lfeather
Titusville, FL
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Joined: 08/03/2001
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Note that the new SMI Air Force One works on the same principle as the M&G (proportional/air), but unlike the M&G, the SMI comes with the dash warning light and the breakaway.
Larry, Debbie & Max the Pug
USAF Retired
2014 Itasca Reyo P
2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i 6 speed manual transmission
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STANHOWARD
Baltimore, MD
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Joined: 03/06/2008
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Pulsar,
Great information, looks like you have done a lot of homework on this one.
I would like to throw one more system into the mix that granted, I just found the thread, but have not seen this one mentioned so far. It is made by SMI, & is called the "Air Force One" system. A link to one source so you can look it over is enclosed.
http://www.rvupgradestore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=626
The wife & I took delivery in early October of a new 2008 40' Holiday Rambler Ambassador. Like most of the other big ones it has air brakes. We moved up from a 35' 5th at the MD RV show. I was convinced from the start that I wanted the brakes to work on the toad, in our case a 2004 4WD Chevy Avalanche that weighs in at just under 6,000 pounds. The original brake unit was selected & ordered thru the dealer before we took delivery so they could put it all together. Turned out when we took the truck up to get fitted for the tow bar & Brake unit, whatever it was we had picked would work with the air brakes on the bus, but NOT with the brake system on the Avalanche. The dealer's folks got to digging around & came up with the Air Force One unit that would play nicely with both, and it has worked out great. You don't even know the extra 6,000 pounds is back there, and that's the way I like it. There is a small indicator light that they added to the dash that lights up when you step on the brake, to indicate that the toad brakes are working, and as far as I know there are no other user adjustments. There is also one small air line & electrical cable that run between the bus & toad. The only setup once you get everything connected is to step on the bus brakes once before you pull off. To my understanding this charges the air cylinder that activated the brake pedal in the toad. We have not been far in it yet, MD weather caught up with us & we had to bed it down for the winter, but spring's coming!!
The service manager at the dealer liked it so much he said they were gonna start recommending it for all of the setups.
thanks for a great place to get info, and hopefully share occasionally!
Stan & Evelyn
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No_Limits
San Juan Bautista, CA
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Joined: 05/17/2008
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Great informative post. Thanks. We use the ReadyBrake system along with the ReadyBrute tow bar. When we were ready to tow the Jeep I wanted a simple system and one that wouldn't break the bank. Since I have some DIY abilities, I took a look at ready brake. I spent a few weeks on ebay looking for some Roadmaster Brakets. Found them for $175.00. Next was a wiring harness, I went with Cooltech, 90.00. I bought a Roadmaster umbilical cord for $70.00. All I had to do was to cut off one end of the 6 prong connector and solder on a round 4 to match what I had done on the Jeep. Lastly the towbar. I bought the ReadyBrute complete kit 902.00. It came with the towbar, aux brake, brake away, indicator and brake light switch relay. The ReadyBrute uses the same ends as Demco. The Demco to Roadmaster towbar adapter was around 90.00. For about $1400.00 we did what I think is one of the nicest setups around. The surge brakes work as intended. Haven't had to make an emergency stop yet but a few that were at least "urgent". You can feel the Jeep giving a good pull on the MH.
Rick and Julia...Living Life Without Limits...
2005 Dolphin 5367
2007 Jeep Wrangler Toad.
www.livesafeandhealthy.net
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travel fool
Elsah, Illinois
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I had a Roadmaster brake system installed in my Jeep tow vehicle being pulled by my class A MH. We've been on the road a week and the battery in the Jeep has been dead three times after we stop for the night. What are we doing wrong? Does the brake system take that much juice? What can we do so the battery stays charged? I know it's not a battery problem because the Jeep is brand new and only has 450 miles on it.
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No_Limits
San Juan Bautista, CA
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It's no secret that your brake system uses power from your Jeep. If you are not driving your Jeep enough after a long tow, the brake system will drain your battery over a few days. I would do one of two things. Add a 12v line from your coach to charge the battery on the Jeep or,,,, switch to a passive system like we did by going to the readybrake system. It uses no power and is truly proportional.
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CA Traveler
The Western States
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travel fool wrote:I had a Roadmaster brake system installed in my Jeep tow vehicle being pulled by my class A MH. We've been on the road a week and the battery in the Jeep has been dead three times after we stop for the night. What are we doing wrong? Does the brake system take that much juice? What can we do so the battery stays charged? I know it's not a battery problem because the Jeep is brand new and only has 450 miles on it. New or not the first order of business is to have the battery load tested. New batteries can be defective and in any event you want to eliminate that possibility.
Does your manual tell you to remove any fuses or whatever and have you done that? If so and it's dead at the end starting from a full charge then you may well need to add a charge line from the MH.
BTW We've now had the battery on our new 04 CRV replaced twice by Honda. First time at no cost and the second time at $24 prorated. And they are alleged to be 100 month batteries.
2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Bob
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pulsar
Lewisville, NC
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Joined: 12/30/2001
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travel fool wrote:I had a Roadmaster brake system installed in my Jeep tow vehicle being pulled by my class A MH. We've been on the road a week and the battery in the Jeep has been dead three times after we stop for the night. What are we doing wrong? Does the brake system take that much juice? What can we do so the battery stays charged? I know it's not a battery problem because the Jeep is brand new and only has 450 miles on it.
This is not a very good thread for bringing up problems with the systems. Generally, you would get more responses with a new thread. Since the intent of this thread was to discuss the features of the different systems, not many members regularly check posts here.
Tom
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rany
Grants Pass OR
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Joined: 10/04/2006
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For 3 years I have had a U.S. Gear braking system on my Jeep Cherokee and 36' gas motorhome. I would not have any other type of system. This system uses the power braking system on the car to get full braking capacity from it and actually shortens the stopping of the motorhome compared to not towing. The control works just like an electronic trailer brake control and allows positive and reliable control under all road conditions. Don't waste time and safety with the micky mouse boxes that sit on the floor of the towed vehicle.
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CountryCoachrv
Niceville, Fl
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Joined: 10/20/2003
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Which brake system is:
1. Easiest to install?
2. Least impact on dinghy, i.e., electrical system and brakes.
3. Keeps operator informed when dinghy brakes are operating and when brakes have been released?
4. Most reliable.
5. Most cost effective.
Thanks
CC Coach RVer
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No_Limits
San Juan Bautista, CA
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I think my solution was a good one.
The complete readybrake supplemental braking and readybrute towbar cost $900.
The Brackets for the jeep I found on eBay for $175.00.
The towbar adapter was $100.00. I got that from readybrake.
The Roadmaster Coilcord I bought from Retail-Land, I mean camping world for $80.00 and the brake light wiring from cooltech LLC was $100.00.
All done and self installed for under $1300.00
The readybrake kit comes with a indicator light on the dash to show that the Jeep brakes are being used, A break away cable and a relay for the brake lights if you need it. Any braking system is going to draw on the towed vehicles braking system so that's a draw no matter whos system you use. I would highly recommend the readybrake system for its reliability and simplicity and if on a budget, (who isn't these days), it's a great deal.
![[image]](http://dc35.4shared.com/download/42135697/b22696b9/IMG_0597.JPG)
![[image]](http://dc35.4shared.com/download/42135706/15217751/IMG_0599.JPG)
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