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02-29-2016, 11:49 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 64
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Need advice on auxiliary braking systems for dinghy
I just purchased a Fleetwood Bounder in January and a Jeep Patriot tow car last week so I'm new to this. I understand I need an auxiliary braking system and have looked at the Blue Ox Patriot and the Roadmaster Invisibrake.
I have read horror stories about both applying the tow car brakes at the wrong time and ruining tires and brakes. I am a novice at this and would much prefer the additional cost of an expert installation to the risk of vehicle damage.
The RV dealer handles Blue Ox, the dealer currently has the coach to correct punch list items and it would be easiest for me, a singe guy, to drive the Jeep to the dealership and have the installation done there. However, I don't want to purchase a Blue Ox Patriot if it has a bad reputation for malfunctioning.
Please please let me know your thoughts and experiences in this matter.
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02-29-2016, 11:53 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bolingbrook, IL
Posts: 554
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Look at NSA RV Products - Ready Brake and Ready Brute Home. Been using it for years with my Wrangler. It's a surge brake with 1 cable to connect when ready to tow. Now in process of setting up wife's Liberty the same way.
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KC9NPT (Merrill)
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
2014 Chev Equinox LT AWD
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02-29-2016, 11:55 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 115
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Brake Buddy has been great for us. We tow a Jeep Wrangler.
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02-29-2016, 01:35 PM
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#4
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,559
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I'm using a Brake Buddy and it's worked as it should for several years now.
Lot of RVers in here are using the Air Force One Braking system and are happy with that too.
https://smibrake.com/towed-vehicle-b...-force-one.php
Good luck and Happy Trails!!
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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02-29-2016, 01:38 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: .
Posts: 789
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyDi
Lot of RVers in here are using the Air Force One Braking system and are happy with that too.
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X 2 
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02-29-2016, 02:08 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,328
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There is a trade off on all systems. The "brake in a box" type are a little cheaper and can be easily moved from toad to toad. The down side is they're some what of a PIA to set up and if you don't take the time to properly set them up each and every time, they may eat your toad brakes.
Systems like SMI and similar are more expensive but once installed it requires just a flip of a switch to turn them on. They are very convenient and, in my opinion do a better job. They are not easily moved from one toad to another.
I personally went for the convenience and the less chance of burning out the toad brakes.
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Paul, Kathy, and Tux the Mini Schnauzer
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 42 LH, 2013 Honda CRV
"When the time comes to look back, make sure you'll like what you see"
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02-29-2016, 02:28 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Posts: 329
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X2 on the Ready Brake RB-9050 tow bar. Or if you already have a tow bar you can add their supplemental brake system. We towed our Wrangler Unlimited using their tow bar and couldn't have been happier. Works great and no electronics to mess up and apply the brakes when they're now supposed to be.
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02-29-2016, 02:55 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 69
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I have Blue Ox's equivalent to Ready Brute and I love it. Keep it simple.
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Dan & Moxie (Yellow Lab)
2010 Newmar, Canyon Star 3647 (5-Star Tune, CHF), 2012 Wrangler Sahara Toad
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02-29-2016, 03:01 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,679
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We have been using an Apollo (Brake Buddy like) for 10 years. There is a transmitter that tells us when the toad brakes are on.
If the Apollo every breaks, we will replace with SMI.
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Dale & Mark Bruss
13 Years Full-Timing Now with a 2016 Bounder 33C
40' Travel Supreme winter residence
Lots of RV Information at www.dmbruss.com
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02-29-2016, 04:00 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Annapolis,MD
Posts: 1,458
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My $ 0.02
SMI Stay-in-Play-Duo or Air Force One for
permanent installation and simplicity of use.
https://smibrake.com/index.php
OR
the RVibrake system, it is air-activated and if you
watch their video on electric versus air activation, you
will be stunned at the difference.
http://rvibrake.com/
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02-29-2016, 04:05 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 706
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Brake Buddy Classic gets our vote. Many of the systems are very similar. The only supplemental brake system I would advise AGAINST is the Blue Ox AutoStop. We had a very bad experience, no support from Blue Ox - finally just junked it and got the BrakeBuddy. Nothing but good experience.
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US Army Retired - loving it in our Challenger 37TB.
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02-29-2016, 04:21 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Washington Court House, Ohio
Posts: 155
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X3 on the ready brake brute. Use it in my Rubicon and works perfect and very simple system.
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02-29-2016, 05:16 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,125
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We used the RVI Brake in our old 2015 Cherokee. It performed flawlessly. After 16 hours on the road, there was no appreciable battery drain. In this case the portability o f the RVI unit worked out to our advantage. We ended up with a new towed. The RVI Brake moved right over into the new one. You also get the ability to apply the brakes from the coach.
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Bill & Denise
2014 Bay Star 3103 - 5 Star Tune, CHF, Magne Shade
2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
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02-29-2016, 05:23 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Been using the RoadMaster BrakeMaster unit for over 10 years now. Never a problem, even moving between two toweds. Well, I did have one problem: Remember to let the parking brake off on the towed or you'll burn them up!!
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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