Demco Stay-In-Play vs. Air Force One

[Thom Rose]

I have a 1994 Monaco Dynasty 34 and recently purchased a 2011 Ford Fiesta Toad. The Fiesta already has a Demco Stay-In-Play braking system installed. In a discussion with Demco, they suggest I install a conversion kit to change the Stay-In-Play to an Air Force One. The reason they give is that the Stay-In-Play is activated by the towing vehicle brake light, and because the brake light is activated by the engine/exhaust brake, this can lead to over braking, and brake failure in the toad. The Air Force One detects an application of the brakes independent of the brake light status. On my coach, the brake light being triggered by the exhaust/engine brake has been disabled. Accordingly, my coach brake lights are only illuminated when I press the main brake pedal, not when I use the engine/exhaust brake.



This leads me to believe I can just keep the Stay-In-Play setup, and not do the conversion to Air Force One. Do the knowledgeable folks on this forum agree, or should I bite the bullet on the conversion kit?

[twinboat]

Ageee in your case. If you were towing a much bigger toad, then the Air Force One would be a better system. The Air Force One is the only true progressive system.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Thom Rose-

Having owned a Stay-in-Play, I agree it should work fine for you.

[darnold9999]

My Stay-In-Play is activated by the brake light and an inertial switch. It is rare that the inertial switch is activated by the engine brake and I have it set up to be pretty sensitive. My engine brake is an exhaust brake so not as strong a brake as a Jake brake however. I would keep the Stay-In-Play and reattach the brake light and monitor it to see when/if the toad brake is actually being activated.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by twinboat

Ageee in your case. If you were towing a much bigger toad, then the Air Force One would be a better system. The Air Force One is the only true progressive system.

So's the M&G original brake system AND the new M&G 2.0 Brake system.
Scott