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09-28-2009, 08:51 AM
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#29
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Another poster in another thread got me to looking at the Michigan Vehicle Code.. (I have heard the same "It is a car, not a trailer" argument) and like George in California I found the law is quite clear.
A car in tow, IS a trailer
Any vheicle, WITH OR WITHOUT MOTIVE POWER (emphasis mine)
Designed so the weight of the vehicle does not rest on the tow vehicle.
Actually this applies more to a car towed 4-down (no weight at all on the tow vehicle) than to a 5er (Some weight on the tow vehicle)
But the bottom line, is if it is towed, it' is a trailer
(NOTE: I did paraphrase. and leave out stuff) Ask if you want a direct quote or visit SOM - State of Michigan and download for yourself)
IN a reference to Lou and Peter Barrymore.. (They have a song the title of which I'm about to invoke)
you can often make that www. (Your State's Name Here) . com (The very funny, and accurate, song is titled "Your State's Name Here")
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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09-28-2009, 12:11 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,378
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Definitions of 'trailer'
(trā́lər)
Dictionary.com · The American Heritage® Dictionary - (5 definitions)
(noun)
- A large transport vehicle designed to be hauled by a truck or tractor.
- A furnished vehicle drawn by a truck or automobile and used when parked as a dwelling or office.
- A short filmed advertisement for a movie; a preview.
- A short, blank strip of film at the end of a reel.
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09-28-2009, 12:15 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,378
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Definitions of 'trailer'
- 4 definitions - WordNet
trailer (n.)someone who takes more time than necessary : someone who lags behindtrailer (n.)an advertisement consisting of short scenes from a motion picture that will appear in the near futuretrailer (n.)a large transport conveyance designed to be pulled by a truck or tractor
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09-28-2009, 12:18 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,378
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you pays your money and takes your choise.
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09-28-2009, 12:25 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cypress, Texas USA
Posts: 8,854
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Dictionary definitions don't count in courts of law - legal definitions do. From the Texas Transportation Code, Title 7, Subtitle C, Chapter 541, Subchapter C, Section 541.201:
Quote:
(20) "Trailer" means a vehicle, other than a pole trailer, with or without motive power:
(A) designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and to transport persons or property; and
(B) constructed so that no part of the vehicle's weight and load rests on the motor vehicle.
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Rusty
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09-28-2009, 07:07 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,378
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I've been traveling all my life; been to every state (lower 48) many times;never been stopped; have always pulled (call it what you like) a toad; been through nearly every city; I have never been stopped because i'm pulling a (trailer ??). question? why worry about something that in all likely hood will never happen. I'm presently working on the next 500,000 miles. I say enjoy what you can and quite worring about something that in all probibility will never happen.
they have laws for just about everything; I say go with the flow and don't worry about the small stuff.
I put those definations up there to only show that there are many definations about just about every word.
legal, smigal
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09-28-2009, 07:22 PM
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#35
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,948
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The bottom line is, legal or dictionary definitions, the laws of physics still rule. The motorhome has no way to sense if you are pulling 4000# 4-down, a dinghy on a dolly of a utility trailer loaded with 4000# of rocks, the motorhome now has an additional 4000# to stop. The mass is moving and has energy which has to be absorbed or dissipated to stop the additional load. The brakes on the motorhome can only stop so much weight. The more weight, the more braking force is required to stop it.
So, the dinghy with brakes will assist by taking part of the braking load. With the dinghy brakes, you should stop a bit faster and a shorter distance. This may be the distance that is required to prevent an accident. Stopping 3 feet shorted may mean that are are not 2 feet into the vehicle in front of you.
Yes, I am an engineer and I have been know to wear a belt and suspenders.
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
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09-30-2009, 12:42 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,378
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TXiceman
The bottom line is, legal or dictionary definitions, the laws of physics still rule. The motorhome has no way to sense if you are pulling 4000# 4-down, a dinghy on a dolly of a utility trailer loaded with 4000# of rocks, the motorhome now has an additional 4000# to stop. The mass is moving and has energy which has to be absorbed or dissipated to stop the additional load. The brakes on the motorhome can only stop so much weight. The more weight, the more braking force is required to stop it.
So, the dinghy with brakes will assist by taking part of the braking load. With the dinghy brakes, you should stop a bit faster and a shorter distance. This may be the distance that is required to prevent an accident. Stopping 3 feet shorted may mean that are are not 2 feet into the vehicle in front of you.
Yes, I am an engineer and I have been know to wear a belt and suspenders.
Ken
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I'm a chew chew driver to; whoo whoo goes the train. pun intended
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10-08-2009, 10:08 PM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CT
Posts: 378
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMI Manufacturing, Inc.
Managing momentum does get hairy with one of these beasts. The coach, in effect, becomes a giant lever with far more mechanical advantage than that of a regular automobile, and when you reach the turning moment, hang on! If this change of motion takes 50% of the tires available traction, then there is only 50% left for braking, resulting in a longer stopping distance. So in short, if you are not going to clear the accident, you are better off to put 100% of available traction to stopping rather than frivolously using it for lateral movement; and the amount of available braking traction greatly increases with the "towed's rubber" in the braking picture.
Brent Schuck
Research and Development
Graphic Design
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Wow! . . . I never thought of it that way.
This is valuable info even when not towing.
Thanks!
__________________
2005 National Dolphin 6376 LX
bought used in 2017
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10-09-2009, 07:17 AM
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#38
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Senior Member
Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cypress, Texas USA
Posts: 8,854
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken-55
Wow! . . . I never thought of it that way.
This is valuable info even when not towing.
Thanks!
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If you Google the term "friction circle", you'll find a lot more reading on this concept. "Friction circle" is a mathematical/graphical representation used in the racing community that illustrates how a tire's available traction is being used - i.e., what percentage is used for turning, for deceleration or for acceleration.
HERE is one article on the subject.
An illustration, as a racer "trail brakes" into a turn, as he turns the steering wheel into the turn, he will lighten up on the braking, thereby using more traction for turning and less for deceleration.
Rusty
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10-09-2009, 10:30 AM
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#39
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robert h
Definitions of 'trailer'
- 4 definitions - WordNet
trailer (n.)someone who takes more time than necessary : someone who lags behindtrailer (n.)an advertisement consisting of short scenes from a motion picture that will appear in the near futuretrailer (n.)a large transport conveyance designed to be pulled by a truck or tractor
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That is very good Robert but has nothing to do with anything.. The dictionary you used is a very good one but it is NOT the law.
The one I used, which says clearly that a car, towed 4-down IS a trailer.. IS the law, at least in the state of Michigan.
If you look in a good biology dictionary you will see that a Tomato is a fruit
But by law Congress has declared it a vegetable.
The dictionary you cited is correct.. But it is NOT the law.
I will add that in some cases (The trailer) I happen to agree with Congress.. In others.. Well.. I'll let you decide.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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10-24-2009, 08:17 PM
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#40
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: HIGH DESERT CA.
Posts: 40
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Thanks for all the info. I just bought a Jeep Wrangler to tow behind my gasser Winnebago. A local hitch installer said people tow all the time with no supplemental braking. I told him I won't be one of them. Happy RVING
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10-24-2009, 08:53 PM
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#41
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,948
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Quote:
Originally Posted by desertdust
Thanks for all the info. I just bought a Jeep Wrangler to tow behind my gasser Winnebago. A local hitch installer said people tow all the time with no supplemental braking. I told him I won't be one of them. Happy RVING
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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
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12-13-2009, 07:16 AM
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#42
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 139
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My installer told me for every 20 hitch setups he installs on toads he does 1 brake setup. I say there are alot of foolish RVers out there if this is the case.
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