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03-31-2009, 07:55 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Lompoc CA
Posts: 139
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US Gear Unified Tow Brake
I just spent the last 10 hours installing a US Gear Tow Brake in my 2007 Saturn Vue.
I have 4 cuts on my right elbow, 2 more on the knuckles of my right hand and and 3 more on my left.
but--- all is well, it is installed and working perfect. I did a lot of research on this forum before I made the decision to go with the US Gear. If you have ever posted on this forum ---- Thanks --- I don't post much but I read alot and the information I have gathered has been priceless.
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Don & Carol Croner, FMCA- F401447
2007 Monaco Diplomat PDQ 40
2017 Buick Envision, US Gear Tow Brake
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04-01-2009, 03:14 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Frederick Md.
Posts: 453
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You have installed a great system. Ours has worked great. I have moved it to 2 cars. Work to install but doing it yourself makes it right,
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2007 Monaco Camelot 40 PAQ
2007 JK 4Door Jeep
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04-01-2009, 04:51 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
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Hi PizzaGuy,
USGear is a great system. Had mine for over 3 years and it works as advertised. Congrats on your installation. Many trouble free miles of towing is in your future.
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Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
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04-01-2009, 12:35 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Fulltime/ SE Minnesota
Posts: 3,119
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Good job and congrats on your install. Cuts will heal.
__________________
08 Foretravel Nimbus 40 ft tag axle / 1000 watts of solar
2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn Hemi 4x4
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04-01-2009, 12:50 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,339
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Good work on a great system! The one thing I love about the UTB (besides being proportional AND progressive) is that it is always there, totally non-invasive, and ready to go - it is a true no fuss system.
I simply hook up the tow bar and plug in ONE 7 pin (modified) umbilical cord and presto my UTB, Remco pump, Toad-Charge, AND brake/turn lights are all active ready to go (and all are powered by the coach, not the toad). Nothing else to connect or do! One tow bar and one cable. I call it my TOAD to GO!
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2007 and 7/8ths Newmar Essex 4502
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04-01-2009, 01:17 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Roving, Datastorm users 3192
Posts: 755
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Let me give you my opinion of the system you have, in case you did not read it in the process of making your decision..
THE GREATEST
How's that.
And the major difference between your system and mine is I let someone else skin his elbow and scrape his nuckles
__________________
Nothing adds excitement like something that is none of your business.
2005 Damon Intruder 377W Radio Active as WA8YXM
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04-01-2009, 05:41 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: KM Parks in Western Washington and Yuma,Az for the Winter
Posts: 1,483
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I've had mine for over 2 years. Greatest thing going especially hooking up in a rain storm when more time means more "wet".
I had mine installed, Nothing better than driving up, hooking up and saying thank you, Then hitting the road. But I will say, more power to you guys that do it yourselves
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2012 Itasca Meridian 42E, Roadmaster Tow System, Unified Brakes on Toad
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland. US Army Armor. Ret
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04-01-2009, 06:59 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Roving, Datastorm users 3192
Posts: 755
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Foolks keep telling me about there "Brake box" systems like Brake Buddy or Even Brake
Finhawk, You said a lot.
__________________
Nothing adds excitement like something that is none of your business.
2005 Damon Intruder 377W Radio Active as WA8YXM
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04-02-2009, 10:11 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,529
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Only 10 hours. We spent almost that much time under our '04 Beaver! Note you have an '07 which is prewired and would have saved all that time. Had to redo our '04 Vue controller solenoid twice to get it "hidden" properly and work well with no binding.
However:
It now works GREAT and looks even better.
Not sure if your '07 Vue has the same requirement to pull the "instrument panel" fuse thereby eliminating the accumulation of miles on the speedometer?? If so, it was very easy to install a 20 amp switch in series with the fuse and hide it. Now it's flip the switch rather than pull the fuse.
Harold Miller
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Hal & Ginny Miller '04 Beaver Santiam PRT40
'04 Saturn Vue - US Gear Brake - Blue Ox tow
3"girls" (2 Irish Setters - 1 Retriever) - RIP Annie & Emily (12/26/2017)
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04-02-2009, 04:37 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Lompoc CA
Posts: 139
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Harold
It was pre wired but not very well. The orange wire that is supposed to connect to the brake light switch was not connected to anything. It just dead ends inside the generator compartment.
The tech support guys at US Gear were very helpfull assisting me to find the porblem. So --- technically, I am still working on it. When I initially said it worked perfect, I was refering to all of the static tests. Road test today reveled the orange wire problem. I have email into Monaco but I don't think I will hear from them soon.
My question to them was fairly simple. Where do I connect the orange wire to and do I need the blockind diode that is required on 2006 and earlier models.
Tech support at US Gear is closed right now but a morning call to them will make me feel a lot better. I am still a happy camper with US Gear but I am a little pissed at Monaco. I will get over it
Yes, I do need to pull the fuse. I would like to know more about how you wired the switch.
Don
__________________
Don & Carol Croner, FMCA- F401447
2007 Monaco Diplomat PDQ 40
2017 Buick Envision, US Gear Tow Brake
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04-03-2009, 07:10 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,529
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Don,
On the "unwired" '04 Beaver we had to install a blinker which was not supplied (yes a normal 4 pole blinker) and directions did not mention the diode. Checked with factory and it was not req'd with blinker.
Our biggest quandary was where and how to mount the "pulley" behind the brake pedal on the Vue. That part of the '04 Vue was nowhere near flat. Even purchased a sheet of 1/32 steel to screw to the floor in hopes of making it level - I believe it was the 4th drink when the light came on and the sheet steel was not req'd.
Also about half the 8-10 hours under the MH was spent blocking up the main frame with HEAVY concrete blocks as I have an aversion to crawling under 32,000 lbs unblocked.
Good luck with that "extra" wire.
Harold Miller
__________________
Hal & Ginny Miller '04 Beaver Santiam PRT40
'04 Saturn Vue - US Gear Brake - Blue Ox tow
3"girls" (2 Irish Setters - 1 Retriever) - RIP Annie & Emily (12/26/2017)
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04-03-2009, 09:14 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 198
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Another individual and I installed the unit and took all day, but it was well worth it. As other posters have noted earlier, it is very easy to hook up and works flawlessly. Just bought another car so I get to do the instal again.
__________________
08 Itasca Meridian
Nissan Xtera Off Road
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04-03-2009, 02:44 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Lompoc CA
Posts: 139
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Harold
Once again, the guy (Lee) at US Gear tech support saved the day. He told me exactly what to look for and where to look. There is a relay inside the electrical compartment that is the brake control relay. One of the wires was marked "to brake controller". I ran the orange wire into the box and connected it to the "to brake controller" wire and the system now works fine. Every problem I had was cause by Monaco.
I too was worried about finding a flat surface for the pully. Mine is at a slight angle but there is no binding. It works just great
Thanks everyone for their input. I am a very happy camper
Don
__________________
Don & Carol Croner, FMCA- F401447
2007 Monaco Diplomat PDQ 40
2017 Buick Envision, US Gear Tow Brake
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04-04-2009, 08:33 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: allover the place
Posts: 114
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We have had ours for 4 years. Love it. Got a new car and had it changed over but I did the first one myself. Took a long tome to find the correct brake wire and get the relay that was not supplied. You never know it is there but it always works.
__________________
2002 40ft. Holiday Rambler Imperial
2008 VW Eos Toad
2007 Parti-Poodle Kylie ( all 10 lbs of him)
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