Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Alpine Coach Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-17-2011, 01:06 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
wingtrike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kinston, NC
Posts: 314
Toad Braking System for Alpine

After much research, I purchased a Roadmaster Falcon 2 towbar and baseplate for my 08 Sport Trac. I am researching a braking system for the toad and would like one that is easy to install and transferrable to another toad if the situation arises. I know of the Air Force 1 system and I think it is for diesel coaches only. What braking system are current Alpine owners using?? Recommendations would be greatly appreciated as well as systems that users have had problems with.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Alex
__________________
2014 Thor Challenger 37KT
Kinston, NC
wingtrike is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 06-17-2011, 02:10 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
bcbowers's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Surprise, AZ
Posts: 836
I use the Roadmaster Even Brake. It cliams to be "transferrable" but not exactly. You have to install a break away switch on the front of the toad and wire it to the reciever inside the toad. You have to wire a 12VDC power source for the receiver inside the toad. And, you have to wire up a brake light switch (or feedback from the toad's brake lights as I did) to enable stop light verification by the receiver when the brake is pushed.

I like the system and it's easy to use once it's wired into the toad. However, I would NOT consider it to be "transferrable" unless you're willing wire additional vehicles as described above.

There is also a Blue Ox Patriot system similar to the Even Brake but I don't have experience with it. I would imagine there's some wiring involved to at least connect a break away switch is required.
__________________
Bob Bowers (Surprise, AZ)
2003 Alpine Coach 40' FDTS
2014 Jeep Cherokee Lattitude
bcbowers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2011, 05:28 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Dave Fernandez's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Ontario, CA USA
Posts: 1,402
Smile

Alex:

I have been using M & G Braking System and it is on the third vehicle it has been a great system. http://www.m-gengineering.com/ I found that once installed it easy to connect to the Motorhome with an Air Line and you are done. It works proportionally all of the time and can be changed of other vehicles if you sell and purchase another.
__________________
Dave Fernandez
2001, 38ft FDDS, 350 ISC, Tow 2018 RAM 1500
https://www.alpinesocal.com
Dave Fernandez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2011, 06:19 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
bigfish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 214
Two other braking systems not mentioned yet are the SMI STAY-IN-PLAY (not the same as the SMI AIR FORCE 1) & US Gear Unified Brake. Both of these can be used on MH with a hydraulic brake system. Pricy buggers though!
BTF
05 40FDQS
bigfish is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2011, 12:58 PM   #5
Member
 
ol pole's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 31
I have a Roadmaster that I have used on three toads, the only thing I do not like is getting the clamp on the brake pedal. I have ordered a RVIbrake because it is smaller than the RoadMaster and supposedly the brake pedal clamp is better, we shall see. It should be here in a week. If it does not work, back it goes.
__________________
2007 36MMDS
GMC Terrain
ol pole is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2011, 03:12 PM   #6
Member
 
JohnH59's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 67
Quote:
Originally Posted by ol pole View Post
I have a Roadmaster that I have used on three toads, the only thing I do not like is getting the clamp on the brake pedal. I have ordered a RVIbrake because it is smaller than the RoadMaster and supposedly the brake pedal clamp is better, we shall see. It should be here in a week. If it does not work, back it goes.
Where did you order the RVIbrake? And, if you don't mind, how much did you pay? I didn't think it was out yet. I'm interested in this since it's much smaller than the other 'box' brake setups.

Thanks,
__________________
-------
John & Leslie
'97 American Dream
JohnH59 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2011, 05:39 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Rich and Cork's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,163
I use the US Gear setup to tow my 2008 Wrangler. I purchased mine about 2 1/2 years ago from Monaco parts when they were selling them delivered for $350, which was one heck of a deal. It seems to work very nice.
__________________
2014 Phaeton 36gh
2008 Jeep Rubicon or 2012 Ford F150 4x4 Lariat towds
or a couple of different trailers
Retired in Apple Valley, California
Rich and Cork is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2011, 04:21 PM   #8
Member
 
ol pole's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 31
I called them @ 1 800 815 2159. They are suppose to be shipping now.
$950.00
__________________
2007 36MMDS
GMC Terrain
ol pole is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2011, 07:26 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
DrDaveMA's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Wales, FL
Posts: 3,113
Alex,

Bob is correct the "Even Brake" is transferable however it does involve installing a new break away switch, connection to the toad brake system and power as well as adjusting the EB box to sit properly in the new vehicle. all the propor steps are a one time chore, each time you install the EB system you need to make 2 connections, powerand signal as well as a mechanical connection of the EB unit to the brake pedal. Once it is installed I run a test so installation and test take all of 3 minutes. I moved an EB from a 2005 Honda CRV to a 2008 Saturn Vue so I speak from a moving experience . Once the one time stuff is done done things work fine.

If I remember correctly the M&G system places a boost cylinder in the master cylinder system aand small air tank and compressor, that seemed to me a bit more intrusive than I wanted, however it seems to be the easiest to use.
__________________
Dave, Bobbi and Fenway
2005 38' FDTS Alpine Limited, 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
Lake Wales, FL
DrDaveMA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 06:54 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
wingtrike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Kinston, NC
Posts: 314
Thanks for all the suggestions. I just have to make up my mind on which to purchase.
Happy camping to all.
Alex
__________________
2014 Thor Challenger 37KT
Kinston, NC
wingtrike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 07:44 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
hardy1000's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,496
US Gear UTB works great. Look at SMI, and M&G also great systems.
__________________
Del & Lori 2007 Diplomat 40PDQ - 2020 Grand Cherokee TrailHawk Hemi Toad, M&G Brake System, Blue Ox.
hardy1000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 07:38 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
gjstacy's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 629
We also use M&G and have transferred it to 3 coaches and 3 toads. You do have to have the components moved from coach to coach and toad to toad, as there is a part that goes in each. If you are mechanically inclined, you can probably move them yourself...Dave Fernandez would be better versed than I on that. My other half is not so inclined, so we pay to have them moved, but it's not a huge job. We feel the M&G system has worked very well for us, and really helps in a panic stop situation.
__________________
Gail, John & Mindy Stacy
2007 Alpine SE 40FDQS, 2011 Equinox
ACA & Alpine SoCal
gjstacy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2011, 06:52 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Dave and Jaime's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 393
Quote:
Originally Posted by hardy1000 View Post
US Gear UTB works great. Look at SMI, and M&G also great systems.
X2 on the US Gear. I paid to have it installed so I can't comment on that but it is effortless and troublefree, proportional, etc.
__________________
Jaime & Dave (and our 3 cocker spaniels)
2005 Alpine Coach 36FDTS w/ 2009 Honda CR-V, Doran TPMS, Roadmaster Towbar, US Gear Braking
Dave and Jaime is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-30-2011, 11:57 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
takepride's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 1,563
X3 on US Gear. We use it on two toads. Problem-free....
__________________
2003 Alpine 40FDTS (400HP)
Long Beach, CA
takepride is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
toad



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Toad braking system with MH that has transmission retarder. RAnder35 Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 13 02-14-2010 05:39 PM
Toad Braking Systems Capt. Bill Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 9 08-13-2009 07:15 AM
When Do I Need To Add a Braking System? GaDawgFan Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 23 06-21-2007 07:28 AM
Toad Braking System for Honda CRV ehackney Class A Motorhome Discussions 2 02-15-2007 04:58 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.