Mechanical Differences Between Tow Brake Systems
Portable or permanent, it’s important to know that there are many different ways that various tow braking systems work.
Some work when the coach’s brakes are applied.
Some work when they sense your coach slowing down and by knowing that you are braking.
Some work in direct proportion to how much you are braking your coach.
Some tow car brake systems are adjustable… some work in sync with your motorhome’s brakes… there are different ways these braking systems work.
Not only do tow brake systems come in different ‘packages’ , they also differ in how they work as far as what makes them ‘decide’ to activate your toad’s brakes .
Here’s where it’s important to know what the differences are so you can pick the right type of system for your setup.
The most common types of activation systems are:
Let’s look at how they differ mechanically .
Portable Towed Vehicle Brake Systems
A portable towed vehicle braking system is good for those RVers who tend to change tow vehicles every few years.
It’s also goo for those who aren’t sure that they want to keep their current toad, or who have more than one vehicle that they tow.
With a portable toad braking system, you can easily take it with you if you get a new toad or swap out toads.
This way you don’t have to buy a whole new system for your new toad or your second toad.
Also, a portable brake system is cheaper because you don’t have to pay for installation.
Installs can cost just as much as the supplemental braking system equipment cost.
In this way, having a portable dinghy brake system is a plus.
However, portability can also be a negative. How?
Because every time you hit the road, you have to set up the device.
Setting up a portable dinghy brake system each time you hit the road is not complicated.
But it does add another step to your list of things to do before you take off.
Also, the chance for user error goes up because there are more steps to do to set up a portable dinghy braking system.
Additionally, you will have to store the device when it’s not in use .
We all know storage space is an extremely valuable commodity in an RV.
Therefore you have to take it out of your toad when you get to your destination and store it.
Ugh.
There are quite a few portable RV toad braking systems.
Brake Buddy, Blue Ox, Roadmaster, and more all make a portable towed vehicle brake system.
It’s pretty easy, usually.
Roadmaster 9400 Even Brake System
- Very easy to install and operate motorhome and car braking system
- Full-time proportional and synchronized braking
- Comes with a low battery alert
- Self-diagnostic monitoring and testing capabilities
- Advanced terrain-sensing logic
- May not work at high altitudes
- A bit expensive
The Roadmaster 9400 Even Brake System is perfect for people who want a high-performance device that is very easy to install and even easier to operate. This product offers the same performance level that you can get from other Roadmaster systems in a portable and convenient design.
The main advantage of the 9400 even portable system is its ridiculously simple installation. All you ever need is to position the device in front of the drivers seat and secure the clamp into the brake pedal. You can then connect the unit by adjusting the drivers seat, which serves as an anchor for the system. Plug the accompanying wiring harness into your cars 12-volt outlet, and the system is ready.
Once plugged, the Even portable system performs a self-test to get your brakes ready. When you apply the brakes, the system delivers the same amount of force to the brake pads on your towed vehicle. There are no delays to worry about or even differences in brake intensity.
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Best Towed Vehicle Braking Systems For 2022
Dis just funny- someone is bringing ALL of the toys!!
Bringing along an extra vehicle on your camping trip can be super convenient.
It can also be a lifesaver.
Having to drive your giant motorhome everywhere and break camp is no fun.
Everything has to be put away, you have to breakdown camp, and possibly even leave stuff there to save your spot.
Annoying.
If you DO decide to tow a vehicle behind your motorhome, you have to do it right.
This means having a supplemental braking system for the towed vehicle.
You will also need a tow bar to connect your toad to your motorhome.
In this guide, we are going to teach you all you need to know about different types of supplemental braking systems.
You’ll learn how they work and why they are likely required in your state.
Deeper below, we review braking systmes to let you know which ones we would suggest would be best for your setup.
Time to dig in!
Already know all about this subject? Just looking for the reviews? Click the button below to jump down to the product reviews.
Power Led Flashes Orange:
If your Blue ox Patriot 3 trailer brakes indicator light is flashing orange, it means that there is a problem with the electrical system. This could be due to a blown a fuse or faulty wiring harness. If your light flashes orange, pull over and check the fuses on your tow vehicle and trailer. Replace any that are blown out and then turn on the ignition again. If you still experience problems with power, contact an RV repair specialist for help.
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Base Plates Towing Bars And Braking Systems
Roadmaster
ROADMASTER continues to produce high-quality, aesthetically-pleasing tow bars for customers all around the world. They use computerized testing on every new tow bar design and was the first towing products manufacturer to do so! The tow bar options are Non-Binding Tow Bars and Classic Tow Bars. The Classic Tow Bars offer time-tested and time-proven reliability and endurance. They feature a powder-coated finish, stainless steel moving components and a full length crossbar for additional safety. The Non-Binding Tow Bars are their premium tow bars. Offering all the features the Classic Tow bars have, they add the benefit of releasing your towed vehicle easily even when the tow bar is at a difficult angle.
ROADMASTER offers three different braking systems to fit your needs. First is a hidden system called InvisiBrake. Next system is a direct system called the BrakeMaster. Lastly they offer a portable system called Even Brake or 9700. All of these systems will bring your towed vehicle in compliance with the U.S. and Canadian requirements. They all include an emergency break away system that will stop your towed vehicle should it every separate from the motorhome. They work virtually in any vehicle with power brakes and in any motorhome. All ROADMASTER systems greatly decrease your stopping distance which will help you avoid accidents.
M& G Braking System
Demco
Blue Ox
CURT
LINKS
Demco 9599007 Braking System
- Ideal for motorhomes with air brake systems
- Energizes the toads power brakes without using an electronic vacuum system
- Slim design that can be installed under the hood
- Comes with Total Coach Protection that safeguards the motorhome
- 100% proportionate and synchronized braking
- More expensive than other systems
The Demco 9599007 Air Force One is a one-of-a-kind braking system built for modern motorhomes. The product has an ingenious technology that energizes the toads power brakes without using an electronic vacuum system.
This SMI braking system relies on the motorhomes air brake system signal to deliver proportional and synchronized braking. It automatically activates the brakes on the towed vehicle when you step on the brake pedal of your RV.
Everything occurs in real-time. There is no lag between the pedals pressing and the activation of the brakes in the towed vehicle. You also get the same amount of braking force in the wheels of your car.
The Air Force One also has a very slim design that you can install under the hood and hidden from view. Once installed, you can forget having to activate the system every time you connect your toad at the back of your motorhome.
The only downside to this Demco device is its price. It is as much as twice the price of other systems. This is not an issue for many RV owners. The dependability and performance of the Air Force One is enough justification.
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Towed Vehicle Braking System Pricing
Towed vehicle braking systems can sell for anywhere between $800-$1500 for the average situation. The price you pay is heavily dependent on the specifics of your situation and what features are necessary to make things work. Unfortunately, you can’t base your decision on which is cheapest as the most affordable option unless you know for sure that it will work for your setup.
Hopkins Towed Vehicle Brake System
- Delivers correct brake power to towed vehicle
- Comes with a wireless controller for efficient pairing with the unit
- Features sensitivity control for optimum brake response
- Brake pedal clamp is easy to install and remove
- Has a portable, stable design
- Brake pedal clamp may not fit certain vehicles
Hopkins is one of the most trusted names when it comes to braking systems for motorhomes and recreational vehicles. Its Brake Buddy Select 3 is one of the brands best selling products because of its portability and reliable features.
Select 3 is almost similar to the Stealth when it comes to performance. It applies the correct braking force on the towed vehicles wheels in proportion to the force used on the motorhome. Never again will you have to fret about your cars weight becoming such a hindrance to effective braking.
Users of the system love the Select 3s wireless controller. It pairs with the central unit in an instant. It also gives you feedback about the status of the system, which is crucial if there is a problem with your brake components. You will also like the sensitivity controls of the Select 3, which are designed for different vehicle types.
Installing Select 3 is never an issue. The brake pedal clamp is easy to install and remove. However, there are individual brake pedals that the clamp may not fit. This is often the case in vehicles with small brake pedals.
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How Does The Blue Ox Patriot 3 Work
The Blue Ox Patriot 3 is a proportional control that uses a microprocessor to monitor the vehicles deceleration and apply the trailer brake accordingly. This means that applying your brakes will activate the trailer brakes at an appropriate level. For example, if you are driving down a steep hill and need to slow down quickly, your vehicle will automatically apply more braking force to both vehicles than if you were driving on flat terrain or just making slight speed changes.
The Blue Ox Patriot 3 has three modes:
- Automatic mode .
Permanent Tow Vehicle Brake Systems
Having a permanent tow vehicle brake system means that it is not removed once installed, or to drive the toad.
The system is permanently mounted into your towed vehicle and motorhome .
If you have a tow vehicle that you know you will be keeping for a long time, or just don’t want to have to mess with installation every time you go on a trip, you should get a permanent tow braking system that installs once and done.
This means one less step to complete before and after you get to your destination.
A permanent tow brake system is nice in that it’s out of the way, there’s nothing to store, and there’s very little to have to do to engage and disengage the system when you hit the road or arrive at your destination.
However, the permanent towed vehicle brake system must be installed in your toad.
This may not be an easy task for many of you.
Unless you have proficient electronics experience and aren’t afraid to dig into a vehicle’s mechanical system, you will have to have it installed professionally.
This can greatly add to the cost of the overall system.
This is something to consider in the beginning.
You won’t likely miss the money once it’s spent.
Plus, it’s not an ongoing cost.
You just pay once for it to be installed correctly by a competent shop/mechanic.
Still, which permanent dinghy braking system you pick depends on whether you value convenience over saving a few bucks and/or how long you plan to keep your towed vehicle.
Permanent RV Toad Braking System Pros and Cons:
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Dinghy Toad Towed Or What
There are several different words that describe a vehicle towed behind a motorhome.
We use all these phrases to describe a smaller vehicle being towed behind a motorhome:
- A vehicle being towed behind an RV can simply be called a ‘towed vehicle‘
- As a play on words, a vehicle being towed behind an RV can be called a ‘toad‘
- Borrowing from the nautical world , a towed vehicle can be called a ‘dinghy‘
Benefits of Using a Toad Braking System:
- Having a supplemental braking system will save your motorhome’s brakes from serious wear and tear
- Your motorhome will brake more easily
- Your braking distance will not increase
- You will not cause an accident due to your increased braking distance
- Worst case scenario, having a supplemental brake system could save you from death, mental anguish, and possibly jail time
Negatives of Using a Toad Braking System:
- None except cost and installation, but you can’t get around this
Many manufacturers state that their towed car brake systems reduce your RV stopping distance by 20-50% when towing a vehicle.
Obviously a motorhome weighs significantly more than most regular vehicles.
So the stopping distance WITHOUT 3,000+ pounds behind it is already going to be significant.
Putting 3,000+ pounds behind it with no braking system will increase your stopping distance even more.
With a tow braking system, you will not cause an accident because of INCREASED braking distance.
Types Of Towed Vehicle Braking Systems
Proportional
A proportional braking system comes with a device that monitors your brakes. It can be a sensor that watches the amount of pressure being applied or an accelerometer that measures the acceleration and deceleration.
The braking system will then apply a pressure amount that is proportional to the toad. Thus, the two vehicles running in one file will have a similar intensity brake.
Progressive
This brake does not adjust the pressure like the proportional braking system. When the towed vehicle registers that its brakes have been applied, it starts using the brakes with an increasing pressure, which will keep increasing as you depress the primary vehicles brake pedal. Still, the pressure will eventually disappear, protecting the towed vehicles brakes.
Direct
These braking systems are directly wired into the brakes of your primary vehicle. They will be the brakes of your car, not matching your vehicles brakes. Whatever pressure that you apply to the primary brake pedal will be directly applied to the toad. However, theyre hard to install even if theyre very accurate. You might want to seek a professional mechanics help to install them.
These are the basic types of toad braking systems that you must know to set your expectations from the beginning and think about which one may be right for you. In the next section of our towed vehicle braking systems reviews and buying guide, lets talk about the benefits of using a toad braking system.
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Solid Blue & Red Light During Setup
If you have a problem with your Blue ox Patriot 3 and the brake power light is flashing, its usually due to a loose connection or bad wiring.
The first thing to do if this happens is check the wires that connect your brake controller to your vehicle. Make sure theyre all tight and in place. If they are, try taking them apart and reattaching them with new wire nuts .
If it doesnt fix it, it can be a problem with the cars internal wiring. You may need to replace some wires or parts of the system entirely.
Roadmaster 9100 Towed Car Braking System
- Suitable for RVs with air or air over hydraulic brakes
- Compatible with motorhomes that have air-over-hydraulic brake systems
- Installation is effortless
- Does not come with complete installation components
- Does not have a breakaway system
The Roadmaster 9100 Brakemaster is a nice product for motorhome owners who do not have a need for a break away system. It is very similar to the Roadmaster 9160 Brakemaster both in design and functionality. The only difference is the absence of the Break Away System, which the 9160 Brakemaster has.
One advantage of the 9100 Brakemaster is that it works with motorhomes that have air or air over hydraulic brakes. This makes the product appealing to motorhome owners.
Its design also facilitates effortless installation. I only had to drill the hole and mount the bracket. Many RV tow vehicle brake systems require complicated procedures to have them installed or removed. You will not have such issues with this product.
The 9100 Brakemaster is also one of the most affordable systems you can get. However, the package does not come with the different installation components that you may need. This can translate into additional costs that can undermine the affordability of the product. Once you have the mounting plate bolted onto your floorboard, everything else is a breeze.
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Benefits Of A Dinghy Braking System
Guess what? According to Brake Buddy, most states require any trailer or towable weighing over 3,000 pounds to have a supplemental braking system.
Yes, laws vary in different states.
For the most part, if you are towing another vehicle behind your RV , the towed vehicle must have a supplemental braking system.
This accident was not due to a supplemental brake failure. However, this COULD happen to you if you tow without supplemental brakes.
Why?
Even though some states don’t specifically mention pulling a VEHICLE and it needing brakes, nearly all states consider anything pulled to be a ‘trailer’.
Most every state has laws about supplemental braking systems being required when you are towing a trailer over a certain weight.
So just because your state doesn’t specifically SAY your towed vehicle needs a supplemental braking system, interpretation of the law will likely conclude that a vehicle is a ‘trailer’.
This means you need a towed vehicle braking system.
It’s a very logical, necessary requirement.
