Dinghy Brake System

[jackrobinryan]

I've had the Blue Ox Apollo for almost 4 years. I don't like it. The inertial activator in it is less than reliable, in my opinion.

I would not buy a used one if I were looking again.

I plan on replacing it, but just haven't figured out by what make model.

fwiw
jack

[hardy1000]

I installed the US Gear UTB 3 years ago and it has worked very well with no problems. I looked at the Air Force 1 and M&G also and I liked them alot also. My deciding factor was that Monaco and Winnebago chose to wire there coaches for the UTB so I felt that if they indorse it It sould be a stable and reliable system. Another deciding factor was that I could purchase it from Monaco for $350 when they were liquidating there inventory.

[wa8yxm]

The major problems with the systems like the Apolo are two folks

1: They do eat towed electricity, IF the battery on the towed is marginal they may eat more than it has to spare.. Normally this is not a problem.

1B: I seem to recall those need heavy power wieres the standard ciggy lighter wire may be unable to haul the load... NOTE: This is a rusty recall, May have wrong brand.

2: The old "Oh, it's only a few miles, it's too much trouble" Syndrome Of course that the trip you will need it on.

Other than that (And 1 is addressable with a Towed Charge system) they are good systems.

[jackrobinryan]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

The major problems with the systems like the Apolo are two folks

1: They do eat towed electricity, IF the battery on the towed is marginal they may eat more than it has to spare.. Normally this is not a problem.

1B: I seem to recall those need heavy power wieres the standard ciggy lighter wire may be unable to haul the load... NOTE: This is a rusty recall, May have wrong brand.

2: The old "Oh, it's only a few miles, it's too much trouble" Syndrome Of course that the trip you will need it on.

Other than that (And 1 is addressable with a Towed Charge system) they are good systems.

My experience with the Apollo says otherwise so I have to respectfully disagree.

1) Power from the ciggy outlet has never been a problem. A second outlet in the Jeep suplies the wireless brake indicator. And if the battery in my vehicle were marginal, I would replace it anyway.

2) It really is not that hard to install/remove. If I have it, I use it.

The real problem with my Apollo system is unreliability in actuating and the sensitivity levels being eratic.

I would NOT recommend it. Blue Ox even replaced it. That tells me something.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Diplomat Don

The only thing NO ONE will ever convince me of is a system that applys pressure to a dead pedal, particularly the Ready Brake that uses a cable to pull on first, a vacumn assited pedal and then as the vacumn runs down, a dead pedal....how does it know?

On my BrakeMaster system one of the instructions is to bleed the brake system by pumping the peddle several times before putting the air cyl. in place.