Unified Tow Brake Install

[srx-6]

The UPS man deliverd a TV-1000K this morning. I will install this in a 2008 Jeep Wrangler. I will be studying the instructions all weekend and will do the install next week. Any and all pointers that you think I could use would be greatly appreciated. I know from reading this forum that U S Gear will be very helpful if I need assistance. The only problems I can foresee is getting this out of shape body into some of the tight spots in and around the Jeep. Thanks in advance for any help.

[GaryKD]

Hi srx-6,
This is not a USGEAR suggestion, but if you haven't already, put Loctite or equivalent on all the bolts holding the baseplate to the towed car. It is really very difficult to tell when the bolts are coming loose.

[Rich and Cork]

I put the US Gear in my 2008 Rubicon. My biggest decision was where to moung the solenoid and route the cable. I decided to use a bolt on the passenger side footwell, out of way of the passengers' feet. As I remember, I drilled another hole in their mounting plate to better line it up the way I wanted. I used a T nut to be able to get a lot of thread engagement. I then routed the cable over to the drivers' side behind the heater stuff. Once on the drivers' side, I looped it up to be out of the way and then mounted their hardware to the brake pedal.

The rest of the installation is pretty straight forward.

For my wiring I used a Cooltech set up:

Cool Tech LLC. Niche products for unique and exclusive vehicles.

The newer ones are more plug and play than the one I bought when he first offered the product.

I pull the brake fuse only. You connect 12v from your coach to the Jeep, so you don't need to disconnect the battery.

Since you have a 2008, you turn your key, transfercase and transmission per the owners manual.

Have fun with the installation.

[wa8yxm]

Having had one installed on my former car, and having read the instructions I suspect you will have about no problems at all with the install.

The only pointer is to read the instructions fully before taking the rest of the materials out of the box.

and that is one NICE braking system by the way.. Possibly the best out there.

[srx-6]

Thanks for the replies guys,

GaryKD, Thanks I did on all of the bolts

Rich and Cork, I cannot quite picture in my mind how the solenoid can pull the cable from the passenger side. I am thinking about mounting it under the drivers seat. I have alredy installed seperate bulbs for the brake lights/blinkers

Thanks again

[Rich and Cork]

Originally Posted by srx-6

Thanks for the replies guys,
Rich and Cork, I cannot quite picture in my mind how the solenoid can pull the cable from the passenger side. I am thinking about mounting it under the drivers seat. I have alredy installed seperate bulbs for the brake lights/blinkers

Thanks again

I will post a couple of pictures tomorrow.

[Rich and Cork]

Here are a few pictures of my installation of the US Gear brake controller:


This is the solenoid mounted on the passenger side. Used only one bolt (existing) with a T-nut to get good thread engagement. It is under the wiring (right where the red wire goes into the sleeve) at the top left of the solenoid. I drilled a hole in the bracket to place the solenoid where I wanted it


This is the routing to the brake pedal


This is the vacuum pump installation


This is the break away switch installation. Also note the four pin connector in the frame for the light wiring from the motorhome just past the edge of the bumper

[srx-6]

Thank you Rich and Cork. Now I see The pictures are very helpful

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by GaryKD

Hi srx-6,
This is not a USGEAR suggestion, but if you haven't already, put Loctite or equivalent on all the bolts holding the baseplate to the towed car. It is really very difficult to tell when the bolts are coming loose.

SECOND THAT MOTION

After a year I crawled under my towed and ... Tighted all the bolts which were loose.. After properly lubing the threads with some Red liquid (Locktite)

Far as I know (Car died) They are still tight.

[srx-6]

Can anyone tell me the best way to get through the firewall on a 2008 Wrangler. I have looked for three hours and cannot find a way into the cab for the wires. I do not want to drill a hole but I am about to that point. Thanks

[Rich and Cork]

Originally Posted by srx-6

Can anyone tell me the best way to get through the firewall on a 2008 Wrangler. I have looked for three hours and cannot find a way into the cab for the wires. I do not want to drill a hole but I am about to that point. Thanks

On my 2008 I just went through the rubber grommet on the drivers' side firewall. It is next to the brake booster if you look from the engine side.

[vwd]

Installed the US Gear Brake in a 2010 Wranger a couple of weeks ago. I put the solenoid under the driver's seat and ran the wiring and cable under the trim on the door sill. Mounted the vacuum pump under the vacuum booster on the fender well. Wiring went through and existing hole in the firewall outboard of the vacuum booster. I made a custom six conductor cable with a seven pen plug on the motorhome end and a six pin plug on the Wrangler end so I only have to deal with one cable. I also used separate bulb in the rear light housings.

[srx-6]

This is taking a lot longer than anticipated. I got everything installed in the Jeep a few weeks ago. Finally got a chance to go to the motorhome to install the brake controller. After a long search I found the prewired connection(not where Monaco said it would be). Now it turns out that Monaco and US Gear have used the same connector on thier respective wiring harness and I cannot plug it in. I will call US Gear and hope they have a correct plug.

[hardy1000]

I installed the Unified Tow Brake solinoid under my drivers seat on my 2009 Wrangler. I mounted the control moduel on top left panel next to the brake pedal and ran the wires through the firewall using an existing hole with a rubber gromet. I also had to use an adapter to plug into the Monaco harness which was located in the console under the lever control panel. I purchased my Unified Tow Brake from Monaco just after they filed BK and it included the adapter. I have the controller set to 5 which seems to just right for my rig.