mowermech wrote:

Do you want to know actual LAW, or common opinion?
The LAW varies by State or Province. Nearly ALL States and Provinces require TRAILER brakes for any TRAILER over a certain weight. Some specify unladen weight, some specify GVW. Many States specifically do NOT define a towed vehicle as a "trailer".
Many States and Provinces do not require a braking system on a towed VEHICLE. Some that do have a "Performance Standard", where if you can stop your rig within XX feet from XX miles per hour, you don't need brakes. If you can't meet or exceed the standard, you need brakes. Some States that require braking systems in a towed vehicle require that the system "be approved by the Administrator". I have no idea if any available systems have such approval. One would think it would be included in their advertising if they were "Approved for use in North Carolina", or wherever.
It is, of course, up to you to know the laws in YOUR State or Province, and in EVERY State or Province you enter. Reciprocity agreements may not apply.
Now, common opinion is another thing entirely. There are those who state that only a complete fool would tow a vehicle without some kind of braking system, and doing so will sow death and destruction in a wide swath behind you, beside you and possibly in front of you. This, of course, is totally ridiculous, considering all the towed vehicles that have been on the roads for many years with very few breakaways or other accidents.
There have been several reported incidents of braking systems failing and damaging the vehicle in which they were installed. That is somewhat worrisome to me.
I plan on towing my Jeep on a trailer. No problem with brakes, it has them on both axles. No problem with a breakaway system, it is installed. The trailer cost less than one of the new "high tech" towing and braking systems, and I can carry any vehicle on it, up to the size/weight limits of the trailer
Ultimately, if you are in compliance with the LAW wherever you go, the rest is up to you.
Remember, even if you have the best, most expensive braking system you can buy, if the State you are in requires approval, and your system isn't approved, you are ILLEGAL, just as if you didn't have any braking system at all!
It's a jungle out there, be safe.

SemperFiCop wrote:

"Hypothetical Example"

> When do you need trailer/toad brakes?

>>> Whenever you tow a trailer/toad...

mcewena wrote:



I'm not meaning to start a flame war or rehash old ground, I couldn't find a FAQ in this forum so I asked. I'm seeking out what the parameters guidance for a variety of options I'm concidering in the future (if I get this then I'll have to concider that sort of thing). I'll seek guideance somewhere where it will cause less arguing.

Mandalay Parr wrote:

During an emergency.