Are You Braking the Law? By Mark Polk

Hi my name is Mark Polk. I am the owner of a company called RV Education 101. We produce videos on how to use and maintain Recreation Vehicles, and I am the author of a book titled “The RV Book”. I started the company because I was concerned about the lack of education and safety awareness for the RV consumer. To view our complete line of products please visit our website at http://www.rveducation101.com/.


Recently we teamed up with National Interstate Insurance Company (NIIC) to provide RVers with educational material to make all of your RV experiences safe fun and stress free.

This article focuses on an important topic if you plan to tow a vehicle behind your motorhome; a topic that is sometimes overlooked, and seldom talked about. The topic is supplemental braking systems. It’s not about what supplemental braking system you have, it’s the fact that you have one!


One requirement for towing a trailer is that the trailer must have a braking system that works in conjunction with the tow vehicle brakes. Why should this requirement be any different for a motorhome towing a vehicle? In reality its not, but most people just assume you don’t need a supplemental braking system for the vehicle you’re towing. Some reasons for this assumption are:

1) Because of the size of the motorhome there is no need for a supplemental brake system on the tow vehicle.
2) People assume the vehicle they are towing is much lighter than it really is.
3) Braking laws are not always enforced by individual U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
4) Nobody took the time to educate the RV consumer on the requirement for a supplemental braking system.


Putting assumptions aside, let’s take a look at some of the facts surrounding supplemental braking systems:

1) The brakes on a motor home are designed by the vehicle manufacturer to stop the weight of that particular vehicle, not the additional weight being towed behind it. This additional weight adds a substantial increase to the distance required to stop safely. Some motor home chassis warranties are voided if you tow amounts over 1,000 pounds without a supplemental braking system.

2) The vehicle you’re towing probably weighs more than you think it does. You need to take your towed vehicle to a set of scales and have it weighed. Make sure it is fully loaded with everything that will be in it when you are towing it. After you weigh it, double check to make sure the receiver on the motor home is rated to tow that amount of weight and that you aren’t exceeding any of the motor home weight ratings, like the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). The GCWR is the maximum permissible weight of the fully loaded motor home and the fully loaded towed vehicle combined. Most RV chassis manufacturers base their GCWR on the assumption that a supplemental brake system is being used.

3) Most states and Canadian provinces do have their own laws on the requirement for brakes on a towed trailer. The word trailer also applies to a vehicle being towed behind a motor home. These laws are normally based on the amount of weight being towed. Add to this your insurance company may not cover you in the event of an accident involving a vehicle with no braking system.

4) It’s sad to say but many times the RV consumer is not properly educated on the requirements for a supplemental braking system on the towed vehicle. And the most important reason for a supplemental braking system is for your safety and the safety of others.

Now that you have a better understanding of why you need a supplemental braking system, you need to decide which type is right for you.

(Photos Courtesy of Blue Ox)





There are many different types of supplemental braking systems available on the market today. These types include surge, hydraulic, air and vacuum. Some are very simple to install and use and some are much more complex. I recommend you talk to a knowledgeable RV dealer about which system would work best for your particular needs.

I personally like the idea of keeping it simple and decided the best system for me would be a portable type braking system. I decided on this type of braking system for several reasons.
1) It’s portable and it works on almost any towed vehicle with power brakes.
2) It doesn’t require any modifications to the existing brake system.
3) It’s easy to install and use

Regardless of the type or model you choose, being able to stop completely, in less time and a shorter distance, will give you an added sense of safety whenever you’re towing a vehicle. And it’s the law in most cases. Most importantly, a supplemental braking system SAFELY reduces the stopping distance and helps to protect you, your loved ones and the safety of others.

Q & A
Question: Where can I find state and province laws regarding weight limits for towing without supplemental brakes?
Mark Says: For safety reasons I recommend you consider a braking system regardless of the vehicle weight, but here is a link showing specific weight limits.
http://roadmasterinc.com/products/braking/map.html

Question: Is one type supplemental braking system better than the others?
Mark Says: It really depends on your particular needs. For example do you plan to tow the same vehicle all the time or will you be towing different vehicles? Will you be doing the installation yourself, or will it be done by somebody else? Is the system going to involve tapping into your vehicle’s brake system? What kind of warranty does the braking system offer? I recommend you talk to your RV dealer about which system is suited best for you.

Question: Can you tell me where I can go to research some of the different types of braking systems available to the RV consumer?
Mark Says: Here are some links to some of the manufacturers of supplemental braking systems. I apologize to any manufacturers I may have left out.

http://www.roadmasterinc.com/index.html
http://www.usgear.com/unified_tow_brake.htm
http://www.blueox.us/
http://www.brakebuddy.com/index.shtml
http://www.tow-v-aire.com/
http://www.towbrake.com/option.html
http://www.m-gengineering.com/index.html
http://www.smibrake.com/
http://www.viprv.com/index2.html
http://www.readybrake.com/
http://vasebrake.com/site/590961/page/45031


Happy Camping,

Mark J. Polk

Copyright 2007 by Mark J. Polk, owner of RV Education 101

RV Expert Mark Polk, seen on TV, is the producer & host of America's most highly regarded series of DVD's, videos, books, and e-books. http://www.rveducation101.com/.
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