Community Forums

Latrice · 06-21-2016, 01:14 PM

We had two tow cars outfitted with the SMI Stay N Play systems when we had our Class C gasser and we loved the security we felt when towing.

Now that we have our VT3436 with air brakes, we understand that we will have to replace the Stay N Play with Air Force One, or some other brand that will be compatible with air brakes.

We are leaning towards SMI's Air Force One, but after watching an installation video and realizing that the air line must be cut to integrate the braking system line, we are a little reluctant to create a weakness in the coach's air brake line that may become problematic down the road.

Are we being too cautious? What other brands do others on this forum use?

Atom Ant · 06-21-2016, 01:18 PM

I'm in the same spot you are. I sold my Stay in Play and was about to go for the Air Force One, but two things:

1. It' s quite a project to install it, both vehicles

2. It limits me to only having brakes when towed by the MH, and I like to tow the toad behind other vehicles.

I'll watch this thread - but for me, I think I'm ready to go with the RViBrake2 Portable. It just looks too easy.

LJowdy · 06-21-2016, 01:20 PM

I have this system, had it on my previous coach and current coach and used it for 3 different towed vehicles. I've made the floor mounts myself which saves a bit of money. It taps into your brake system via a distribution fixture on your rear axle. You don't have to cut the brake lines. You can also buy a "break away" canister that holds air and applies the car's brakes should it break away from your coach.
You can also buy an auxiliary brake light switch and it will light up on your coach dash when the brakes are applied. It lets you know the system is applying the brakes in your car.

Brakemaster proportionate towed car braking system w/ Breakaway- for air or air - By Roadmaster | HitchSource.com

Dale & Mark Bruss · 06-21-2016, 01:22 PM

The non-air Air Force One is quite usable with an air-brake motorhome. The SMI electric version just needs a brake signal from the tow vehicle, which happens to be in the lights cable to the toad. The SMI use inertia tempered by the brake signal from the tow vehicle, much better than the inertia only systems that have a pretense of triggering hen you are not stopping.

znt1186 · 06-21-2016, 01:37 PM

I have the Stay n Play on my toad and have been towing it for three years behind my DP. It works fine. Some people on this site are concerned that the brake lights come on when the exhaust brake or engine brake is engaged on the DP and could engage the brakes on the toad. The SMI system requires both the brake light signal from the coach and the inertia due to braking to engage the system on the toad. You can adjust the sensitivity on the Stay N Play module down low enough so that doesn't happen. I have not had any problems using this set up and I tow in the mountains a lot since I can't get in or out of Asheville without doing so. Some of the grades I was on yesterday were 9% and towing was without any problem

JMH · 06-21-2016, 01:42 PM

+2 for the RViBrake2 system. Use it towing my jeep works great.

Atom Ant · 06-21-2016, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by znt1186

I have the Stay n Play on my toad and have been towing it for three years behind my DP. It works fine. Some people on this site are concerned that the brake lights come on when the exhaust brake or engine brake is engaged on the DP and could engage the brakes on the toad. The SMI system requires both the brake light signal from the coach and the inertia due to braking to engage the system on the toad. You can adjust the sensitivity on the Stay N Play module down low enough so that doesn't happen. I have not had any problems using this set up and I tow in the mountains a lot since I can't get in or out of Asheville without doing so. Some of the grades I was on yesterday were 9% and towing was without any problem

I'm one of those that am concerned with the brake lights activating with the exhaust brake. I realize some have said you can adjust the sensitivity to low, but then what is the point if its not really braking back there. Others have said they fried the brakes on the towed vehicle because of it.

Dsmullen · 06-21-2016, 02:03 PM

Agree that the stay in play works just fine with our setup. And since we live in Black Mountain, we have plenty of mountains to escape through as well. Love it here as a place to live!

wracinti · 06-21-2016, 02:57 PM

I have U.S. Gear Brake system. Love,love it!

follows · 06-22-2016, 03:21 AM

I had the SMI Stay n Play on my gasser. When I bought our DP, I just hooked everything up as usual and it worked great. Our VT4333 has a wire that runs from the hitch to the dash, I connected it to a dash light so I can monitor when the toad brakes are applied. I may be wrong, but I don't think the toad brakes are applied when I hit the jake brake.

Kend51 · 06-22-2016, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMH

+2 for the RViBrake2 system. Use it towing my jeep works great.

+3 for RVI brake. Have used it on a jeep wrangler and now a jeep Cherokee Trailhawk

Candy Girl · 06-22-2016, 08:43 AM

We had the Unified Tow brake system in our Dutch Star and are having it installed in our Ventana LE. In fact, it is being done as I write this. I do not want to tap into my air brakes, and I think in the owner's manual it does not recommend taping into the air brakes. By the way, the unified tow brake is no longer being made but it can still be found on the Internet and the new version of the unified tow brake is called the Smart Brake. Good luck in your decision!

Latrice · 06-22-2016, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Candy Girl

... I do not want to tap into my air brakes, and I think in the owner's manual it does not recommend taping into the air brakes. .... Good luck in your decision!

Yes Candy Girl, you are indeed correct. The Freightliner Owners Manual cautions that the air brake system on the coach should not be tapped into by a towed vehicle's braking system. Glad my gut feeling was right about that.

I am going to look into the RViBrake2. I like the simplicity of it, and the fact that I can move it from toad to toad.

Thank you all for your responses.

Lug_Nut · 06-22-2016, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latrice

Yes Candy Girl, you are indeed correct. The Freightliner Owners Manual cautions that the air brake system on the coach should not be tapped into by a towed vehicle's braking system. Glad my gut feeling was right about that.

I am going to look into the RViBrake2. I like the simplicity of it, and the fact that I can move it from toad to toad.

Thank you all for your responses.

Freightliner's advice is probably a general statement, however, the SMI Air Force 1 is safe-guarded again any compromising of the coaches air system. Using a patented device that is connected to the pneumatic valve block manifold, totally eliminates the chance of air loss, even if the toad become disconnected and tore the line. Here's SMI's website SMI

The SMI Air Force 1 requires no adjustment and is not affected by the application of the Jake Brake. It is probably the best system out there for any DP with air brakes.

Peter