{"id":7690,"date":"2021-09-05T08:12:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-05T08:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familytravelfever.com\/?p=7690"},"modified":"2023-02-17T00:00:52","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T00:00:52","slug":"towing-capacity-guide-without-trailer-breaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familytravelfever.com\/towing-capacity-guide-without-trailer-breaks\/","title":{"rendered":"Towing Capacity Guide (Without Trailer Brakes)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
NOTE*** The content on this page may contain affiliate links, we may make a commission. And, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0More information: disclosure page<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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 the tow rating of your intended tow vehicle and if you need to have camper trailer brakes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My first travel trailer was a vintage 20-foot trailer without trailer brakes. The next RV was a 35-foot bunkhouse travel trailer with trailer brakes – this required us to upgrade our tow vehicle. From understanding towing capacity to whether you need trailer brakes<\/a>, I\u2019ll cover it all here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have decided to read this blog solely to answer the question: Do I need RV trailer brakes on my rig?<\/em><\/strong> Let’s answer this first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Can you tow a travel trailer without trailer brakes?<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can tow some small trailers without trailer brakes. Each state has different laws that mandate what size and weight of a trailer you can tow without brakes. However, experts recommend having trailer brakes for any trailer over 4,000 pounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The requirement for trailer brakes is based on state law which varies from trailers weighing 1,500 pounds to 5,000 pounds, as well as those from 30 feet up to 60 feet long.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n While some states allow trailers up to 5,000 pounds, experts recommend having trailer brakes on any trailer over 4,000 pounds. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your tow vehicle’s “Gross Vehicle Weight Rating” is an important number that will tell you how much weight your vehicle can tow safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The last thing you want is to buy an RV only to find that you’d be breaking state law by pulling it with an undersized vehicle. And worse… it’s downright dangerous to tow without brakes! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Local laws mandate the weight and size of the trailer that you can tow. Knowing the local tow law is especially important when towing campers or travel trailers cross-country, or those that measure over 8 feet in width. In many states you will be required to equip your camper with trailer brakes. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Every state will have its own laws regarding towing travel trailers. If you\u2019re towing an RV across state lines, check the towing limits and what requirements you may be required to follow. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There may be restrictions on trailer weight, height, width, and surge breaks. These rules often serve to protect motorists using tunnels, bridges, and certain roads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Failing to adhere to these laws could quickly ruin your trip when local authorities catch up with you or if you have an accident.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro tip: Also check if you have requirements from your insurance company for towing a travel trailer. Many standard companies have exclusions for aspects of campers. Roamly is RV insurance by RVers and covers many things you don’t think about. Plus… you can save money… Get a free quote by Roamly. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For other towing resources, check these out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lighter trailers don\u2019t require brakes, so you can tow a light, small trailer without brakes. However, most states require brake systems for trailers beginning at 1,500 pounds. Trailers weighing over 3,000 lbs are required to have brakes on all wheel axles. For your own safety, you should have trailer brakes when towing over 4,000 pounds. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that towing a travel trailer with no brakes does present some risks on the road. Driving a 4,500lb camper with no brakes – regardless of the law – is reckless and could lead to severe damage or injury.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n State authorities limit which types of trailer you can use without brakes for your safety as well as those around you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Laws vary when it comes to trailer brakes. For instance, in North Carolina, trailers weighing up to 4,000 lbs are not required to have brakes. Other states require a trailer brake starting at only 1,500lbs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That is why it\u2019s so important to know the laws regarding towing campers before you travel out of state. Inspect both the towing vehicle and trailer brakes regularly. Make sure that any adjustments required for safety are completed as quickly as possible before setting off on a long journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re good with your hands – and know how to watch a YouTube video or two – you can buy your own trailer brakes and brake kits<\/a> online and install them yourself.<\/strong> There are many options on Amazon, such as this brake assembly<\/a> and this electronic brake controller<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, you can also find many local automotive repair shops nearby that should be able to help you out. This might cost a bit more, but you know that it was properly installed by professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n See below for a table of all the trailer brake requirements for each state. <\/em><\/strong>Each US state differs slightly on how much weight can you pull without trailer brakes. *See below for special requirements for each state denoted by asterisks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For traveling through those states requiring a breakaway brake system, these are relatively inexpensive and easy to operate. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Much Weight Can You Pull Without Trailer Brakes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Towing an RV Across State Lines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Do I Need Travel Trailer Brakes? <\/h2>\n\n\n
Image source: romanbabakin via Canva.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWhere to Get Trailer Brakes Installed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Camper Trailer Brake Requirements by State in the US <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Note: This table was most recently updated in February 2023 with towing laws and statistics from Brake Buddy<\/a><\/em> and Outdoorsy<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nState <\/td> Max Towing Speed (mph)<\/td> Max Trailer Length <\/td> Max Trailer Width <\/td> Max Trailer Height <\/td> Max Overall Length <\/td> Max Weight Requiring Trailer Brakes (lbs)<\/td><\/tr> Alabama <\/td> 70<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Alaska <\/td> 55<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019 <\/td> 14\u2019 <\/td> 75\u2019<\/td> 5000<\/td><\/tr> Arizona <\/td> 75<\/td> 40\u2019 <\/td> 8 – 8.5′<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Arkansas <\/td> 55<\/td> 43.5′<\/td> 8.5\u2019 <\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 65′<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> California <\/td> 55<\/td> 40\u2019 <\/td> 8.5\u2019 <\/td> 14\u2019 <\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 1500<\/td><\/tr> Colorado <\/td> 75<\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5 \u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 60′<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Connecticut <\/td> 65<\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2019<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Delaware <\/td> 55<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 4000<\/td><\/tr> DC<\/td> 55<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8\u2019<\/td> 13.5\u2019<\/td> 55\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Florida <\/td> 70<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Georgia <\/td> 70 <\/td> N\/A<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 13.5 \u2018<\/td> 60\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Hawaii <\/td> 60<\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 89 \u2018<\/td> 14 \u2018<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Idaho<\/td> 70<\/td> 48\u2019<\/td> 8.5 \u2018<\/td> 14\u2019 <\/td> 75\u2019<\/td> 1500<\/td><\/tr> Illinois <\/td> 70 <\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 60\u2019 <\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Indiana <\/td> 65 <\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 60\u2019 <\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Iowa<\/td> 70 <\/td> 53\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Kansas <\/td> 75 <\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019 <\/td> 65′<\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Kentucky <\/td> 65<\/td> 45′<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 13.5 \u2018<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Louisiana <\/td> 75<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 14\u2018<\/td> 70\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Maine <\/td> 75 <\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5 \u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 65\u2019 <\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Maryland <\/td> 70 <\/td> 40′<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 55\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Massachusetts <\/td> 65<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 60\u2019<\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Michigan <\/td> 65<\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Minnesota <\/td> 70<\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5 \u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 75\u2019<\/td> 3000 <\/td><\/tr> Mississippi <\/td> 70<\/td> 45\u2019 <\/td> 8.5 \u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 53\u2019<\/td> 2000<\/td><\/tr> Missouri <\/td> 70<\/td> 45′<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Montana <\/td> 65 <\/td> 55′<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2018<\/td> 75\u2019 <\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Nebraska <\/td> 75 <\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14.5\u2018<\/td> 65\u2019 <\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Nevada <\/td> 80 <\/td> 45′<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019<\/td> 70\u2019 <\/td> 1500<\/td><\/tr> New Hampshire <\/td> 65<\/td> 48′<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> N\/A<\/td> 3000*<\/td><\/tr> New Jersey <\/td> 65 <\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2019<\/td> 50\u2019<\/td> 3000*<\/td><\/tr> New Mexico <\/td> 75<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019 <\/td> 65\u2019 <\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> New York <\/td> 65 <\/td> 48\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 1000<\/td><\/tr> N. Carolina<\/td> 70<\/td> 35\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 60\u2019<\/td> 4000*<\/td><\/tr> N. Dakota <\/td> 75 <\/td> 53\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019<\/td> 75\u2019<\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Ohio<\/td> 70<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Oklahoma <\/td> 70<\/td> 40′<\/td> 8.5 \u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Oregon <\/td> 60 <\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 14\u2019<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Pennsylvania <\/td> 65 <\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018 <\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 60\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Rhode Island\u00a0<\/td> 65 <\/td> 40′ <\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2018<\/td> 60\u2019<\/td> 4000<\/td><\/tr> S. Carolina <\/td> 70<\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5′ <\/td> N\/A<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> S. Dakota <\/td> 80<\/td> 53\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019<\/td> 80\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Tennessee <\/td> 70<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 65′<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Texas <\/td> 75 <\/td> N\/A<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019<\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 4500<\/td><\/tr> Utah <\/td> 75 <\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 14\u2019<\/td> 61\u2019<\/td> *<\/td><\/tr> Vermont <\/td> 65<\/td> 46\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018 <\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 68\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Virginia <\/td> 70<\/td> 45′<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Washington <\/td> 60 <\/td> N\/A<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019<\/td> 75\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> West Virginia <\/td> 70<\/td> 40\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2019<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 65\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Wisconsin <\/td> 70 <\/td> 48′<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 13.5\u2019 <\/td> 60\u2019<\/td> 3000<\/td><\/tr> Wyoming <\/td> 75<\/td> 45\u2019<\/td> 8.5\u2018<\/td> 14\u2019 <\/td> 85\u2019<\/td> N\/A<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> \n