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A significant aspect of purchasing and driving a towable RV is having a good understanding of all aspects of towing a trailer.  You must know about the tow rating of the vehicle you intend to use and if you need to have trailer brakes. 

My first travel trailer was a vintage 20-foot trailer without trailer breaks.  The next RV was a 35-foot bunkhouse travel trailer with trailer brakes that we had to upgrade our tow vehicle for.  From understanding towing capacity to whether you need trailer brakes, I’ll cover it all here. 

Let’s get this issue out right away. Can you tow without trailer brakes? Well, states and municipalities have laws that mandate how much weight and size of the trailer you can tow.

So, is it legal to tow an RV without trailer brakes?  Do I need trailer brakes?

In general, small trailers can be towed do not need trailer brakes. The requirement for trailer brakes on a trailer is based on state law and varies from 1,500 pounds to 5,000 pounds and 30 feet up to 60 feet long.  In almost every state, trailers over 8 feet wide need a separate braking system. 

Although some states allow trailers up to 5,000 pounds, experts recommend having trailer brakes on any trailer over 4,000 pounds.

The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is a substantial number that will tell you how much weight your vehicle can tow safely. 

The last thing you want is to buy an RV only to find that you’d be breaking state law if you attempted to pull it with an undersized vehicle.

Local laws mandate how much weight and size of the trailer you can tow. There is great emphasis on following these rules when towing trailers that measure over 8 feet in width, and, in some states, you will be required to have a trailer with brakes.       

If you’re towing a trailer through state lines, check local laws regarding towing limits and what requirements you may be forced to follow. You may find, for example, that things like weight, height, width, and surge breaks are mentioned required, and these rules may serve to protect motorists using tunnels, bridges, and certain roads.

Failing to adhere to these laws could ruin your trip when local authorities catch up with you or if you have an accident. 

For other towing resources, check these out:

• Does Towing a Car Behind an RV Put Miles on It?
• Everything You Need to Know About Towing a Pop-up Camper
• Must Have Supplies for your New Camper and Towing Vehicle That You May Have Never Thought Of

Do I need trailer brakes? 

Lighter trailers don’t require brakes, so you can tow a light small trailer withour brakes. The weight limit for which trailers brake are required begins at 1,500 lbs in most states. Trailers weighing over 3,000lbs are required to have brakes on all wheel axles. For your own safety, you need to have trailer brakes over 4,500 pounds.

We must keep in mind that towing a trailer with no brakes does present some risks on the road, which is why state authorities place a limit on which type of trailer you can use without breaks.

Driving 4,500lbs trailers with no brakes is just reckless and could lead to severe damage or injury.

Laws are very different when it comes to trailer brakes: For instance, in North Carolina,  the limit weight for towing trailers with no brakes is 4,000lbs. You will find states that require a trailer brake starting at 4,500lbs and others as little as 1,500lbs.

That is why it’s so important to know the laws regarding towing before you travel out of state. Brakes have to be inspected regularly for both the towing vehicle and trailer to make sure that any adjustments required for safety are completed as quickly as possible before setting off on a long journey.

Trailer Brake Requirements by State in the US

The following is a table of all the trailer brake requirements by state. Each US state differes slightly on how much weight can you pull without trailer brakes.

State	Max Towing Speed	Max Trailer Length	Max Trailer Width	Max Trailer Height	Max Overall Length	Max Weight Requiring Trailer Brakes
Alabama	70mph	40’	8’	13 ½’	57’	3000lbs
Alaska	55mph	40’	8 ½’	14’	75’	5000lbs
Arizona	55mph	40’	8’	13 ½ ‘	65’	3000lbs
Arkansas	65mph	N/A	8 ½’	13 ½  ‘	N/A	3000lbs
California	55mph	40’	8 ½’	14’	65’	1500lbs
Colorado	65mph	45’	8 ½ ‘	13’	70;	4000lbs
Connecticut	65mph	45’	8 ½ ‘	13’	70’	3000lbs
Delaware	55mph	40’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	70’	4000lbs
DC	55mph	40’	8’	13’	70’	3000lbs
Florida	65mph	48’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	65’	3000lbs
Georgia	55mph	N/A	8’	13 ½ ‘	55’	3000lbs
Hawaii	55mph	40’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	65’	3000lbs
Idaho	65mph	45’	8 ½ ‘	14’	75’	1500lbs
Illinois	55mph	60’	8’	13 ½ ‘	60’	3000lbs
Indiana	55mph	40’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	60’	3000lbs
Iowa	65MPH	48’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	65’	3000LBS
Kansas	55mph	45’	8 ½ ‘	14’	N/A	N/A
Kentucky	65mph	N/A	8’	13 ½ ‘	65’	N/A
Louisiana	70mph	30’	8’	13 ½ ‘	70’	3000lbs
Maine	55mph	45’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	65’	3000lbs
Maryland	65mph	N/A	8’	13 ½‘	55’	3000lbs
Massachusetts	65mph	33’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	75’	N/A
Michigan	55mph	53’	8’	13 ½ ‘	65’	3000lbs
Minnesota	70mph	48’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	60’	3000lbs
Mississippi	55mph	50’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	75’	2000lbs
Missouri	70mph	N/A	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	60’	N/A
Montana	65mph	N/A	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	65’	3000lbs
Nebraska	65mph	40’	8 ½ ‘	14 ½ ‘	65’	3000lbs
Nevada	65mph	N/A	8 ½ ‘	14’	70’	3000lbs
New Hampshire	55mph	N/A	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	48’	N/A
New Jersey	65mph	40’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	62’	N/A
New Mexico	75mph	40’	8 ½ ‘	14’	65’	3000lbs
New York	65mph	45’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	60’	3000lbs
N. Carolina	55mph	48’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	60’	4000lbs
N. Dakota	70mph	60’	8 ½ ‘	14’	75’	N/A
Ohio	55mph	40’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	65’	2000lbs
Oklahoma	65mph	N/A	8 ½ ‘	13 ½‘	65’	3000lbs
Oregon	55mph	40’	8 ½’	14’	50’	N/A
Pennsylvania	55mph	53’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	60’	3000lbs
Rhode island	65mph	48 ½	8 ½ ‘	13 ½ ‘	60’	4000lbs
S. Carolina	55mph	53’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½	N/A	3000lbs
S. Dakota	65mph	53’	8 ½ ‘	14’	80’	3000lbs
Tennessee	70mph	48’	8’	13 ½’	65	3000lbs
Texas	70mph	N/A	8 ½ ‘	14’	65’	4000lbs
Utah	65mph	48’	8 ½’	14’	65’	N/A
Vermont	65mph	48’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	72’	3000lbs
Virginia	55mph	N/A	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	72’	3000lbs
Washington	60mph	48’	8 ½ ‘	14’	75’	3000lbs
West Virginia	65mph	48’	8’	13 ½’	55’	3000lbs
Wisconsin	65mph	48’	8 ½ ‘	13 ½’	65’	3000lbs
Wyoming	65mph	60’	8 ½ ‘	14’	85’	N/A

What Size Trailer Must Have Trailer Brakes?

When does a trailer need brakes?

Trailers measuring 8 feet or more in width are required to have brakes. The length and weight requirements vary by state and range from 45 feet to 75 feet long and 1,500 to 5,000 pounds

States and municipalities decide the legal limit for towing a trailer without brakes. The weight of the trailer is what determines if it can be towed safely without brakes; but if it’s over 8 feet wide, chances are the state law will require it to have brakes. 

When traveling to new municipalities, check on the state websites to determine the legal requirements for towing because they vary widely. There may also be limits on transporting things like propane gas or other volatile gases in tunnels, so you might also want to check what your insurance company policies cover if you’re going to be moving potentially dangerous gases.

Tips for Towing a Camper without a Brake Controller

As a general rule, it is not safe to tow a trailer without trailer brakes that is over 25 feet and 4,000. Whether you can pull a trailer safely without trailer brakes will depend on the size and weight of the trailer and the size of the tow vehicle.

Campers can be pulled without breaks if they don’t exceed specific recommendations. You should always use the recommended driving gear that the manufacturer recommends for towing.

When towing, always use low or moderate speed to avoid putting a strain on the tow vehicle and trailer. The faster you move, the more likely the trailer will start swaying side to side, therefore increasing the likelihood of damage and potential injury to yourself and other motorists on the road.

Here are some tips for towing without brakes:

• Always allow more distance for stopping because you are depending on your vehicles braking system.
• Make wide turns and corners and curves. 
• Avoid sudden stops and anticipate the need to slow down
• Signal well in advance before overtaking a slower vehicle
• Try downshifting to improve acceleration and balance 
• Avoid parking on grades – have someone outside assist you instead
• Place blocks at the trailer tires when unhooking from the tow vehicle 
• Have the brakes on your tow vehicle inspected regularly  
• Overtake only on flat terrain where you can see clearly and have plenty of clearance
• When overtaking on narrow roads, avoid going to a soft shoulder, as that can cause the trailer to lose control
• When taking long downgrades, only apply brakes at intervals to keep the trailer and don’t apply breaks for long to keep from overheating
• Your tow vehicle may come equipped with a specially designed transmission tow mode, in which case you should switch to that mode when towing your trailer for optimum transmission   
• Only make slight movements on the steering wheel to adjust for direction, rather than attempting to make an exaggerated movement to turn 
• Always keep the load in the trailer balanced, especially if it doesn’t have brakes, as this will affect the tongue and cause it to jack upward. 

Tow Vehicle Maintenance Tips 

Towing vehicles require maintenance frequently and more so if you spend a lot of time on the road pulling your trailer.

Always check for oil changes, transmission, oil filter, lubrication, cooling system, and other elements that may require regular maintenance.

Trailer tires also require periodic maintenance to keep them towing safely, and it’s recommended that you carry a spare tire.

Tire pressure will determine whether towing takes a toll on your tow vehicle and whether the ride is smooth or clumsy and slow. Underinflated tires will also reduce the carrying capacity of your trailer, while over-inflation. On the other hand, damages the tires prematurely. Ensure that the connector plug prongs are hooked the right way and that light bulb sockets, receptacles, and ground connections are in check before riding off.

To make it easy on yourself, follow the recommended maintenance schedule on your user manual.

Final Thoughts on RV Towing

Traveling in the US can be very confusing if don’t take time to learn what you have to. There are rules in different states that are allowed in another. Make it a habit to read the rules for the state that you are visiting before you embark on your journey.

In case you are renting an RV, it is not mandatory to know all your maintenance stuff, but it would help to know at least the basics. If you are planning on renting your RV, I can recommend Outdoorsy, RVezy, and RVshare that will give you a chance to talk to the owner who can give you more tips on maintenance.

To read more about our towing series, start here:

• Does Towing a Car Behind an RV Put Miles on It?
• Can I Tow a Car with a Rental RV?

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