Towing

[Travelin' Texans]

Originally Posted by Harley97

Please post the Texas law requiring it. This is the entire point of my post. Magazines, articles and the internet say all kinds of things and people keep posting it is required. Unless there is a law requiring it then all of that is worthless.

I briefly looked at Texas transportation code 547.405. It lists when trailer brakes are required and does not appear to include a towed vehicle.

I checked several years when considering a toad & now don't care, but Texas Motor vehicles.com is a good place to start.
I will say if I were doing it today it would have auxillary brakes along with whatever else I thought to be a safety feature.
As I said in an earlier post, it's totally your responsibility as to what you chose to do or not to do.

[Tom N3EQF]

If you really want to know whether something is legal then an internet forum is not the gospel. And like so many other things in the USA, laws vary from state to state.

You spend big bucks for an RV, slightly smaller bucks for the toad, just spend a few more bucks for a decent tow bar and supplementary brakes for peace of mind and knowing you've done the best you can for safety's sake.

[Harley97]

Originally Posted by Tom N3EQF

If you really want to know whether something is legal then an internet forum is not the gospel. And like so many other things in the USA, laws vary from state to state.

You spend big bucks for an RV, slightly smaller bucks for the toad, just spend a few more bucks for a decent tow bar and supplementary brakes for peace of mind and knowing you've done the best you can for safety's sake.

This is exactly the point I am making. This and not telling people false information.

I agree that people should get what they feel comfortable with while knowing the laws for where they are travelling. My Harbor Freight tow bar has worked for thousands of miles with zero issues and cost me about $80. There are many different ways to skin a cat.

[lwmcguire]

For folks that haven't read the entire post

Demco makes an excellent mid priced tow bar

[Jimbo56]

As for me and my family, 12 foot tandem trailer with brakes and lights, Smart car on the trailer with 4 tie down points, allows me to carry much needed auxiliary toys and gears. Never had a problem figuring out what to do with the trailer. Better fuel economy. No wear and tear on car. This is what has worked for us.

[Bob Denman]

What year is your Smart?
Mine is a 2016...
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1595593995

[Jimbo56]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

What year is your Smart?
Mine is a 2016...
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1595593995

Mine is a 2009 Passion Cabriolet. Only has 47k miles. I’m 6’2”. Everyone is amazed at how roomy it really is .

[Bob Denman]

Kewl...
The earlier versions had to be trailered; but ours could have gone "four-down".
We chose to put it on a perch in order to save wear and tear on it...
... and we have to have a trailer anyway; so why not put it to good use?

Post a picture of your "Little Guy"!

[Jimbo56]

Bob - Hope it come through. Mine can go 4 down too. But we downsized from a 40 ft fifth wheel with all kinds of storage to a 28 ft class A with limited storage. So the trailer serves to bring all our stuff.

[Jimbo56]

In fact I just finished this custom kayak rack yesterday. 72” off the trailer deck. Smartie fits under it. Adding a bike rack to the front rail. So we’ll have transportation regardless.

[lwmcguire]

Looks great and should do the job

[Bob Denman]

Jimbo,
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1595694120

That is a really nice-looking Smartie!
We bought an Aluma 12 foot, single axle utility trailer for ours...


https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1595694350

[The_Breeze]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

What year is your Smart?
Mine is a 2016...
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1595593995

A lot of folks wouldn't admit to making a mistake but going to ask. Are you happy with the car? How many miles have you put on it? Do you have any trouble stowing the trailer in tight Rv sites or do you avoid those and use strictly pull-throughs?

Oh, and where's the graphics on the toad???? LOL. Joking on that part.

[Bob Denman]

I am strictly a "pull-through" kind of guy...
As for the car: it does exactly what I need it to... It's SUPER easy to drive, even easier to park, and gets scary gas mileage.
I average right around 53 mpg with it: but have seen 65 mpg on several fill-ups!

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1595697259

[Jimbo56]

I do pull through if possible. Otherwise just off load car and park and lock the trailer in the parks overflow. Sometimes even the backin sites are long enough to just offload the car first and back trailer and MH into site.

[taylorbob1]

Originally Posted by Harley97

I completely agree and it's part of the point I'm trying to make. A lot of new RVers ask questions and without fail the majority of replies say you have to get an expensive tow bar and need brakes to be legal. Neither are true.

Here’s an interesting thread related to what you are discussing.
Many drive too fast when towing. And some on the Forum are admitting it.

In CA, the speed limit for trucks and towing is 55.

Tortoise or Hare

[Capt.Tom]

California's 55 mile an hour speed limit might have more to do with the ecology then safety. The 55 mile an hour speed limit didn't exist anywhere until the gas crunch decades ago and Most states recinded it as soon as they were allowed to. New Jersey and California for trucks are the exceptions. If you're doing 55 miles an hour, even in the right lane, in Florida you are a hazard to navigation.

[Bob Denman]

We already have one active thread about driving speeds...

https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f4...are-22691.html

[alarmingfriend]

I can tell you with an inexpensive DIY tow system not installed by a professional, when there is an accident the insurance adjustor will find a reason not to pay the claim. I have don DIY on my old 1990 Jeep, Welded it myself so I felt comfy with the work done. A friend did the same weld job on his accept his weld failed and his New Jeep went off the freeway, took out a sign and nothing was covered by his insurance as far as damages to his stuff or the $3,000 sign he took out. Now imagine your DIY fails and your tow vehicle kills someone. I rest my case. Spend the money and CYA.

[Travelin' Texans]

Originally Posted by alarmingfriend

I can tell you with an inexpensive DIY tow system not installed by a professional, when there is an accident the insurance adjustor will find a reason not to pay the claim. I have don DIY on my old 1990 Jeep, Welded it myself so I felt comfy with the work done. A friend did the same weld job on his accept his weld failed and his New Jeep went off the freeway, took out a sign and nothing was covered by his insurance as far as damages to his stuff or the $3,000 sign he took out. Now imagine your DIY fails and your tow vehicle kills someone. I rest my case. Spend the money and CYA.

If your friends premiums were paid up then he should find a new insurance company or at least a new agent.
I've never seen the disclaimer on my policy that said I couldn't do my own work or risk no coverage.