Community Forums

bullheaded · 05-06-2011, 12:48 AM

Anyone towing a diesel pickup with their class A air brake coach???

What ya using for a quick brake set up???

Gary RVRoamer · 05-06-2011, 07:58 AM

Nothing unique about towing a diesel powered pick-up. Choose whatever toad brake system you like. Top choices are SMI Air Force One, M&G, Brake Buddy (if you want portable), and US Gear Unified Tow Brake. I like & use the Brakemaster system myself.

frank1 · 05-06-2011, 08:12 AM

us gear said i couldent use there braking system on my 07 ram 3500, because of the type of brake

Gary RVRoamer · 05-07-2011, 07:47 PM

That has nothing to do with it being diesel. Your Ram probably has a hydroboost brake system, which takes some special handling. I think SMI Air Force One and Duo systems work with hydroboost vehicles - check with them to verify.

bullheaded · 05-09-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

That has nothing to do with it being diesel. Your Ram probably has a hydroboost brake system, which takes some special handling. I think SMI Air Force One and Duo systems work with hydroboost vehicles - check with them to verify.

Just getting a chance to get back..we are on the road

. This is the issue that concerned me. Will check with the manufacturers in the next few days and report. Thanks!

frank1 · 05-09-2011, 07:14 PM

I had a wrangler that I used to tow, now have a 06 Malibu Maxx, the wrangler was too hard on gas and wife and kid didn’t like it. Anyway I also have a dodge ram 3500 diesel pick and want the option of being able to tow it as well, with my motorcycle in the back of the truck. Because of the hydro boost brake system, on the truck, my US Gear brake will not work on that truck. My motor home a 38 foot diesel pusher was not wired for a toad only for a car dolly. I had to run wires from the front to the rear and I wired it for a Unified Brake System that I bought used with a tow bar on craigslist. A couple of rv shops wanted over $3500 .00 to install the same type of system on my rig and they were only guessing on the price. I am not prepared to buy another brake system so I can tow the pickup, unless I got it cheap and it would integrate with what I already have installed already. If money is no object then go for whatever makes your boat float, for me I have been thinking of a used Dakota 4x4 and get rid of the dodge ram 3500 4x4 diesel . they get about the same fuel millage and I can put the bike in the back.

caymann · 05-14-2011, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullheaded

Anyone towing a diesel pickup with their class A air brake coach???

What ya using for a quick brake set up???

I am towing a dodge 3500 Cummins TD Short Bed 4x4 Auto (weighs 7k lbs) with hydroboost system behind my MH.

I use a 10k lbs rated Blue Ox Aventa Tow bar. I also use a 10k lbs rated drop bar to make the coach/toad connection same height (actually coach is slightly higher than toad after sonnecting the drop bar inverted).

I have used brakebuddy to tow this in the past (boost set at 85psi on brakebuddy)

I now use SMI Stay in Play (older version of Duo) and it works well.
My coach has a air line coupler already available for the toad brake so some day i will upgrade to air force one.

The system works well so far. The SMI receiver in the MH tells me when the brakes are applied.

I did all the install myself and it took a couple of hours. I am a newbie at this install but the directions are straightforward.

I do feel the toad behind when towing, even with 500HP/4000MH combo, specially when pulling grades. My mileage has gone down 0.2mpg than before when i had a jeep grand cherokee (4500 lbs).

Keep in mind that the MH+tow bar+truck combo will exceed many states length restriction.