Wow. Going without supplemental breaking on your toad? Not a good idea. You not only minimize the safety level to yourself, but to the rest of us on the road with you.
The Canadian Rocky Mountain provinces were among the first to beef up trailer towing laws for RVers, so good luck nowdays even getting through customs going North, esp. B.C. and Alberta. Documentation that I have that shows state and provincial trailer laws is 5 years old, but it's a good bet they're even more strict now. Back then, all states had laws applicable to motor home toads except Missouri and Oregon. Trailer weights allowed in other states ranged from 1500 lbs to 5000 lbs, and up to 10,000 lbs in Massachusetts, with the average being 3000 lbs. Any weight over a state's limit required supplemental braking on the trailer.
That said, those laws were implemented for good reason. One of the causes of the initial Canadian law changes was in B.C. when a toad broke loose from a motor home and careened through a park and playground. Supplemental braking with a breakaway device might have prevented the consequences. Apart from being unlawful in most states, assuming a toad is at least 3000 lbs., the thing is, even if it was lawful to have no auxilliary brake or breakaway, why on earth would you take such a chance; just because it takes some effort to set up and break down the device? As far as my and my family's lives and wellfare go, that's just not good enough if you're out there on the road with us!
Larry, it takes me all of 30 seconds to plug in the breakaway cord and air chuck between the coach and toad, and maybe 1 minute to fasten my Brakemaster cylinder in place, and just as long to remove them. 90 seconds of effort to insure safe travel for everyone - how could you think that was too much trouble? The Brakemaster cylinder is far easier to store than an EvenBrake or BrakeBuddy style of system. Your mechanical engineer friend did you (and us on the road with you) no favors. Anything over 1500 lbs in California requires brakes. What else he didn't tell you is the obvious - regardless how strong your exhaust brake is, that added weight behind you is going to greatly extend your stopping distance over the coach alone; that would not be the case if your 6000 lb truck had its own braking ability. If you had a chargeable accident in any way attributable to the towing of your truck, your liability would be elevated given you broke the law as well. The other side's attorney would have a field day. Especially if he could show you were negligent or that a brake device and/or breakaway could have prevented damage. Are you sure your insurance covers you if your vehicle configuration isn't legal?
It's not worth it. Go get a Brakemaster, or a Unified Tow Brake, which your coach is already wired for.
-Joel
Below is an excerpt from FMCA's 2010 Dinghy Towing Guide:
Safety is the most important issue for motorhomers
when they operate their coaches. That’s why, for safety’s
sake, every motorhome owner who tows a vehicle four
wheels down should consider using an auxiliary braking
system. Many motorhome, chassis, and automobile
manufacturers recommend that supplemental brakes
be used on any towed vehicle. Check your motorhome’s
owners manual and you likely will find requirements
and information regarding the use of auxiliary brakes.
A question that is often asked concerning supplemental
brakes involves the legal ramifications of not using
one. Not all jurisdictions mandate supplemental brakes
on towed vehicles, but when it comes to four-wheelsdown
towing, safety should be more important than
whether you are likely to receive a traffic citation. Your
motorhome’s brakes were designed to stop the weight of
the coach. Add several thousand pounds of towed vehicle
weight to the equation, and the motorhome’s braking
system is being asked to do more than it was intended.
The extra weight can reduce the effectiveness of the
brakes in emergency stopping situations, as well as lead
to premature — and potentially costly — wear on the
motorhome’s braking system.
A supplemental brake provides stopping assistance to
the tandem, allowing the towed vehicle’s brakes to slow
the vehicle and reduce the weight inertia that’s pushing
forward against the rear of the motorhome. Most of us
have never heard anyone say that the brakes on their
motorhome stop it too quickly. Nevertheless, many of
us have seen what happens when brakes don’t work
quickly enough.
