what toad brake system do you use

[charles l]

I am getting ready to have my tow bar setup installed on the Jeep GC. Wanting to hear from others what they use for the brake system. Shop suggested a portable brake that you setup on the brake each time to tow. I am leaning towards a more permanent setup. I have no clue what I want so would appreciate any feedback concerning what you use. I will be using a RM base plate and a RM sterling 8k tow bar. 2017 Jeep GC limited.

[barnbnb]

Originally Posted by charles l

I am getting ready to have my tow bar setup installed on the Jeep GC. Wanting to hear from others what they use for the brake system. Shop suggested a portable brake that you setup on the brake each time to tow. I am leaning towards a more permanent setup. I have no clue what I want so would appreciate any feedback concerning what you use. I will be using a RM base plate and a RM sterling 8k tow bar. 2017 Jeep GC limited.

I use NSA ReadyBrake on my Jeep. Fits between the TV receiver and your tow bar. Very easy and reliable self-adjusting mechanical surge brake system. No electronics.

[SlowrideHD]

If your towed vehicle has power brakes, how do these auxiliary brake systems activate the brakes? A person I know that has a large class A and pulls a Ford ranger behind doesn't use anything. He says the extra weight of the Toad is insignificant to the huge brakes on the motorhome. I have no idea about those issues.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by SlowrideHD

If your towed vehicle has power brakes, how do these auxiliary brake systems activate the brakes? A person I know that has a large class A and pulls a Ford ranger behind doesn't use anything. He says the extra weight of the Toad is insignificant to the huge brakes on the motorhome. I have no idea about those issues.

Having power assisted brakes does not mean that auxiliary braking systems cannot still slow or stop the toad.

Your person with the class A and the Ranger may have arbitrarily decided that no auxiliary brake system is needed, but by law it’s required in most US states. In addition, with no toad brake, how does this person deal with a loose vehicle that separated from the motorhome? No concern for the damage or injuries it could cause? Again, typically covered by towing laws.

It’s a shame that there are people like that out there sharing the road with the rest of us.

[757Dave]

We also tow a Jeep GC. All our equipment is RoadMaster. For braking we use the EvenBrake portable.

Here's a link:

https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bar-Bra...r/RM-9400.html

[charles l]

Originally Posted by 757Dave

We also tow a Jeep GC. All our equipment is RoadMaster. For braking we use the EvenBrake portable.

Here's a link:

https://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bar-Bra...r/RM-9400.html

Geezer with gadgets. Like the name. How do you like the even brake? The shop is suggesting I use this when I have the base plate installed. I am still researching the brake system I want. I see you are in SE VA. I am in Chesapeake. May be using Portsmouth trailer for the install.

[rebellee]

We use the blue ox patriot II on our Jeep Wrangler. No particular reason other than that the outfit that installed everything else recommended it and they have an excellent reputation. Seems to work just fine, only takes a couple of minutes to install or uninstall.

[757Dave]

Originally Posted by charles l

Geezer with gadgets. Like the name. How do you like the even brake? The shop is suggesting I use this when I have the base plate installed. I am still researching the brake system I want. I see you are in SE VA. I am in Chesapeake. May be using Portsmouth trailer for the install.

Portsmouth Trailer did our install 2 years ago. Easy to work with and explained everything. Took their time making sure that all our questions were answered. We even videoed the overview. Highly recommend them.

[bubbles]

Friend of mine with a Class "C" and Jeep Wrangler toad installed an InvisiBrake system. He's very happy with it.

[babock]

Originally Posted by SlowrideHD

If your towed vehicle has power brakes, how do these auxiliary brake systems activate the brakes? A person I know that has a large class A and pulls a Ford ranger behind doesn't use anything. He says the extra weight of the Toad is insignificant to the huge brakes on the motorhome. I have no idea about those issues.

Unfortunately, there are many that think like him.

[charles l]

Thanks for the replies. I am feeling a little better about using the even brake. Seems easy enough to se up and store in the vehicle when not in use. People seem happy with the units performance. I may just go with it.

[DaGrinch]

Originally Posted by barnbnb

I use NSA ReadyBrake on my Jeep. Fits between the TV receiver and your tow bar. Very easy and reliable self-adjusting mechanical surge brake system. No electronics.

X2. I've been using the Ready Brake for over 3 years on my '06 Liberty.... no problems. I like the idea of just hooking things up at the same time and area as my tow bar, and not having to remove/replace anything from the interior of the Jeep.

[EddieJ]

Originally Posted by SlowrideHD

If your towed vehicle has power brakes, how do these auxiliary brake systems activate the brakes? A person I know that has a large class A and pulls a Ford ranger behind doesn't use anything. He says the extra weight of the Toad is insignificant to the huge brakes on the motorhome. I have no idea about those issues.

I installed a SMI Stay and Play brake system. This is a permanent installation and as for your question on how it activates the brakes, it has a vacuum operated cylinder attached to the brake pedal. The unit has a vacuum pump which is attached to the vacuum line so it also provides vacuum to the vehicles brake booster as well. Advantage to this system is you just flip a switch and go.

[GL1800Rider]

If you want a good permanent system I concur the SMI Stay and Play is easy to use. If you want to go with something easy on the budget you can do as I did. I purchased a used Brake Buddy Vantage from Craig's List for a couple of hunderd. It needed some work so I sent it to Hopkins Manufacturing and they did a total rebuild. Compressor, circuit board, new plug, etc. Maximum I think is $399 and you get a 3 year warranty. About half the cost of a new one with the same warranty.

[SlowrideHD]

Originally Posted by EddieJ

I installed a SMI Stay and Play brake system. This is a permanent installation and as for your question on how it activates the brakes, it has a vacuum operated cylinder attached to the brake pedal. The unit has a vacuum pump which is attached to the vacuum line so it also provides vacuum to the vehicles brake booster as well. Advantage to this system is you just flip a switch and go.

Interesting. The guy I was talking about was camped next to me in Gulf Shores for a couple weeks. Had a nice outfit. Seemed as if he was aware of all the issues with the aux braking but also convinced there was no problem. So until now I still didn't really know how they activated power brakes, which was my question for him.

[xgarys]

Originally Posted by SlowrideHD

If your towed vehicle has power brakes, how do these auxiliary brake systems activate the brakes? A person I know that has a large class A and pulls a Ford ranger behind doesn't use anything. He says the extra weight of the Toad is insignificant to the huge brakes on the motorhome. I have no idea about those issues.

Our Invisibrake draws air from the brake vacuum booster and uses it to depress the brake pedal via a pneumatic cylinder.

[cariboo camper]

Invisibrake

[anaviator]

We've used Roadmaster's Even Brake for about 8 years and like it. We debated going the permanent installation route, but we didn't know how long we'd have a particular toad, or if we might have more than one vehicle capable of being flat-towed. We figured the portable was a better fit for us.

[Hi Rider]

I use a Roadmaster Falcon All-Terrain tow bar and the Invisi Brake brake system. Very happy with it.

[Cover Dog]

Ready Brake Elite, this will be our 5th year with this set up. No problems to date.