Any laws quoted in this document
will vary from state to state and country to country.
Check with local law enforcement agencies, before
traveling, to verify what is required in your jurisdiction.
Q. Do I need
brakes on my towed vehicle to be legal?
A.
Brakes for your towed car should be used on every
installation. Most states and Canadian provinces have
laws on the books concerning brakes for trailers.
Brakes are required on trailers with GVWR’s as
low as 1,000 pounds in some states. Enforcement of
these laws has not been followed in most places in
the United States. Interpretation of the law’s
application to cars in tow has probably been a big
reason why these laws have not been enforced actively.
British Columbia province in Canada has been actively
enforcing this law, stopping people, writing tickets,
and making them drive the tow car separately if they
do not have the proper equipment. British Columbia
requires supplemental braking for all towed vehicles
that exceed 4,400 lbs, or 40% of the motorhomes GVWR.
Aside from the legalities, we feel strongly that
braking systems are well worth the money. Supplementary
braking systems are designed to stop the motorhome
quicker in a panic stop than with just the motorhome’s
brakes. Braking systems could be the one thing that
prevents an accident and saves not only thousands
of dollars, but possibly even a life.
Q.
Can I tow more than the limits marked on my
towing equipment if I have brakes for my towed vehicle?
A.
No. Auxiliary braking systems are just that.... auxiliary.
They help to reduce stopping distances. They do not
increase the tow rating of the towing vehicle or make
the towed vehicle any easier to tow.
Q. What do
the motorhome chassis manufacturers rate their chassis
to tow?
A.
Chevrolet literature states any trailer over 1,000
pounds loaded must have it’s own adequate brakes.
Ford literature states that a separate function brake
system must be used on any tow vehicle. Ford does
not state a weight, but notes that most states require
brakes on trailers over 1,500 pounds. Other chassis
manufacturers have similar limits. Please check with
the manufacturer of your chassis before towing. If
a warranty issue concerning braking is raised on your
chassis and you are outside their guidelines, be aware
that it will be used against you.
Q. Do most
RV’s really NEED a braking system?
A. A
large number of RV’s and motorhomes are overweight.
According to a report by "A’Weigh We Go"
on September 21, 1997, 64% of all RV’s exceed
at least one rating, as do 69% of all motorhomes.
If a coach is overloaded to begin with, it will not
be effective in stopping the additional weight of
a towed vehicle.
Q. Is the
AutoStop by Blue Ox approved in Canada?
A.
Yes. The Commercial Transport & Inspection Department
in British Columbia has done testing on the product.
The AutoStop does not contradict Canada’s act
and regulations, and it has been deemed as an "acceptable
method of braking".
Q. Before
buying a braking system, what should I do?
A.
Before making a buying decision on an auxiliary braking
system, we recommend that you:
- Read official Product Test Stories when available
- Learn the facts about our own motorhome
- Honestly assess your braking capacity
- Research the product thoroughly by asking other
users about their experiences
Things you should ask yourself about braking systems:
- Does it alter the existing braking systems on
either the RV or the towed car?
- Does it void the car chassis manufacturer warranty?
- What potential for problems are there?
- Does it operate all 4 brakes on the dinghy?
- Does it require adjustment?
- Does it brake proportionally?
- How hard is it to install?
- What modifications need to be made on either vehicle?
- What maintenance is necessary?
- Is it compatible with anti-lock brakes?
- Is it easily transferred from one vehicle to another?
- How much does it cost?
- Are replacement parts readily available?
Q. What different
kinds of braking systems are on the market today?
A.
Basically, there are three general types of auxiliary
braking systems:
- Surge Systems
- Hydraulic Systems
- Pendulum Systems
The drawback with hydraulic systems is that they
may require tapping into the brake line (s) or master
cylinder. They also may require air brakes or adding
an air compressor. Some of the hydraulic systems have
the potential to cause leaks or existing brake failure.
Q. How does
the AutoStop by Blue Ox work?
A.
The AutoStop converts the towed vehicles weight into
stopping power to assist the motorhome in braking
situations. The AutoStop assembly is comprised of
a specially designed ball mount (or hitch mount),
which contains a unique cable/pulley system, and a
brake cable assembly. The AutoStop is inserted into
the RV’s 2" square receiver hitch and is
secured by a standard 5/8" hitch pin. The brake
cable is attached to the brake pedal of the car, by
running it through the engine compartment of the towed
vehicle and drilling a small hole in the firewall
behind the brake pedal. A small pin connects the receiver
cable (inside the AutoStop assembly) and the brake
cable. As the motorhome slows down, the forward momentum
from the towed vehicle causes the AutoStop to retract
into the receiver, activating the pulley system. The
pulley system causes the cable to retract inside the
assembly, pulling down the brake pedal on the towed
vehicle.
Q. What features
does the AutoStop have?
A.
With the AutoStop....
- Braking is instantaneous, brakes are activated
when needed
- Braking is proportional, brakes are applied as
needed
The AutoStop also....
- Automatically adjusts to the weight of the towed
vehicle
- Does not tap into hydraulic lines
- Does not void the vehicle’s warranty
- Requires minimal maintenance
- Requires only one adjustment on the initial installation
- Reduces wear and tear on RV brakes
The AutoStop....
- Installs easily within a few hours, even for "backyard"
mechanics
- Can be installed right side up or upside down
to adapt to a 2" height difference
- Is easily transferable to other towed vehicles
- Is self-contained
- Is easy to hook up and unhook
- Utilizes the inertia of the towed vehicle to overcome
power brake resistance
- Reduces stopping distances by up to 33%
- Product Tests have shown: On a level highway at
45 mph, stopping distance was reduced by 133 feet
with the AutoStop
Q. What do
installers want to know about the AutoStop?
A.
Installers will be pleased to know the following about
the AutoStop:
- AutoStop can be easily installed without liability
of tapping into the brake system
- Clean, straightforward installation with detailed
directions
- Simple design requires little maintenance or repair
- Adjust once, no need to readjust
- Simple adjustment for individual vehicles, no
guess work
- AutoStop can be installed in a 2-4 hours, versus
the "all day" jobs of some other systems
Q. Does the
AutoStop work with RV Hitch Mounted tow bars?
A.
There is an AutoStop for the Blue Ox hitch mount towbars:
Aladdin, Aventa II, Aventa, and KarBar. A Universal
mount AutoStop that features a 2" square receiver
is also available. This will fit any tow bar with
a 2" receiver connector.
DISCLAIMER: As of the date this literature
was printed, all information on state towing laws
is factual to the best of our knowledge. State laws
may vary. This FAQ is for informational purposes only
and should not be used in any other manner.
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