1500 pounds April 25, 2010, 01:47:28 am Yahoo Message Number: 112134California requires that any thing towed over 1500 Lbs. has to have a braking device. Is there even a car, that can be used as a tow car, that is under that weight? Be well. Dale from Downey.
Re: 1500 pounds Reply #1 – April 25, 2010, 10:03:58 am Yahoo Message Number: 112135Quote California requires that any thing towed over 1500 Lbs. has to have a braking device. Is there even a car, that can be used as a tow car, that is under that weight? Be well. Dale from Downey. If you need capacity to haul people and cargo, then an old VW bug, pre- about 1968, will probably do the job, but cramped. A motor scooter on a rear bumper mount is a solution for basic rapid transit, that some have used.Steve
Re: 1500 pounds Reply #2 – April 25, 2010, 11:03:41 am Yahoo Message Number: 112136"DALE" wrote: California requires that any thing towed over 1500 Lbs. has to have a braking device. --- You should definitely verify this information with the CA vehicle code, but, AFAIK, the *law* states that the 1500 pound tow limit without a supplemental braking system applies to a "trailer coach or camp trailer"; I've never found a CA code section that states that the law applies to a towed *vehicle*. (If anyone does find this specific requirement, please post the vehicle code section.) However, regardless of the existence or absence of any law, I think it's just common sense to have a supplementary brake system on any toad, "lightweight" or otherwise. :-)Joan
Re: 1500 pounds Reply #3 – April 25, 2010, 11:25:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 112138Quote California requires that any thing towed over 1500 Lbs. has to have a braking device. Is there even a car, that can be used as a tow car, that is under that weight? Be well. Dale from Downey. This has come up in RV forums before. In the California Vehicle Code, towed vehicles are NOT considered "trailers", but rather "combined vehicles". Braking requirements are subject to section 26454. (notice item 5 below). But in an accident case, a smart lawyer would use section (a), since Ford recommends auxiliary brakes on anything over 1500 lbs. (main brakes only rated for GVWR).Art 26454. (a) The service brakes of every motor vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle or combination of vehicles under all conditions of loading on any grade on which it is operated.(b) Every motor vehicle or combination of vehicles, at any time and under all conditions of loading, shall, upon application of the service brake, be capable of stopping from an initial speed of 20 miles per hour according to the following requirements: [This table shows the maximum stopping distance in feet for certains types of vehicles when moving at an initial speed of 20 miles per hour.] * [Vehicle type] * Maximum Stopping Distance (feet) (1) Any passenger vehicle 25 (2) Any single motor vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 lbs. 30 (3) Any combination of vehicles consisting of a passenger vehicle or any motor vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 lbs. in combination with any trailer, semitrailer or trailer coach 40 (4) Any single motor vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 lbs. or more or any bus 40 (5) All other combinations of vehicles 50
Re: 1500 pounds Reply #4 – April 25, 2010, 05:32:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 112146"If you need capacity to haul people and cargo, then an old VW bug, pre- about 1968, will probably do the job."SteveVWs are lightweight but not that light. My 1966 bug weighted a little over 1700lbs, full of gas.How about an original Mini-cooper? They weigh under 1500lbs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini> If you want a tow-brake-free toad, a motorcycle or scooter is your only real choice. Any four-wheel vehicle under 1500lbs is going to be an antique death trap or ultra high price micro-sports car. It comes down to how much your life is worth. Having a toad is optional, many of us have gone for years without one. Renting a car is a very good option for the times you really need a car. Enterprise-will deliver a car to your campsite if you are close enough to their office.Larry
Re: 1500 pounds Reply #5 – April 25, 2010, 06:35:32 pm Yahoo Message Number: 112147Quote from: Larry"" How about an original Mini-cooper? They weigh under 1500lbs." That was my first car. No overnight street parking, small driveway and two cars so we had to drive it straight in and lift up the back to turn it sideways every night. It was 10' long and it felt like it was made of tin foil ;-). It did get close to 50 MPG. It would have made a great toad.Karen
Re: 1500 pounds Reply #6 – April 25, 2010, 06:43:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 112148"Larry" wrote: VWs are lightweight but not that light. My 1966 bug weighted a little over 1700lbs, full of gas. --- I sold my '58 VW and bought a 1967 when VW first came out with it. I recall (and why I can recall that 43+ years ago tidbit and not be able remember where I put my keys, I have NO idea!) that the salesguy at the then-VW dealership in Santa Barbara said that the 1967 was a "little heavier" than the previous model years, and this Wikipedia entry seems to corroborate that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Beetle#VW_Beetle_1967I loved that car; it was kind of a boring tan color, but it had very cool *mag wheels* and fancy seatcovers and it was really zippy; I managed to get a "couple" of tickets! ;-) It had a gas gauge, too; the 1958 didn't, which made for some interesting trips. I drove the 1967 over a good part of Mexico during the summers in the early 70s, then traded it because I needed a pickup. I sure wish that I still had that great little car!Joan
Re: 1500 pounds Reply #7 – April 25, 2010, 11:17:46 pm Yahoo Message Number: 112155Quote"Larry" wrote: VWs are lightweight but not that light. My 1966 bug weighted a little over 1700lbs, full of gas. --- I bought a 1965 bug and im in the process of restoring it to look like a Herbie the love bug replica when finished we might use it to tow behind our midbath ............ Jody
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