Community Forums

**CLIFFTALL** · 10-14-2009, 06:05 AM

I'm starting to shop for this and welcome any advise as to which one to purchase.

Currently towing a saturn ,but will switch to a small suv soon.

thanks

Cliff

Luv2go · 10-14-2009, 06:53 AM

Several people (including me) have posted successes with SMI brake systems (also a sponsor of this website). USGear is also a well-thought-of system by members of this site. Both these are permanently installed systems, which I happen to prefer.

Others prefer Brake Buddy, Evenbrake, and other brands which are temporarily installed when you are using the vehicle as a toad.

Good luck!
Stewart

Wizard · 10-14-2009, 07:19 AM

Each owner will probably recommend theirs but we have been using Evenbrake for years. Easy to install and remove. However I have had problems a few times with loosing signal or something as I will notice that the monitor says braking when I know that its not. Usually I just apply the brakes again but have had to stop and reset. I won't recommend it for this reason but the price was right for me at the time. We tow a Ford Explorer.

**CLIFFTALL** · 10-14-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luv2go

Several people (including me) have posted successes with SMI brake systems (also a sponsor of this website). USGear is also a well-thought-of system by members of this site. Both these are permanently installed systems, which I happen to prefer.

Others prefer Brake Buddy, Evenbrake, and other brands which are temporarily installed when you are using the vehicle as a toad.

Good luck!
Stewart

Thanks for the help.

Cliff

**CLIFFTALL** · 10-14-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wizard

Each owner will probably recommend theirs but we have been using Evenbrake for years. Easy to install and remove. However I have had problems a few times with loosing signal or something as I will notice that the monitor says braking when I know that its not. Usually I just apply the brakes again but have had to stop and reset. I won't recommend it for this reason but the price was right for me at the time. We tow a Ford Explorer.

Thanks for the honest reply.

Cliff

hardy1000 · 10-14-2009, 10:19 AM

Monaco, Winnebago, Freightliner and Workhorse all pre-wire for the US Gear Unified Tow Brake system. I installed the Unified tow brake mainly because of the approval from alot of MFG's. There are alot of good breaking systems on this forum to consider. The one feature that I would recommend is the break away feature no matter which way you go.

bill dean1 · 10-14-2009, 10:23 AM

Hi:
Just thought I would respond to your inquiry about tow brake system, I have a M&G system that similiar to the SMI system. I had a Brake Buddy on older Saturn and switched to SMI and had it reinstalled on 08 Saturn Vue. I understand the SMI is easier to install but my system works great. Some systems that you have to take in and out everytime can be a problem.

Good Lick.

Bill

**CLIFFTALL** · 10-14-2009, 01:45 PM

Thanks to all . I now have an idea where to go from here.

Cliff

Always-RVing · 10-14-2009, 01:54 PM

Verify: Freightliner is prewired for US Gear Unified Tow Brake?

Kewel

Freightliner Custom Chassis RV Bodies Pre-Wired for Supplemental Braking

U.S. Gear is pleased to announce that Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) rear engine RV bodies built after December 2002 are now pre-wired for supplemental braking

DriVer · 10-14-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Batman_777

Freightliner is prewired for US Gear Unified Tow Brake?

I was just speaking with Peter Schuck here in Myrtle Beach at the Holiday Rambler Rally. If you take away the 2 wires one might wonder, what do you have left?

SMI's Air Force one is optioned be integrated into a Spartan Chassis but that says little to the effectiveness of the brake system.

If you look and evaluate the products themselves specifically the USG and the SMI you will see clearly which one is a better product.

Triker56 · 10-14-2009, 07:18 PM

BrakeMaster air with brake away.
Works great very lite and fast to install & uninstall

wa8yxm · 10-14-2009, 09:01 PM

If it fits (and I don't think it will) M&G air brakes are good.. AirForceOne is decent but suffers from "you have to hook it up" not just plug it in and mistakes hooking the piston to the pedal.. Possible.

I use a US-Gear Unified Brake Decelerator system.. Electric over hydraulic, Proportional (Adjustible gain) Progressive (The harder I stand on the MH brakes, the harder it stands on the Towed brakes) and controllable (I can both set the towed brakes, from the MH driver's seat, independent of the MH brakes, and disable them completly if I wish) Very nice system.. Closest to a professional Semi Trailer braking system I've seen.. Standard electric controller signals work it.

Hook up is "Plug it in" (Nothing to mess with inside the car) Nothing to store (it's hidden under the seat or in my case in a false fire wall) and works well.. Does not run the towed battery down,, IN fact, since it includes a "Towed Charge like system, it, or rather the towing motor home, keeps the towed battery charged.

chasfm11 · 10-14-2009, 10:18 PM

Like Trikker, we have the Roadmaster Brakemaster. For air brake equipped MHs (not sure if yours is), it is pretty neat package. The toad brake only comes on when I step on the MH brake pedal and only to the extent that I'm applying pedal pressure. I originally installed the system on our Saturn SL-1 where we used it flawlessly for almost 5 years. We recently got an 05' Saturn Vue and I moved the Brakemaster system to it.

They make a version of the Brakemaster of MHs without air brakes. I have no experience with it, however. On ours, I like the ease of the very light piston that attaches between a bracket under the front seat and the brake pedal.
I periodically test the breakaway feature and it has never failed.