You can buy the pigtail for the Model Y to connect to a brake controller. It's plug and play into the car's harness. But yes, it can drive the brakes on the trailer. But should be limited to 3,500lbs it's rated for.
-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
MY seen pulling a ~27ft Airstream yesterday - please don't
- Thread starter Farmer
- Start date
You can buy the pigtail for the Model Y to connect to a brake controller. It's plug and play into the car's harness. But yes, it can drive the brakes on the trailer. But should be limited to 3,500lbs it's rated for.
Pennsylvania Oversize and Overweight Fines and Penalties
( Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – VEHICLES Chapter 49 - Size, Weight and Load 4945 )
Any person violating any provision of this chapter for which a penalty is not otherwise provided commits a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $300 for each violation ( Penalty for violation of permit, Penalty for violation of multijurisdictional permit, Penalty for operation with an invalid permit ) . Any person driving a vehicle or combination upon a highway exceeding the maximum gross weight allowed by section 4941 (relating to maximum gross weight of vehicles) or the registered gross weight allowed by section 4942 (relating to registered gross weight), whichever is less, is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $75 plus $75 for each 500 pounds, or part thereof, in excess of 3,000 pounds over the maximum gross weight or the registered gross weight. If the gross weight of any vehicle or combination exceeds the applicable gross weight allowed under section 4941(a), the fine imposed under this subsection shall be doubled.
| WEIGHT | FINE |
| 0 – 1,000 lbs | $162 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 lbs | $203 |
| 1,501 – 2,000 lbs | $244 |
| 2,001 – 2,500 lbs | $320 |
| 2,501 – 3,000 lbs | $443 |
| 3,001 – 3,500 lbs | $525 |
| 3,501 – 4,000 lbs | $607 |
| 4,001 – 4,500 lbs | $689 |
| 4,501 – 5,000 lbs | $807 |
| 5,001 – 6,000 lbs | $.04 + surcharge + added penalties |
| 6,001 – 7,000 lbs | $.06 + surcharge + added penalties |
| 7,001 – 8,000 lbs | $.08 + surcharge + added penalties |
| 8,001 – 10,000 lbs | $.15 + surcharge + added penalties |
| 10,001 and over | $.20 + surcharge + added penalties |
In this case, the GCWR is about 3000lbs over the rating, so you're looking at a $525 fine.
Also, insurance could deny coverage in an accident due to gross negligence. If it were just a few pounds over, it's oversight, but being double your tow rating is willfully ignoring the specifications.
tradosaurus
Member
I'm just wondering how a phone call to the police would go reporting what you believe is an oversized trailer.
Would they take your call seriously? Have the car and trailer go to the nearest weigh station to verify weight?
Which scenario is more dangerous/improper you think?
Scenario 1: Towing a car with a tow dolly without brakes. Total gross weight 1750 kg.
Scenario 2: Towing a car with a trailer with brakes but total gross weight 2500 kg.
(Tesla recommends max gross weight tow without brakes is 750 kg.
Tesla recommends max gross weight tow with brakes is 1500 kg.)
Which scenario you take risk if you must to do for long term highway cruise?
Scenario 1: Towing a car with a tow dolly without brakes. Total gross weight 1750 kg.
Scenario 2: Towing a car with a trailer with brakes but total gross weight 2500 kg.
(Tesla recommends max gross weight tow without brakes is 750 kg.
Tesla recommends max gross weight tow with brakes is 1500 kg.)
Which scenario you take risk if you must to do for long term highway cruise?
Chewy13
https://ts.la/nick670348
Mrbrock
Active Member
Gross isn’t actual weight. GVWR is the max it can legally weigh fully loaded. Empty/dry weight is less. Still over 6000 but not 7600.
I know that, but no one I know pulls an empty RV with nothing in it, totally dry tanks, etc. It's far over the MY's limit in any case.
so that is probably a tandem trailer and you are pretty brave. i have a vw atlas with a 500/5,000 rated tow package and manual specifically states not to use a weight distribution hitch due to stresses on the unibody frame. wdh is normally designed for truck body/frame construction. using wdh on a tesla where the actual battery is part of a structural component seems like asking for trouble.
Interesting. Yes, this is very similar to the trailer I saw as mentioned in my OP. As I said in the OP, I didn't look closely at the hitch. Perhaps the Y had a substantially engineered aftermarket hitch receiver like this M3.
Last edited:
Have you found ANY brake controllers that support Tesla’s 15.5v low voltage system? I’m stumped after working with Tesla for two years.
Towing wiring at the drivers footwell is 15.5 v Prodigy-Tekonsha service lead said they don’t support 15.5v. Tesla disconnected aux power to the 7 pin. So RF brake controllers are out.
MA State Police and DOT have portable scales that they frequently set up near the Rt 149 exit (old Exit 5) on Rt 6 that traverses Cape Cod from the Sagamore Bridge to Provincetown. I’ve only seen them weighing and inspecting commercial vehicles, not personal vehicles towing trailers.
OP:
Neither tongue weight rating nor towing capacity are laws. Call the cops all you want. GVWR, GCWR, on the other hand are clear and enforceable.
Most posters on subjects like this have little to no real experience towing even moderate loads. There will be little to gain within this thread.
Neither tongue weight rating nor towing capacity are laws. Call the cops all you want. GVWR, GCWR, on the other hand are clear and enforceable.
Most posters on subjects like this have little to no real experience towing even moderate loads. There will be little to gain within this thread.
#2, were it real, and in the right hands, would be considerably safer. However, 750kg for a trailer capable of carrying 1750kg car, complete with brakes, seems a stretch. 20’ long, tandem, etc? Gotta be around 1000 even if aluminum.
I would tow #2, if I approved the loading and trailer, on most long trips. Mind you I’m also willing to wait out / avoid extreme winds, ice, idiots, and etc..
Mind you while I totally ignore tow rating, for I’m a better judge, I would not take such a load on a long higher speed trip with anything less than a 1/2 ton truck or similar.