Dinghy braking system requirements

The Wife, 2-x toddlers, and myself will be leaving Los Angeles for our 2010 RV trip next month (May). I'll be dragging a recently acquired 2004 Honda CRV. Need to know if dinghy braking is required in states we'll be passing through, or general feeling on this subject (probably recommended). Using a 2008 Coachmen 26' with 5K towing capacity. First destination will be Mickey World in Orlando to their campsite vis CA, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS, AL, and FL. Second destination will be Niagara Falls NY to visit family via GA, SC, NC, VA, PA, and NY. Then return to LA from NY via PA, OH, MO, OK, TX, NM, AZ, and CA. This will be our second cross-country trip in as many years, but will differ with the addition of a dinghy and Orlando. Timeline is tight, only three weeks, but we are willing to try.
Consensus, suggestions, matters-of-general-nature?
Thanks![/i]

Not only is it required in most of the states, it is a safety point. You say you have two little toddlers and a wife. If you can't get the coach stopped in a emergency and have a collision, would it be worth the expense and effort? Please use one, for all of our safety.

Thanks for the info! I'm leaning in that direction and appreciate the course correction!

almost every state now requiries supplemental braking for a tow vehicle over 3000 lbs. ( some are more stricter ). The Good Sam Trailer Life campground directory has a table which lists the requirement in all of the states. I pull a 2008 Honda CRV with my 32' Winnebago and have the roadmaster even brake in the toad. its easy to set up and I know I'm legal when on the road.

FYI - If there is a Camping World store near your home, I'd strongly suggest you look at the BrakeMaster display at their store. Being new to RV'ing myself, (and not wanting to have to deal with the hassles of doing it myself-missing something-and having the wife upset at me), I decided to go with a Falcon All-Terrain (non-binding) tow bar to pull my Jeep Liberty and the BrakeMaster system. Both are made in Portland, Oregon, USA by RoadMaster and every mechanical component has a lifetime manufacturers warranty.

One of the advantages of going to Camping World is that they have a lifetime warranty on the other components and anything they install. It may be a bit more expensive up front, but it is well worth it! Last weekend I had a power relay (senses the engine running and provides power to the compressor) go out. We towed out Jeep the 40 miles back home (leaving extra room to stop because of the extra 5000 pounds relying on only the RV's brakes) and took them back to Camping World this weekend. They found the defective part and replaced it for free!

The best part wasn't the service, warranty or the piece of mind... It was having my wife tell me how brilliant I was for having them do the installation so I could get the warranty. She was worried that something like this might have happened when we were far from home. Fortunately, there are Camping Worlds pretty much everywhere.