Thursday, January 9, 2014

Towing a car behind a MH

Plenty of info out there but I believe this is the real info. 
Towed Motor Vehicle Brake Requirements By State


This table documents statutory requirements pertaining to brakes on a motor vehicle in tow behind a motorhome or other vehicle in non-commercial applications.
Information was compiled from an analysis of each state's published statutes pertaining to motor vehicle brakes.
Note that this a layman's interpretation of the statutes, not expert opinion. It is presented for information only.
Comments regarding errors in this data are welcome. Email Link 

Summary:

  • Five states; Alaska, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin, have a verified brake requirement based on the towed vehicle weight.
  • Most states have a general performance requirement based on stopping distance from 20 mph. Those apply to all vehicles or to combinations of vehicles.
  • Three states; Hawaii, North Dakota and District of Columbia, have statutes that are not available online and therefore are not tabulated.
State
Brakes Req'd
Weight (lbs)
Statutes / Section
Other Reqmts
Performance Reqm't
Links
Notes
Alabama
No
-
35-5-212
None
n/a
 
Alaska
Yes
5,000
13 AAC 04.205
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Arizona
No
-
28-952
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Arkansas
No
-
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
Enter Statutes number in Query field
California
No (Note 1)
-
26458 c 3
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
 
Colorado
No
-
42-4-223
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Connecticut
No
-
14-80h
None
n/a
 
Delaware
No
-
4303
Performance
30 ft from 20 mph
 
District of Columbia
Unknown
-
-
-
-
-
Not available online
Florida
Yes
3,000
316.261
None
n/a
 
Georgia
No
-
40-8-52
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Hawaii
Unknown
-
-
-
-
-
Not available online
Idaho
No
-
49-933
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
 
Illinois
No
-
625 ILCS 5/Ch. 12 Art. III
Performance
30 ft from 20 mph
 
Indiana
No
-
IC 9-19-3
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
 
Iowa
No
-
321.430
Performance
45 ft from 20 mph
 
Kansas
No
-
8-1734
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Kentucky
No
-
189.090
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
PDF Document
Louisiana
No
-
RS 32:341
None
n/a
 
Maine
No
-
1902
Performance
30 ft from 20 mph
 
Maryland
No
-
22-301
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
 
Massachusetts
No
-
Chapter 90: Section 7
None
n/a

Massachusetts Statutes

 
Michigan
No
-
257.705
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Minnesota
No
-
169.67
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
 
Mississippi
No
-
63-7-51
Performance
30 ft from 20 mph
 
Missouri
No
-
307.170.3
None
n/a
 
Montana
No
-
61-9-301 thru 321
Performance
35 ft from 20 mph
 
Nebraska
No
-
60-6,244
Performance
35 ft from 20 mph
 
Nevada
Yes
1,500
NRS 484.593, 9
None
n/a
 
New Hampshire
No
-
226:27
Performance
30 ft from 20 mph
 
New Jersey
No
-
39:3-67
Performance
45 ft from 20 mph
Enter "brakes" in search field
New Mexico
No
-
66-3-840
Performance
30 ft from 20 mph
 
New York
No
-
Article 9 375
None
n/a

New York Statutes

Type "Vehicle 375" in search box
North Carolina
Yes
4,000
20.124 f
None
n/a
 
North Dakota
Unknown
-
-
-
-
-
Not available online
Ohio
No
-
4315.20
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Oklahoma
No
-
Title 47 Section 12-301
Performance
25 ft from 20 mph
 
Oregon
No
-
815.125
Performance
35 ft from 20 mph
 
Pennsylvania
No
-
Chapter 175
None
n/a
 
Rhode Island
No
-
31-23-4
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
South Carolina
No
-
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
 
South Dakota
No
-
32-18-10
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
 
Tennessee
No
-
55-9-204, 205
Performance
30 ft from 20 mph
Click Folder, then Title 55, then Chapter 9
Texas
No
-
547.401
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
Scroll to Chapter 547, then to 547.401
Utah
No
-
41-6a-1623
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Vermont
No
-
Title 23 1307, 1308
Performance
30 ft from 20 mph
 
Virginia
No
-
42.2-1066, 1067
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Washington
No
-
46.37.340, 46.37.351
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
 
West Virginia
No
-
17C-15-31
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
Wisconsin
Yes
Note 2
347.35, 347.36
Performance
50 ft from 20 mph
Scroll to 347.35 and 347.36
Wyoming
No
-
31-5-950
Performance
40 ft from 20 mph
 
        
Note 1
California: Towed motor vehicles are exempt from weight-based brake requirements. Must comply with the performance requirement.
Note 2.
Wisconsin: 347.35 (3) (am) Brakes not required it toad weight is less than 40% of towing vehicle weight and the combined vehicles meet the performance requirement.

Links To Reference Sources
DMV.org Online Data Base
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