Recreational Vehicle Information
For Drivers of Motor Homes, Truck Campers and House Trailers

Passengers Carried in House Trailers

Passengers are not allowed to ride in a house trailer, including fifth wheel house trailer or a boat trailer while being towed on a highway with a motor vehicle. Passengers are permitted to ride in the camper portion of a truck camper.

Brake Requirements

Service brakes are required on house trailers if the trailer's axle(s) transmit more than 1,360 kgs (3,000 lbs) to the road when the trailer is attached to the towing vehicle. This applies to cases where the trailer is loaded or empty. If brakes are required, at least one axle of the trailer must be fitted with brakes.

Brakes are not required on towed motor vehicles, whether towed with a tow bar or on a dolly. Tow dollies do not require brakes whether or not the dolly is carrying a motor vehicle.

House trailers with electric or hydraulic brakes are not required to have trailer breakaway braking devices or parking brakes while being towed in Ontario. Breakaway devices may be required in other Canadian provinces, the US and Mexico. Please contact those jurisdictions for their requirements.

Brake, Signal and Tail Lamp Requirements

The following provides the minimum requirements for brake, tail and signal lamps on tow dollies, vehicles mounted on tow dollies, and vehicles towed with tow bars when towed behind motor homes and truck campers.

Tail Lamps

Red tail lamps are required at night and during inclement weather on the rear of:

• vehicles that are mounted on dollies;
• on dollies or on the fenders of dollies, when vehicles are not mounted; and
• vehicles that are towed with tow bars.

Brake and Signal Lamps

Brake and signal lamps are not required on tow dollies, on vehicles mounted on tow dollies or on the rear of vehicles towed with tow bars provided the brake and signal lamps on the rear of the motor home or truck camper are clearly visible to motorists approaching from the rear. When a lamp or lamps are obscured, or are not clearly visible from the rear, the obscured lamp(s) must be duplicated on the towed vehicle. Lamps may be duplicated on the fenders of tow dollies that have mounted vehicles provided the lamps are clearly visible.