| Most U.S. States and Canadian Provinces have their | | | | communicate the requirement for a supplemental |
| own laws on the requirement for brakes on a towed | | | | braking system. |
| trailer. The word trailer also applies to a vehicle being | | | | I for one was guilty of towing a vehicle without a |
| towed behind a motor home. These laws are | | | | braking system for quite some time. A close call, |
| normally based on the amount of weight being | | | | while driving through a major city during rush hour, |
| towed. One problem with this is that it might be legal | | | | suddenly educated me on how important it is. |
| to tow a 2,000 pound trailer with no brakes in the | | | | Another thing that surprises people is how much the |
| state where you live, but as soon as you cross the | | | | vehicle they're towing actually weighs. Take your |
| state line of a bordering state it is illegal to tow the | | | | towed vehicle to a set of scales and have it weighed. |
| same trailer without brakes. Add to this your | | | | Make sure it has everything in it that will be in it |
| insurance company may not cover you in the event | | | | when you are towing it. After you weigh it double |
| of an accident involving a trailer with no braking | | | | check to make sure the receiver on the motor home |
| system. Again, the most important reason is for your | | | | is rated to tow that amount of weight and that you |
| safety and the safety of others. | | | | aren't exceeding any of the motor home weight |
| The brakes on a tow vehicle or motor home are | | | | ratings like the Gross Combined Weight Rating |
| designed by the vehicle manufacturer to stop the | | | | (GCWR). The GCWR is the maximum permissible |
| weight of that particular vehicle, not the additional | | | | weight of the fully loaded motor home and the fully |
| weight being towed behind it. This additional weight | | | | loaded towed vehicle combined. Most RV chassis |
| adds a substantial increase to the distance required | | | | manufacturers base their GCWR on the assumption |
| to stop safely. | | | | that a supplemental brake system is being used. |
| Travel trailers and 5th wheels come equipped with | | | | Regardless of the brake system that best suits your |
| electric brakes and RV dealers educate the RV | | | | individual needs the important thing is that you have |
| consumer on the requirements for adding an | | | | one. There are many reasons to have a braking |
| electronic brake control to the tow vehicle. Some | | | | system on your towed vehicle. |
| pop-ups are ordered with brakes and some without. | | | | 1) It's the law |
| Again, this is often times based on the braking laws | | | | 2) It can void your vehicle warranty |
| for the state you live in. Keep in mind that once you | | | | 3) It can void your insurance |
| cross a state line it could become illegal. My advice is | | | | 4) It will reduce wear and tear on RV brakes and |
| if you're going to purchase a pop-up get one that has | | | | other components |
| brakes. | | | | 5) Liability |
| The real culprit for disregarding braking laws is a | | | | But, most importantly it SAFELY reduces the |
| motor home towing a vehicle behind it. Most people | | | | stopping distance and helps to protect you, your |
| assume that because of the size of the motor home | | | | loved ones and the safety of others. |
| there is no need for a supplemental brake system on | | | | Happy Camping! |
| the towed vehicle and sometimes RV dealers fail to | | | | Copyright 2006 by Mark J. |