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 01:24 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Flagelpater's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 460
I think the problem starts with the manufacturer. The way I remember it my coach has a towing limit of 1200 pounds without supplemental braking. If I were to get in an accident while towing my Toad without a supplemental braking system I would expect to be sued for negligence, maybe even gross negligence.
__________________
2005 Monaco Knight, 3 Slide, 38' PST, Cummins 330 ISC, 34,000 miles on this one!
VMSpc, PressurePro, BrakeSwitch, DeLorme SA2010

2005 Honda CRV, Blue Ox, SMI Brake, TomTom Go 720
Flagelpater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 03:57 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Jack R's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lacey, Wa
Posts: 630
DandS

I copied a posting of the towing laws for all states. However, I can't remember where I stored it should someone else need it. Sorry. did copy off irv2 site. i'm sure someone will be kind enough to post again.

Try looking at: http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm
Jack R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 04:09 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Jack R's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lacey, Wa
Posts: 630
DandS

try this: http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm
Jack R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 04:13 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
blacktie.shooter's Avatar
 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Vancouver, USA (WA, that is) the first one!
Posts: 302
I think there are enough states with a 1,500 or 2,000 lb. limit that I am not going to try to keep track of which is what. If I want to cross any state line, I just go and don't worry about it, because I have the braking in the tagalong.

I am landlocked; both Idaho and California have the 1,500 limit. I'm not taking a chance on nailing someone with no aux. brakes, thereby opening my wallet and that of my insurer. I think getting a ticket would be the least of my problems - except, if you did get one, that would be the nail in the coffin as to who was responsible.

Also, I know of no toad that would qualify in the "under 2,000 lb." category.
__________________
Ken & Carolee, 1994 36' Pace Arrow/Ford 7.5L, Mobil 1 full syn & Banks Pack. Towing a 1999 Saturn SL2 with Roadmaster Sterling All-Terrain & Brake Buddy.
blacktie.shooter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 04:17 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Jim Stewart's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Melbourne & Marathon, Florida
Posts: 1,537
Laws by State

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

Not the specific actual laws, just the recap.
__________________
2005 Safari Cheetah 38PDQ - 2009 Ford Flex
Me (Gatogonow), The Boss (DW), Honey Bunny, Maggie May and Mollie Kay (The Gatos)!
Jim Stewart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 05:12 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
I would suggest (to the original poster) that you check the definitions section of the law for the definition of Trailer.

However, that said, I've not done so. (I think I will if I can find a copy and it should be in c:documents, well you know the reast)

Here is a quote from Section 257 of the Michigan State laws. Same being the Michigan Vehicle code (I just took my own advice)

257.73 “Trailer” defined.
Sec. 73.
“Trailer” means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole-trailer, designed for carrying property or persons and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle.




End quote


With or without motive power.. Thus. a towed car, which is a vehicle designed for carrying property or persons, and which is being drawn by a motor vehicle, and which does not rest upon said towing vehicle, is a trailer under Michigan law.


As to weather it needs brakes or not, under the law, I leave that up to you to research

But to the O/P. there is your specific wording.. NOTE: every state vehicle code has a "Definition" section and that's where I found it, Chapter 1, words and phrases defined.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 05:45 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
H. Miller's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,529


I'm not taking a chance on nailing someone with no aux. brakes, thereby opening my wallet and that of my insurer.

As a willfull violator of the law, one can probably forget about opening the wallet of the insurer.
__________________
Hal & Ginny Miller '04 Beaver Santiam PRT40
'04 Saturn Vue - US Gear Brake - Blue Ox tow
3"girls" (2 Irish Setters - 1 Retriever) - RIP Annie & Emily (12/26/2017)
H. Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 07:05 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
DandS's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 920
As I feared, this has turned into a dissertation on whether or not you should use an aux. brake. That was not my intent - I wanted to know if you could receive a summons for not having one. I will back out of this passionate subject that seems to raise so many hackles as in most other threads I've read on the subject. Apparently I'm legal in Michigan without a brake since I'm under 3000#, not that I choose to tow without one.
__________________
Dave
2010 Canyon Star 3647
2010 Ford Escape
DandS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 07:14 PM   #12
Administrator in Memoriam
 
Route 66's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Retired Fire Service RVer's
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
Let's get back to the OP's original topic.
__________________
Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP

Route 66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 07:49 PM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 31
In reference to the OP's original question.
Alaska addresses towing vehicles. See 13AAC04.205(d)(1)(2)(3)
Alaska Braking Laws
While additional braking only comes into play if the towed vehicle weighs over 5,000 pounds, I personally have and use supplemental braking when towing our "less than 5,000 pound" Saturn VUE.


Bill
2002 Discovery
2004 Saturn VUE
VIP Mountain Master Tow Brake
Troubleshooter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2009, 08:36 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Jack R's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lacey, Wa
Posts: 630
just curious-- what type of toad weighs less than 1500lbs?
Jack R is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Saturn VUE towing BULLETIN just issued edgray Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 17 02-17-2014 09:44 PM
Rules of the road and towing laws by state. MakinSmoke iRV2.com General Discussion 4 04-14-2009 08:46 PM
Trailer Towing & State length laws greatadventure Newmar Owner's Forum 16 02-08-2008 07:47 PM
Towing Lengths & State Laws greatadventure Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 3 01-08-2008 02:19 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:28 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.