Need toad aux brake help

[mountainkowboy]

I find that we are in need for an aux brake unit for our toads...yes toads. We tow an 06 CRV, an 88 Ranger, and a 95 Wrangler behind the HR (it depends on where we are going). We had an old Brake Buddy style unit and it has gone to the great brake booster in the sky. I didnt like the way the BB unit worked it seemed to be all on, or not at all.
What do you recomend for 3 different toads and one brake system? Any help would be great!

[mountainkowboy]

I find that we are in need for an aux brake unit for our toads...yes toads. We tow an 06 CRV, an 88 Ranger, and a 95 Wrangler behind the HR (it depends on where we are going). We had an old Brake Buddy style unit and it has gone to the great brake booster in the sky. I didnt like the way the BB unit worked it seemed to be all on, or not at all.
What do you recomend for 3 different toads and one brake system? Any help would be great!

[LeeB]

Hi ya Chuck....

I use the SMI Stay n Play and I HAD it set up in my 2001 Dodge Dakota and my HHR what I like about it is all you have to do is switch the box after you get it installed... Very easy install... You will have to buy a kit for each TOAD though and that could be a drawback.... They may cut you a deal if you buy them at the same time.... The SMI people were awesome to work with...

See you at Monster MashIII.... I'll show you the set up then.......

Lee

[BigRedLancer]

You may want to consider the "Add-a-Brake" from Roadmaster. It is similar in operation to the Brake Buddy. Many people are quite happy with the performance of the "drop-in" brake system, others have had problems. I have the SMI brake and I think it would be too expensive to install one in each of your toads.

Good luck in your search!

[RV Wizard]

We tow either the Chevy Silverado 4X4 or the Vue. I use the Roadmaster Brake Master on either. I have a complete setup on the truck with break-away but only use the air piston on the Vue. All I have to do is move the piston from one to the other.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by mountainkowboy:
We had an old Brake Buddy style unit and it has gone to the great brake booster in the sky. I didn't like the way the BB unit worked it seemed to be all on, or not at all. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Your observation and experience with BRAKEBuddy is identical to mine. The BB would do what ever it wanted to when it felt that it needed to do something. I was never in control of the BB.

Subsequent to our 4 years of BB ownership we went with the SMI Stay-In-Play auxiliary brake system. The unit itself can be easily transfered from one vehicle to another since there's only a single electrical plug and 2 quick connect fittings.

Installing the wiring kit into several of your vehicles and transferring the unit from vehicle to vehicle can be accomplished.

You may want to check the auxiliary braking location on the CRV since I have heard that Honda doesn't like for anything to be placed under the seat.

SMI is our forum sponsor and they are always accessible and very easy to work with. If you travel across the country to RV events and rallies there's a good chance that you can run into the SMI field team.

[SargeW]

I have been using a Surge Brake system on my toad for the last 18 months, and have had excellent results. The system is extremly simple, only requires a cable to be run to the brake pedal, and the rest is acomplished by a surge receiver that stays on the the MH. Simple, no electrical parts to malfunction, and only works when you are brakeing the MH. In your case you could simply buy 3 cable set ups, one for each vehicle.

Oh yeah, it's WAY less expensive than other systems because of the simplicity of the system. I got mine from a company called "Night Shift Auto".

Give them a look, Sarge

[BBBEEBOP]

Look at this months copy of FMCA magazine. Great article on all the auxiliary brake units available. Should be a big help in making your decision.

[mountainkowboy]

Thanks for the input. I was looking into the SMI 4 wire system and I have looked at the
roadmaster system. I'll have to check out the surge system!

[Retird2Golf]

The "Apollo" system from Blue Ox has worked great for me for the past 3 years.

You can have mutiple vehicles "wired" and move the unit from one to another.

Best Regards, Clyde