Community Forums

RJay · 12-09-2011, 08:49 AM

Does anyone have any tips or tricks that would be helpful when installing the Air Force One braking system on a '11 or '12 Jeep Grand Cherokee to a Dutch Star?

**CLIFFTALL** · 12-09-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJay

Does anyone have any tips or tricks that would be helpful when installing the Air Force One braking system on a '11 or '12 Jeep Grand Cherokee to a Dutch Star?

I know SMI has a video for the stay n play. Maybe they have on for the air force one as well.

**CLIFFTALL** · 12-09-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clifftall

I know SMI has a video for the stay n play. Maybe they have on for the air force one as well.

Here is an install video. Maybe they can give you specifics on a jeep.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLFu9ldYXCI

.

Good luck

RJay · 12-09-2011, 09:47 AM

Thanks Cliff, I'll check it out.

Dutch Star Don · 12-23-2011, 01:58 PM

Rjay.....I installed one on my Dodge Dakota and a few years later I moved it to a Nissan Frontier. In both cases, it was darn near impossible to find space to mount their box and ping tank.

On the Dakota, I mounted their box and ping tank inside the front bumper. The Dakota had a large dead air space behind the front bumper facia. I used large hose clamps and clamped the aluminum ping tank to a radiaor support. This actually worked out well since everything was right near where I needed to make my connections.

Tips.....

I didn't like the screw they give you to attach the cable for the brake pedal piston to the floor board. I drilled a hole and ran a nut and bolt through with large sheet metal washers (under the carpet) so there wouldn't be any issues.

I also bought several rolls of the plastic wire cover material (corrugated stuff with slit in it) and covered the air hose that ran from the MH rear brakes to the bumper. I wanted to add protection to the hose. I also used the wrap on all of the wiring.

Take a few minutes and find a good place to mount the connector on the towed so that its close to the umbilical cord. Once everything was installed, I used velcro straps to loosely hold the SMI cables to the umbilical cord. If you're using a Roadmaster Towbar, I also made a neat cable holder so that the cable does not get hung up on the large round hole on the Roadmaster tow bar.

RJay · 12-23-2011, 02:46 PM

Don,
Thanks for the good info. It seems I have plenty of open space but little area to mount the black box. I'm hoping when I remove the facia to install the base plate a spot will become visible.

I'm going with the Blue Ox base plate and the Aventa LX tow bar but I'll keep in mind your idea about a cable holder since I don't want to chance anything dragging.

Dutch Star Don · 12-23-2011, 10:09 PM

RJay.......The box doesn't have to be level or mounted flat. On my Nissan, I mounted it lengthwise down between the battery box and radiator mount. I had to attach everything before I lowered it into the mounting location.

wa8yxm · 12-24-2011, 08:51 AM

Thanks Clifftall.... I'm not likely to be getting an air force one any time soon.

HOWEVER.. I collect information for later use,, and that is good information to have on hand.

**CLIFFTALL** · 12-24-2011, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Thanks Clifftall.... I'm not likely to be getting an air force one any time soon.

HOWEVER.. I collect information for later use,, and that is good information to have on hand.

You're welcome.

DriVer · 12-24-2011, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJay

I'm going with the Blue Ox base plate and the Aventa LX tow bar but I'll keep in mind your idea about a cable holder since I don't want to chance anything dragging.

Excellent choices every one!

DriVer · 12-24-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Thanks Clifftall.... I'm not likely to be getting an air force one any time soon..

wa8yxm, If you're still on a gasser consider the SMI Stay and Play DUO as a workable solution for your current application. If you're going to air up, Air Force One is the way to go!

Iron Man · 12-24-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don

Rjay.....I installed one on my Dodge Dakota and a few years later I moved it to a Nissan Frontier. In both cases, it was darn near impossible to find space to mount their box and ping tank.

On the Dakota, I mounted their box and ping tank inside the front bumper. The Dakota had a large dead air space behind the front bumper facia. I used large hose clamps and clamped the aluminum ping tank to a radiaor support. This actually worked out well since everything was right near where I needed to make my connections.

Tips.....

I didn't like the screw they give you to attach the cable for the brake pedal piston to the floor board. I drilled a hole and ran a nut and bolt through with large sheet metal washers (under the carpet) so there wouldn't be any issues.

I also bought several rolls of the plastic wire cover material (corrugated stuff with slit in it) and covered the air hose that ran from the MH rear brakes to the bumper. I wanted to add protection to the hose. I also used the wrap on all of the wiring.

Take a few minutes and find a good place to mount the connector on the towed so that its close to the umbilical cord. Once everything was installed, I used velcro straps to loosely hold the SMI cables to the umbilical cord. If you're using a Roadmaster Towbar, I also made a neat cable holder so that the cable does not get hung up on the large round hole on the Roadmaster tow bar.

Isn't the ping tank mounted on the motorhome not the toad.

Dutch Star Don · 12-26-2011, 04:26 PM

Iron Man....I'm calling it a ping tank, but its a small aluminum reserve tank for the emergency brake away system. If the toad brakes away from the coach, the reserve air tank is what applys the brakes to the toad.