hammer55 Report post Posted July 2, 2019 8 hours ago, kaypsmith said: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/pubs/dl648/dl648pt12 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 stabilize a trailer that is likely to sway. Folding camp 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 pounds 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. Maybe you should re-read the laws concerning trailers and motorcycle trailers in California, the link provided above is from the California DMV, you can do your own search or follow the link above, it states motorcycle trailers do not need brakes unless gross weight exceeds 1500#. I'm not trying to argumentative, only pointing out that different states have different rules concerning these type of situations. If you live in California, you should know the law, but it is hard to contradict the rules that are stated in your own states DMV publications regarding these circumstances. You may never be stopped or checked, but in the event of an accident you should know that your insurance carrier may refuse to pay a claim if you are not in compliance with the laws in the state that you are operating within. Good luck, when in doubt, check it out. maybe not, that is not all from dmv, but since I took my trailer and car to dmv, and to the chp and had them ok the trailer, and since they sell trailers for this purpose, I will agree to disagree CALIFORNIA Every trailer and semitrailer manufactured after 1940 with a GVW of 6,000 lbs. or more and operated at a speed of 20 mph or more must be equipped with brakes; trailers and semitrailers built after 1966 and with a GVW of 3,000 lbs. or more must have brakes on at least 2 wheels; every trailer or semitrailer built after 1982 and equipped with air brakes must be equipped with brakes on all wheels. Every trailer coach or camp trailer with a GVW of 1,500 lbs. or more must be equipped with brakes on at least 2 wheels. DONE WITH POST Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manholt Report post Posted July 2, 2019 Auxiliary break system for a toad or trailer, is cheap insurance, should something go wrong! Your fault or their fault, you'll be paying for both if your not in minimum compliance! It does not matter if your home State is 1,000# or 20,000#...being legal in all State's and Canada is the issue!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kaypsmith Report post Posted July 2, 2019 5 hours ago, hammer55 said: DONE WITH POST You may be done with the post, but I only stated what California DMV is currently posting. I don't know how old your information is but laws are subject to change from time to time. My son in-law is a retired deputy sheriff, and his son my grandson is currently a deputy in our county, neither of them really know the actual law at any given time. The purpose of this forum is to make anyone who wants to know about a current issue get familiar with the circumstances for what they are inquiring. Most of us feel that the correct answers should be given and if not others can correct them, this is all that I am doing is correcting your misstatement regarding 3000# maximum is the law. All states are not the same and all inquiring have the right to know the correct answer to their question. Have a great day! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkhartjim Report post Posted July 2, 2019 Good response, Kay. As we all know, there is a lot of erroneous information on the web and many times it takes some digging to get to the real facts. Of course, by human nature we all want to hear what we believe...right or wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wayne77590 Report post Posted July 2, 2019 There is reciprocity for driver licenses but rules of the road and safety are State by State. You my have a lower limit in your state but don't leave the state as the next state over may be different, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfe10 Report post Posted July 2, 2019 21 minutes ago, wayne77590 said: There is reciprocity for driver licenses but rules of the road and safety are State by State. You my have a lower limit in your state but don't leave the state as the next state over may be different. 100% ACCURATE! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hammer55 Report post Posted July 2, 2019 have a great day Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SDDCBM Report post Posted September 25, 2020 On 1/21/2015 at 3:22 PM, tomkathymanoff said: We have a 2012 Smart Car and we tow it 4 wheels down . We do use a battery disconnect when towing, We use a RoadMaster Falcon all terrain towbar, with hidden brackets. It tows great we have no problems at all, it goes around corners like someone is driving the car. We keep the back camera on to make sure it is still there because you really don't know you are towing it. We had the tow Pkg. put on at Camping World and they did a great job. We put a switch on the Battery disconnect so you don't have to pull up the floor to turn the battery on and off. Also Camping World had a special on installing the pkg. $210. and it took 7 hours to install, taking the front off the car was scary to watch. Tom & Kathy Manoff Is your Smart Car Manual Transmission or Automatic? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted September 25, 2020 2 hours ago, SDDCBM said: Is your Smart Car Manual Transmission or Automatic? Welcome to the forum. You might not hear from tomkathymanoff as that post was from 2015. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcrule Report post Posted February 4, 2022 On 12/21/2018 at 11:56 AM, RichNjohn said: Towing 4 down is OK for SOME smart cars. Ours is the newest generation (453, 2016 or newer in US) 2017 gas engine with the DCT transmission. As far as I know on the 2016 and newer models you can only tow the DCT transmission (automatic) 4 down, not the manual transmission and not the electric drive. I know that defies logic as you would think the manual would be OK. As I understand it the manual transmission doesn't have the type of internal lubrication required to tow 4 down, at any rate Mercedes says only the DCT transmission. There is a specific procedure that is printed in an update to the owners manual (not in the original manual). The update is available on the smart website or at the smart car of america website : https://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f497/453-official-flat-tow-instructions-126105/ We use the ReadyBrute Elite tow bar with Blue OX baseplate and light diodes. The install can be done DIY but it takes awhile as the entire front body panel has to be removed to attach the baseplate to the frame. It was a little intimidating at first but just follow the instructions and you will be fine. The baseplate attachment points are 14.5" from the ground so we didn't need a drop hitch as our RV hitch is 15" off the ground. I have a 2014 Smart Fortwo w/automatic transmission, it was the beginning of Generation III (the current generation). When you mention DCT transmission, are you suggesting that there is more than one type of automatic transmission in the Generation III? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildebill308 Report post Posted February 4, 2022 12 hours ago, mcrule said: I have a 2014 Smart Fortwo w/automatic transmission, it was the beginning of Generation III (the current generation). When you mention DCT transmission, are you suggesting that there is more than one type of automatic transmission in the Generation III? Welcome to the forum. You might not hear from RichNjohn as that post was from 2018. Bill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
