Quote:
Originally Posted by caleb1
An inertia based system would applying the breaks going over bumps, and is uncomfortable and jerks everything around when it applied breaking. A portable system would work if you need something portable and dont want to modify your car too much, but to do it right, personally I would recommend the demco system, because it relies on signal from the motor home, not inertia. that would probably be the most comfortable ride and easiest system to set up. The portable systems take much more time when hooking up the toad because you have to mount it and test it and be sure it is secure etc.
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The inertia based systems don't jerk or produce an uncomfortable ride. I use the RVI Brake and other than the couple minutes it take to install it on the floor board of the toad, it is just as good as the installed under hood systems. They are pretty much ALL inertia based. Older unit were time based. The longer you kept the brake on, the harder it would apply the brakes.
There are a couple of advantages to the RVI Brake unit.
1) The ability to easily switch from Toad to Toad
2) The ability to Test the unit and adjust it from the coach
3) I didn't pay anything additional to have it installed.
4) The ability to engage the unit (turn on the brakes) with the push of a button.
The last one doesn't sound very important, but consider: Your rolling down to road doing 55 and you experience a problem with the tow bar (failure), but the toad hasn't broken free of the safety chains. When/If that happens, sit it didn't completely disconnect, you break away switch wasn't triggered. If you apply the coach brakes, the toad will smash into the back of the coach. With the RVI, you could hit the test button (apply brakes) and while the toad brakes are on, you could gently apply the coach brakes and bring everything to a stop with out additional damage.
Also the ability to adjust the braking force applied by the RVI unit on the fly, while traveling down the road. This comes in handy if road conditions change (slippery/wet).
The customer service from RVI is top notch.
And now for the bad parts.
The RVI's ability to work is based on a good battery in the toad. Dead battery means no toad braking. I have used the RVI unit for 8 hours solid and didn't run the battery down. But if you were doing a multiple day trip, I may consider a charge line from the coach.
If you have the misfortune to set up you toad in the rain, even though it's fairly quick, you will get wet, unless your spouse is nice enough to hold an umbrella for you.
When not in use, you have to do something with it. Put it in a case. Put it in a storage bay or the back of the toad. Whatever your choice, you now have a $1,000 piece of equipment, stashed somewhere.
I chose the RVI almost 6 years ago, and it has been flawless, and it was the right choice at the time. That being said, I would have to think about the Stay-N-Play duo, cause it is just a flip a switch, cause a couple times, I didn't have anybody to hold an umbrella
There really isn't a bad choice. It's really about what you want.
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