I workedkamped at our last rv park for a couple of months. During that time, I noticed toads being pulled on dollies, and some with a brake assist inside on the driver's floorboard.
Then, I also saw some toads being pulled with what looked like no brake assist at all. Those with the larger d/p's, do you just hook up and go, and let the MH do all the braking for both, MH and toads?
If so, does that extra 4 or 5k pounds effect you on steep downgrades?
I have always used a supplemental braking system for the toad. Our current toad weighs a little over 4,300 pounds. Our last toad weighed over 7,200 pounds. Going down hill, depending on the percent grade, will definitely have an effect on the motorhome's brakes if the toad it is pulling does not have a supplemental braking system.
TZS and Wife
2007 Monaco Executive Sandia IV
Cummins ISX 525 Horsepower
Allison 4000 Six Speed Transmission
Roadmaster Chassis
2006 Saturn Vue
SMI Air Force One
Some (most?) of the ones that did not have obvious supplemental braking may have had one of the built in systems, they're very unobtrusive or the Ready Brake system which is part of the hitch.
The brakes/no brakes thing is a hot topic that always generates strong feelings on both sides. Personally I would not go without a good supplemental braking system with a breakaway even though when traveling lightly loaded the coach has enough CCC to cover the additional weight of the Cherokee.
'99 Alpine 36SDS/8.3 ISC 330 Cummins
Or
'05 Lance 845
'06 Super duty SC/SB 6.0
Upgrades include: StabilLoads, Air Bags & Timbrens,Swaybars
Usually towing an '01 Wrangler, lifted/locked on 35"s or a mildly built '98 Cherokee on 33"s (only one locker)
Supplemental braking on the toad is a must, IMO. Some systems, like the SMI Air Force One, are invisible unless you look under the hood or peek around under the dash near the brake pedal. So, many of those DP's you see may be using similar systems which don't require a big box between the seat and brake pedal in the toad.
A proportional braking system reduces wear and tear on the tow bar and connections as well as improving overall stopping distance for the coach/toad. One of the most important reasons for a supplemental system is to have something that will slow and eventually stop the toad in the event of a breakaway.
2007 Country Coach Allure 470, 2012 Honda CR-V toad. SMI Air Force One braking system. Lucy the rescued lab/springer mix; Dixie rescued beagle mix. Smith Mountain Lake, VA
MOST states require supplemental braking for any trailer or vehicle being towed that is over their minimum weight. Same goes with safety chains and lights. On my coach, I have the Blue Ox Patriot system that allows me to apply the toad brakes without touching the coach brakes. You would be surprised at how much assistance/drag you get from the toad brakes. In an emergency situation, you may need all of the help you can get to avoid danger.
* This post was
edited 08/22/12 10:02am by rgatijnet1 *
What you can visually see is not always what is installed, there are some brake assists that all you do is flip a switch inside the toad and others have the big unit on the floor.
They 'assist' the braking. I HAVE felt the toad brakes help in 2 panic stops, i felt it helped stop it by a foot or so. Sometimes stopping just 6 inches sooner can often help you avoid hitting something! And the whole jist of it is so that the toad is not pushing the MH when stopping quick the assit brakes eliminates that factor.
Will it completely stop a big 42 foot DP, no.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
MOST states do not require supplemental brakes on towed motor vehicles. The charts you see on the websites of companies selling those systems are lies and they know it. MOST states do in fact have brake requirements on trailers of a certain weight, but towed motor vehicles are not defined as trailers under most state laws. I'm not saying it isn't a bad idea to have a system, but don't do it because somebody lied to you about the law.
2004 National Tropi-Cal T-350, Class A, Triple slide, 330 HP Cat DP. 2006 Dodge Dakota 4x4 or
2002 Harley FLSTF Fat Boy on a Trailer or
2004 Polaris Quad on the Trailer
msmith1199 wrote: MOST states do not require supplemental brakes on towed motor vehicles. The charts you see on the websites of companies selling those systems are lies and they know it. MOST states do in fact have brake requirements on trailers of a certain weight, but towed motor vehicles are not defined as trailers under most state laws. I'm not saying it isn't a bad idea to have a system, but don't do it because somebody lied to you about the law.
Exactly right. Amazes me that folks are still 'propagating the myth' saying that most states require supplemental braking.
Some states require that any trailer over a certain weight has brakes. This is the law that supplemental brake companies like to throw up, to try to make people think their products are required by law.
What they DON'T tell you, is that when you look at how those states define a 'trailer', a motorized vehicle behind an RV frequently does NOT classify as such, so those rules do not apply.
Don't get me wrong, towed vehicle braking is definitely a great idea, and could save your a** one day. I highly recommend them. However, like msmith said, don't be deluded into thinking such is required by law, because in most cases it is NOT.
Will & Angela
2 children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2012 FR Georgetown 351DS on F53 (V10) Chassis Our Rig
msmith1199 wrote: MOST states do not require supplemental brakes on towed motor vehicles. The charts you see on the websites of companies selling those systems are lies and they know it. MOST states do in fact have brake requirements on trailers of a certain weight, but towed motor vehicles are not defined as trailers under most state laws. I'm not saying it isn't a bad idea to have a system, but don't do it because somebody lied to you about the law.
When we travel, we leave the State of Florida. On a typical trip, we may go through 10-20 different states during a 2-3 month trip. It makes no sense to worry about which states do and do not have specific braking requirements or break-away requirements. I guess I could connect or disconnect my braking system at each border, but why? Why don't you post a reliable link to honest state laws, if the others are lying.
The first time you are doing about 60 and you have a pickup sidewise in front of you, and you are looking at the drivers door you will know why the extra brakes on the toad are a must have. My motorhome has some of the best brakes I have ever had on a large vehicle. (having driven truck most of my life) If I had not had brakes on our toad I probably would have hit the pickup in the drivers door, the extra braking let me avoid him, and proceed to the next offramp to stop and let my wife calm down.
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