mintaka
fulltiming
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Joined: 03/04/2006
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i am planning to tow 4 down liberty 4x4 with class A gasser V10 ford......are brakes on toad mandatory either legally or otherwise???
does anyone tow this setup without toad braking system???
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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The law varies by state. Some require brakes for anything as small as 1500 lbs and some say its only required for a 3000 lb or heavier trailer.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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What does your rigs owner's manual say about towing weight? It may say something like 1500 lbs without brakes. Pulling over the specified weight could affect insurance in the event of an accident whether your fault or not.
Check hitch for capacity, it may not be strong enough without modification or upgrade.
Bud
Suzuki XL7 pushing Pace Arrow
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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mintaka wrote:i am planning to tow 4 down liberty 4x4 with class A gasser V10 ford......are brakes on toad mandatory either legally or otherwise???
does anyone tow this setup without toad braking system??? Ford and WorkHorse both REQUIRE brakes on anything being towed in order to keep the warranty in effect if it weighs 1,500# or more. I think the Liberty weighs more than that.
Also, very few states require brakes on the toad, but there is no reciprocity on equipment so if you tow through any of those states you need brakes while there.
The laws of physics are not suspended by state borders! Tow more weight, you need more braking. Never heard anyone say "Gee, I wish I hadn't stopped so quick" but I have seen " Gee, I wish I could have stopped before I hit that (insert whatever you wnat here) in front of me"
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam,
Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
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JFG
TN
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It just makes plain sense to have brakes. In late 2007, a man was killed in a head on crash when a jeep broke loose from a class a and crossed the median... no brakes on the jeep. Ask the driver of that class a about brakes.
Fred
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GRice
Alsip,IL
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Joined: 11/01/2002
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As cheap as a braking system is compared to lose of life, injury or trying to replace your Jeep, why would one even think of going brakeless?
Gary & Susan R
2005 Alfa See-Ya Founder
2005 Chevy Avalanche
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mintaka
fulltiming
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ok i think you guys convinced me...any recomendations on brake system and or bars and lights???
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crickeydog
Marietta, Ga.
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mintaka wrote: 1. i am planning to tow 4 down liberty 4x4, are brakes on toad mandatory? 2. does anyone tow this setup without toad braking system???
Take this with the spirit intended:
1. If they aren't, common sense mandate's they should be. Do you really want a 3000lb+ car pushing you when you want to stop???
2. They do if they have a death wish!!!
Check your MH's owner's manual and your MH's registration state law's.
Happy camping!!! See ya'll down the road!!!
AIR FORCE RETIRED "EITHER LEAD,FOLLLOW,OR GET OUT OF MY WAY"!
2006 GMC 3500 SLT CC DRW 4X4 D/A LBZ,PREDATOR & FS2500 OIL FILTER
2004 HR PRESIDENTIAL 30 SCD 5'ER.
CHEROKEE & CHEYENNE, MINI DOXIE'S
LOADED LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN, FLYIN LIKE A JET PLANE!!
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hwybnb
Southern California
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Joined: 05/02/2001
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GRice wrote:As cheap as a braking system is compared to lose of life, injury or trying to replace your Jeep, why would one even think of going brakeless? I can give you several reasons:
1. There are no published statistics showing that motor homes towing a car without brakes are involved in any more accidents than those with brakes.
2. There are no independent test reports showing the effectiveness of any auxiliary braking system.
3. Braking system manufacturers use deceptive sales methods, namely charts that purport to show that nearly every state has a statutory requirement for toad brakes. Those charts are for trailers and do not apply to towed motor vehicles. That pretty well calibrates the integrity of those folks.
4. Braking systems can cause significant damage to towed motor vehicles as a result of un-commanded activation. There are many published reports of that on this forum and elsewhere, and it happened to me. In contrast there are no reports that I have found of accidents resulting from not having a braking system. (Accidents caused by a toad breakaway are not primarily a braking system issue. Breakaways can be prevented without having auxillary brakes.)
From a legal atandpoint there are only five states with specific requirements for toad brakes.
Toad Brake Requirements By State
I am not advocating for or against - just pointing out that there are rational arguments on both sides.
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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I have an SMI Stay-N-Play. It works good with my combination. They offer different systems for different configuration..
What I like is to get in turn on a switch and go. There is no box to connect to the brake pedal each time.
Yes, there are other companies now that make a similar setup.
"SMIbrake.com"
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