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07-21-2009, 10:30 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 920
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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
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Dave
2010 Canyon Star 3647
2010 Ford Escape
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07-21-2009, 11:14 AM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
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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
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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
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07-21-2009, 12:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 920
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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.
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Dave
2010 Canyon Star 3647
2010 Ford Escape
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07-21-2009, 01:24 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 460
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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.
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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
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07-21-2009, 03:57 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lacey, Wa
Posts: 630
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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
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07-21-2009, 04:09 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lacey, Wa
Posts: 630
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07-21-2009, 04:13 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Vancouver, USA (WA, that is) the first one!
Posts: 302
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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.
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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.
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07-21-2009, 04:17 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Melbourne & Marathon, Florida
Posts: 1,537
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Laws by State
http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm
Not the specific actual laws, just the recap.
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2005 Safari Cheetah 38PDQ - 2009 Ford Flex
Me (Gatogonow), The Boss (DW), Honey Bunny, Maggie May and Mollie Kay (The Gatos)!
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07-21-2009, 05:12 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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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.
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Home is where I park it!
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07-21-2009, 05:45 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,529
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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.
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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)
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07-21-2009, 07:05 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: West Michigan
Posts: 920
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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.
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Dave
2010 Canyon Star 3647
2010 Ford Escape
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07-21-2009, 07:14 PM
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#12
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Administrator in Memoriam
Newmar Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's Spartan Chassis
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 25,898
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Let's get back to the OP's original topic.
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Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, previously 4 years as a fulltimer in a '07 DSDP
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07-21-2009, 07:49 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 31
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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
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07-21-2009, 08:36 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lacey, Wa
Posts: 630
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just curious-- what type of toad weighs less than 1500lbs?
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