General Boards > General Discussion
Dinghy Brake System
Gil_Johnson:
[face=Arial]Ed,
As you likely know, this topic generally spurs a lot of conversation that often leads to differences in interpretation or failure to look at definitions. Much of the interpretation centers on the fact that some states don’t specifically define or discuss vehicles being directly towed. My interpretation is that when a state does not specifically discuss a vehicle being towed on its own wheels outside of the temporary towing behind a wrecker, then the car is simply a trailer. Let’s look at Florida statute, given it was a state you referenced and the one I live in.
Here’s the actual Florida statute: http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/316.261
Florida does not specifically spell out a car in tow, except as towed behind a wrecker. Therefore, we need to look at how FL defines a trailer. FL’s definition of a trailer would include a car being towed by a tow bar. Here’s the definition:
316.003 Definitions.—The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except where the context otherwise requires:
( 58 ) TRAILER.—Any vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle.
Florida’s brake requirements laws state a need for a braking system on a trailer over 3,000 pounds and those under 3,000 pounds under certain circumstances. In almost all cases, if not all cases, a towed vehicle (trailer) needs brakes activated by the towing vehicle. The statute further defines a requirement for break-away brakes. Here’s the reference:
316.261 Brake equipment required.—Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any combination of such vehicles, operating upon a highway within this state shall be equipped with brakes in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
(1) SERVICE BRAKES; ADEQUACY.—Every such vehicle and combination of vehicles, except special mobile equipment not designed to carry persons, shall be equipped with service brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle under all conditions of loading, and on any grade incident to its operation.
(3) BRAKES ON ALL WHEELS.—Every vehicle shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels except:
(a) Trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers of a gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, provided that:
1. The total weight on and including the wheels of the trailer or trailers shall not exceed 40 percent of the gross weight of the towing vehicle when connected to the trailer or trailers; and
(4) AUTOMATIC TRAILER BRAKE APPLICATION UPON BREAKAWAY.—Every trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer with air or vacuum-actuated brakes, every trailer and semitrailer with a gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds, and every pole trailer with a gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1972, shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels and of such character as to be applied automatically and promptly, and remain applied for at least 15 minutes, upon breakaway from the towing vehicle.
Of course your decision is yours. BTW, a 4,000+ pound moving object is almost always more dangerous than one at rest. Sure someone may hit a stationary object and get the full affects of their car’s mass and speed. Regardless of whether you have a break-away system or not, a runaway car will at some point stop. A runaway car travelling at any speed hitting another car will always increase the damage and risk of death given it’s mass is in movement causing more impact force.
BTW, I have heard of tow bar failures, similiar to the one described where the tow bar brackets break off the towed vehicle. This is not as a result of loose bolts or tow bar failures, rather a failure of the unibody mounting locations. That's why I use Roadmaster brakets and tow bars. Specifically, I like the extrat lateral support provided by the tow bar's cross bar. Here's something to consider. Where's your safety chains/cables attached to your towed vehicle? Likily on the very tow brackets that MAY separate from the towed car.
Just my 2 cents and not looking to stir this one up too much,
Gil
2012 Explorer with Air Force One braking system[/face][size=14][/size]
Bill Sprague:
--- Quote from: Edward Buker ---..... Anyone know someone who has been ticketed for not having an active breaking system on the toad and where it was?
--- End quote ---
In my 8 years of motorhoming, another 10 years owning two fifthwheels and reading RV forums as long as they have been around, I have never heard of it. I've also never seen a tow truck operator put a Brake Buddy in the towed car.
Bill Sprague:
--- Quote from: ]... That's why I use Roadmaster brakets and tow bars. Specifically, I like the extrat lateral support provided by the tow bar's cross bar.....[/quote ---
Gil,
Our Blu-Ox system on our Ford Edge has a cross bar too. It seems to be a design philosophy difference between the two companies. One company makes it visible and the other hides it. Ours is located behind the grill. To install it, all of the sheet metal forward of the windshield had to be removed and replaced. It took the installer 6 hours!
--- End quote ---
Gil_Johnson:
Bill,
The Roadmaster on my 2011 Jeep GC and 2012 Explorer has a frame attached cross member too. The Roadmaster also has a tow bar cross member. FWIW, I just viewed the connection methods and locations better on Roadmaster over Blue Ox for these two vehicle. Obviously, both companies do well and opinions will vary.
As for tow truck operators, they have some specific exemptions for braking systems on what they are towing. If they didn't they wouldn't be in business.
Gil
Ken Buck:
Hmmm.... well if I don't know anyone that got a ticket for it then maybe I don't need a fire extinguisher in my rig as required by law either. And since I don't know any motorhome operator that ever had their fuel checked for taxed clear versus non-taxed dyed fuel, I could start using non-taxed fuel too. Anyone recall being pulled over to check if Lincolns head shows when checking the depth of tread on your tires? Because I haven't seen it doesn't seem like a convincing arguement to me.
I personally feel that having a toad brake system is a reasonable standard of care for myself and those driving near my vehicle. Whether the law requires it can be debated, if a serious accident occured it most likely would go to court and be decided there. I'd rather look the injured party in the eye and say that it was truly an accident and that I had taken all reasonable precautions, than debating whether the law required me to have toad brakes or not. I would have a hard time explaining why I thought that the law required a 3,000 pound travel trailer/fifth wheel/gravel trailer to have brakes, but my 3,000 pound car shouldn't. I just can't get my mind around that concept.
In the big scheme of things a $2,000 toad brake system isn't a make or break for me to go motorhoming. And toad brake systems can be obtained for much less than that. I prefer an air operated system which is more expensive but easier to hook up and use. That makes it much more likely that I will use it each and every time I tow.
However, I'm also of the opinion that each person needs to make their own decisions on what they are comfortable with. If you don't want a brake system then more power to you. Reasonable people can disagree.
Ken
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