Community Forums

GuyFawkes · 01-26-2022, 06:54 AM

Preparing to have my coach and toad set up for flat towing. The toad will be a 2018 Silverado 1500. Curb weight in the area of 5300-5500 pounds, so I would get the Hercules tow bar.

Someone mentioned to me that the Ready brake is fine for lighter vehicles, but maybe not as good for heavier/larger vehicles. So I am looking for some real world input. For those of you who have the system and tow heavier vehicles...any complaints/concerns? if you could have a do over would you get the same system? How does the system perform in mountain driving?

Thanks in advance.

yeloduster · 01-26-2022, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyFawkes

Preparing to have my coach and toad set up for flat towing. The toad will be a 2018 Silverado 1500. Curb weight in the area of 5300-5500 pounds, so I would get the Hercules tow bar.

Someone mentioned to me that the Ready brake is fine for lighter vehicles, but maybe not as good for heavier/larger vehicles. So I am looking for some real world input. For those of you who have the system and tow heavier vehicles...any complaints/concerns? if you could have a do over would you get the same system? How does the system perform in mountain driving?

Thanks in advance.

I have the Ready Brake. I'm also a retired engineer. Those who question the Ready Brake's ability to work well for a larger vehicle don't fully understand how it works.

The Ready Brake uses the towed vehicle's brakes as do all the braking systems. Assuming the toad's (towed vehicle) brakes are adequate the Ready Brake will uses the inertia of the toad brakes to stop the vehicle. The beauty of the Ready Brake is that it is a closed loop system. It self regulates so that just the right amount of braking is applied all the time, every time. All other systems on the market are not and must be carefully adjusted to assure that the toad's brakes don't lock or not brake enough. It is easy to get the adjustment wrong causing the toad brakes to slow the Motorhome or not brake enough causing excessive use of the Motorhome brakes and increased stopping distance. On all systems available except Ready Brake this adjustment changes any time there is a change in the towed vehicle's weight such as empty or full fuel tank or extra stuff carried in the toad.

Once the cable on the Ready Brake is properly adjusted it won't change unless unless something changes the angle of the tow bar such as towing the toad with a different vehicle. Filling the bed of your Silverado with 800 lbs of stuff will not affect the braking. It will still be perfect because of the closed loop effect of Ready Brake.

A heavy a vehicle is not a problem, the opposite is true! A vehicle that us too light won't have enough inertia to overcome the spring in the Ready Brake. But then a vehicle that light doesn't need a braking system anyway.

andy29847 · 01-26-2022, 07:46 AM

My Jeep Gladiator is 5350 pounds. I have towed is 10,000 miles since I bought it with Ready Brake equipment. All is well.

GuyFawkes · 01-26-2022, 08:02 AM

yeloduster and Andy:

Thanks for the quick replies. This is the kind of feedback I was hoping to receive.

BnB · 01-26-2022, 08:11 AM

I have use the Ready Brute/Brake for 7+ years and 55,000+ Miles towing a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and now a Gladiator in the 4500-5000lb range from coast to coast, very happy with the ease of set up and no brainer brake system. On one occasion I lost a tow pin and the JP got pretty close to the Moho but no damage to either. The Ready Brute faired well and I happen to be near the manufacturer in KS and stopped in. They did a free check up on the system, lubed it, replaced the bolts and would have replaced the dust boots if they needed it. Great customer service.

GuyFawkes · 01-26-2022, 10:17 AM

thanks BnB

Chargerman · 01-26-2022, 05:31 PM

I have had the NSA Hurcules tow bar for a couple years now and tow a 2500 GMC Sierra. Works awesome and never an issue. One thing to be sure of is to never change your pedal position or it will affect braking. Highly recommend their product.

Fishar · 01-27-2022, 04:37 AM

Pulling 2010 silberado ex cab 4x4 with hetcules and ready brake. Works great.

becks · 01-27-2022, 10:27 AM

We have the Ready Brake and have been very happy towing our pickup.

SargeW · 01-27-2022, 11:04 AM

I have used a Ready Brake since about 2008. At first I used just the Surge System in combination with the Blue Ox tow bar I had at the time. After repeated failures with the BO I went to the original Ready Brute tow bar and never looked back. After several years towing a 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (5200+ pounds with winch and steel off road bumper) I upgraded to the Hercules tow bar when I bought a 2018 Wrangler. The old one still worked so well I sold it to a buddy who was just starting to tow with his new motor home. He also reports easy reliable service from it.

I can recommend them highly.

AKIQPilot · 01-27-2022, 12:00 PM

As I always do, another plug for the NSA products from me. I have the Ready Brute Elite. Nothing beats the NSA products for reliability, function, ease of use, price and overall simplicity. For a coach without airbrakes it's the best towbar and braking system on the market IMO.

HighDesert · 01-27-2022, 12:32 PM

Been using the Ready Brute on the last three motorhomes and never had a squawk about it. Performed we'll, especially on all out trips over the Continental Divide (many times). I would not hesitate to buy another one.