Community Forums

SeeTheUSA · 08-07-2005, 05:00 AM

We're planning on towing a 2005 Ford Escape 2-wheel drive (front wheel drive) with our motorhome using a tow dolly.

Is my assumption correct that to be safe and legal, the tow dolly must have some sort of brakes (surge or electric)?

Thanks for your help!

SeeTheUSA · 08-07-2005, 05:00 AM

We're planning on towing a 2005 Ford Escape 2-wheel drive (front wheel drive) with our motorhome using a tow dolly.

Is my assumption correct that to be safe and legal, the tow dolly must have some sort of brakes (surge or electric)?

Thanks for your help!

C Driver · 08-07-2005, 06:37 AM

In some states it is the law that a pulled vehicle must have its' own brake system, as well as turn and stop lights ...... you will find that surge brakes do a fairly good job of helping stop the toad ..... electric brakes are great but costly and you need a brake controller .... I don't think I would want to tow without the dolly having brakes, surge or electric ..... If you are still concerned try renting a tow dolly from U-Haul which uses surge brakes to see if it fits your needs ...

TXiceman · 08-07-2005, 08:38 AM

Most gas chassis manufacturers have a limit of 1000 or 1500# for any towed load without supplemantal brakes. Check your chassis manual on this issue.

When we had a MoHo and towed a car, we had brakes on the dinghy as well as a break away system.

Ken

rhandley · 08-08-2005, 02:49 AM

When we had our MoHo, we towed a Geo Prism on a Demco Tow Dolly without brakes on the dolly. We had no problem towing - the brakes of the MoHo (Damon Challenger 18,000 lb frame) handled the toad fine. I think most states require the dolly to have brakes if you are towing over 3,000 lbs.

DryRot · 08-21-2005, 06:31 AM

We were traveling west on I-25 south of Denver at 70 mph when we
came over a hill and all traffic was stopped! We were looking at the
back of a stopped semi! I put the treadle to the metal but could see
we were not going to stop in time. There was no place to go except
the median. When we left the pavement, my interest was in control,
no longer just braking, but we had to be going 40 when we passed
that semi. Before we got stopped, we passed that semi, two cars, and
another semi. All without a scratch. The second truck waived for us
to pull back on the road in front of him so I turned on the CB to
thank him. The truckers were talking about us, "That old **** in
that RV ought to use the restroom about now that is if the door
ain't jammed." I bought the drums, electric brake backing plates, etc. to convert it to electric brakes when we passed through Denver coming home to Nebraska. After that experience, I will not pull anything over 1,000 lbs without brakes, in the mountains or on the flat.

ralbert · 08-29-2005, 03:01 PM

I do not have a MH but I can not understand how anyone would hook a toad to a MH without the toad having some kind of braking system. Most people are concrened about the MH having enough power to get get going but do not worry about stopping it. Stopping should be the number one concern. Going slow up hill will never kill you but going down could be another story.