Towing Question

A breakaway switch only engages when the towed vehicle breaks away from the tow vehicle. It is usually part of a brake assist system, but should not be confused with a complete brake assist system.

Many of the better tow dollies have brake assist systems built into the dollies.

There is not a 1/2 ton truck manufactured with enough braking power to SAFELY stop the combined weight of the vehicle, its occupants and gear plus the Jeep and/or tow dolly effectively.

I agree I have towed with a Grand Cherokee SCAREY, then I have towed with a 1500 suburban. Better. Then a F250 Diesel, and 1500 Avalanche. Nothing compares to the "F250" or 2500. I think the only reason the Avalanche did ok, was I upgraded the brakes to napa severe duty (not heavy duty). You could tell. Cheap insurance. Are you listening Scott? If your due for some pads, upgrade them. Skip the ceramic (been there) and regular duty. I am a fan of the napa gold severe duty

[FishPOET]

<snip>...its braking power must be sufficient to stop the combined weight of the vehicle plus the car and/or tow dolly effectively.

but a breakaway switch is not.

A breakaway switch only engages when the towed vehicle breaks away from the tow vehicle. It is usually part of a brake assist system, but should not be confused with a complete brake assist system.

Many of the better tow dollies have brake assist systems built into the dollies.

There is not a 1/2 ton truck manufactured with enough braking power to SAFELY stop the combined weight of the vehicle, its occupants and gear plus the Jeep and/or tow dolly effectively.

I agree Jason. I towed with the Avalanche before "1500". Big difference between a 1500 and 2500. I had heavy duty pads at that time. Came back replaced them with severe duty pads from napa. It did help! I felt more comfortable. But, rear brakes would have helped a ton. That is on my list to do's.

[Jason]

There is definitely some good info here. I've flat towed enough times to want to upgrade the truck's brakes. I wouldn't mind some braking assistance for the Jeep but it is pricey. Coming down from Big Bear can be a knuckle whitening experience. I tow with an F-150 and coming down the hills, you feel like you are being pushed down. On the other hand, there were times towing up to the Rubicon, that I forgot it was there. But I have to agree, just because there is no law requiring brake assistance with a tow bar doesn't mean its safe.

Well Ron you pretty much answered that one towing with a tow dolly or tow bar is legal as long as you do not surpass the Gross tow capacity, is the wrong wording but say your truck has a tow capacity of 7000 lbs then you can happily and legally tow a Jeep wrangler. Is it the safest thing ever? That one is up in the air for the most part it is, but emergency stops or cornering on a steep downhill are a bit adventure some to say the least. It pays to drive very defensively. Not going 100 mph with my Jeep behind my butt flying down hill lol.
Learned that one from some crazy truckers

Yep! By the posts on here there was some myths as to what you can or can't do. At least we all know now :thumbs_up

WOW!
Thanks everyone for the input.
Ron, thanks for all the research and phone calls. Saved me the trouble.
Like Materdaddy, I intend to get a trailer eventually. But for now it's the tow bar. Don't intend to go far with it, just local trails really.
Tony, the tow vehicle is a full size Chevy 1500.
For now the tow bar should serve my purpose. But I would just go ahead and buy a trailer rather than spend all that money on aux. brakes.

Lastly, I wouldn't even use it all the time. Just when Momma wants the comfort of the truck.

THanx again,
Scott

Your welcome.

[Dezertdog]

WOW!
Thanks everyone for the input.
Ron, thanks for all the research and phone calls. Saved me the trouble.
Like Materdaddy, I intend to get a trailer eventually. But for now it's the tow bar. Don't intend to go far with it, just local trails really.
Tony, the tow vehicle is a full size Chevy 1500.
For now the tow bar should serve my purpose. But I would just go ahead and buy a trailer rather than spend all that money on aux. brakes.

Lastly, I wouldn't even use it all the time. Just when Momma wants the comfort of the truck.

THanx again,
Scott

[aw12345]

Well Ron you pretty much answered that one towing with a tow dolly or tow bar is legal as long as you do not surpass the Gross tow capacity, is the wrong wording but say your truck has a tow capacity of 7000 lbs then you can happily and legally tow a Jeep wrangler. Is it the safest thing ever? That one is up in the air for the most part it is, but emergency stops or cornering on a steep downhill are a bit adventure some to say the least. It pays to drive very defensively. Not going 100 mph with my Jeep behind my butt flying down hill lol.
Learned that one from some crazy truckers

Good thread... I just bought a tow rig and plan to flat-tow for a while before I can afford (and store) a trailer with brakes for my heap... Somebody summarize the links, text, laws, blah, so I don't have to leave MJR to find the answers... I hate the DMV enough to not want to go to any website of theirs!

It sounds like if your using a trailer and towing more than 1500lbs, then brakes are required. If your just towing with a "tow bar" it's not "required". Not sure of the difference? It would seem to be the same. What the difference if someone uses a 16x8' dual axle trailer to move their jeep or a tow bar. Besides the 800lbs?

Does this help? If not, I am going to call CHP to help clear some up. For me at least

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt12.htm
Trailer Brakes
In California, brakes are required on any trailer coach or camp trailer having a gross weight of 1500 lbs. or more. Usually the braking capacity on tow vehicles is good, however, it may not be good enough to safely stop the several hundred to several thousand additional pounds that your trailer weighs. Most conventional and fifth-wheel trailers have electric brakes, activated by a controller in the tow vehicle. The controller automatically coordinates the tow vehicle and trailer braking so the two systems work together when the brake pedal is applied.

The controller can also be helpful in stabilizing a trailer that sways because of bad road conditions. Manually applying the trailer brakes by using the hand lever on the controller will restabilize a trailer that is likely to sway.

Folding camping trailers and boat trailers are usually fitted with surge brake systems which operate separately from the tow vehicle's brakes. Surge brakes are applied by a mechanism attached to the receiver/ball connection. As the tow vehicle slows, the forward motion of the trailer compresses the mechanism which in turn applies the trailer brakes.

Motorcycle trailers do not need brakes unless the weight exceeds 1500 lbs. gross. If you install brakes on your motorcycle trailer, be sure the brakes do not brake harder than the motorcycle or the motorcycle may flip backwards over the trailer when the brakes are applied. The brakes must always be properly adjusted.

-and-

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt11.htm
Towing small cars behind motor homes has become popular as a way of providing transportation after the motor home is parked at a camp site. Towing a car differs from towing travel trailers or fifth-wheel trailers. Very little hitch weight is involved when the car is towed on all four wheels and only minimal hitch weight is involved when the car is towed on a dolly.

If you wish to tow a vehicle behind your motor home, you need to consider whether or not your motor home can handle the extra weight under all conditions (i.e., climbing steep hills or mountains). Your vehicle must have sufficient power to climb grades without holding up traffic and its braking power must be sufficient to stop the combined weight of the motor home plus the car and/or tow dolly effectively. Motor home chassis manufacturers provide limits on gross combined weight (motor home plus car).

If you are towing a car, be sure the hitch attachment on the motor home is secure. Hitch weight ratings are usually stamped on the hitch assemblies. The tow bar attachment is also a concern because of the integrated frame construction used in most small cars. If you use a tow bar, safety chains are required, but a breakaway switch is not. Fully operational tail, brake, and turn signal lights are required on the towed car.

It's easy to forget you are towing a car when driving a large motor home because you can't see it. So remember to allow extra space when entering a freeway or passing another vehicle so you won't cut off the other driver. Your vehicle combination cannot exceed 65 feet. However, cities and counties may prohibit vehicle combination lengths over 60 feet, when posted. (VC §35401)

One other thing to consider—you may only tow a single vehicle with your Class C driver license. You may not tow two vehicles or trailers with a Class C license. (Example: You cannot tow a boat trailer/boat and car behind your motor home or pickup/camper.)

I believe in California, you can legally transport people in a travel trailer as long a they can communicate (radio) with the driver.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl648/dl648pt12.htm
Transporting Passengers
Here are the rules for transporting people in RVs or recreation trailers:

People are not allowed in a trailer coach while it is being towed. (§21712[d] VC)
People are allowed in a properly equipped fifth-wheel trailer coach (§21712 [f] VC).
A camper with people in it must have an unblocked exit door which can always be opened from both the inside and outside. (§23129 VC)

[Materdaddy]

Good thread... I just bought a tow rig and plan to flat-tow for a while before I can afford (and store) a trailer with brakes for my heap... Somebody summarize the links, text, laws, blah, so I don't have to leave MJR to find the answers... I hate the DMV enough to not want to go to any website of theirs!

[Double AA]

can anyone give an example of a trailer that is allowed to haul passengers?

I believe in California, you can legally transport people in a travel trailer as long a they can communicate (radio) with the driver.

[OU812]

can anyone give an example of a trailer that is allowed to haul passengers?

Haven't you ever been to SixFlags?

can anyone give an example of a trailer that is allowed to haul passengers?

Maybe it means vehicles that carry passengers when towing VS. vehicles that tow for commercial reasons? I'll call CHP tomorrow and read him that. There are commas used through out. Long Sentence. So, they are wanting it all included.

[2blk2drs]

[ Every trailer coach and every camp trailer having a gross
weight of 1,500 pounds or more, but exclusive of passengers,

can anyone give an example of a trailer that is allowed to haul passengers?

[OU812]

CALIFORNIA CODES
VEHICLE CODE
26303. Every trailer coach and every camp trailer having a gross
weight of 1,500 pounds or more, but exclusive of passengers, shall be
equipped with brakes on at least two wheels which are adequate,
supplemental to the brakes on the towing vehicle, to enable the
combination of vehicles to comply with the stopping distance
requirements of Section 26454.


Also, my tire stick out beyond the fenders and my exhaust is louder than stock and sometimes I use my offroad lights on the highway. Thank you to the police officers who only go after the folks that are causing problems and are hazardous to others. If it weren't for them I would have goofy bushwhacker flares because thats all I can afford.