taylorgso
Greensboro NC
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Joined: 02/01/2013
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egmurray wrote:Need to replace my brake buddy... looking at a new Patriot?
Is this a good, reliable unit. My brake buddy let me down twice. The brake buddy doesn't seen to like cold weather; I have no choice when I leave for the south.
We tow a 2007 Mazda3 behind our Sprinter based Solera, and use the Patriot. So far I have been very pleased with the operation. Price includes a remote control to be used in the Motorhome to control the sensitivity of the Patriot, and status indicators telling whether it is activated, if it currently has brakes applied, or if Patriot has been disabled due to a fault. It has functioned well. Only issue we have had is that it must be charged prior to first use, because it has an internal battery as a backup if the toad battery drops below a critical point. We also discovered that if stopped on a downhill slope and holding foot on brake for extended period, the Patriot will display "time out" fault and must be turned off and on, and reinitialized. To avoid this, I have begun to turn the gain to "0" with the remote during this time - after having come to a stop (this effectively puts unit in standby) and resetting gain after resuming motion. This seems to have worked. I am assuming if the unit is not used for extended periods (like over the winter), that it would need to be recharged again. I have also installed a "Toad Brake" system to keep toad battery charged, hopefully avoiding any battery issues.
Ed (N4RWU) & Becky Taylor
Mistie (Walks Four Down)
2014Thor Tuscany XTE 40GQ
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moodier
Yuma Az.
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Joined: 06/29/2005
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Compare the Roasmaster 9000 series to the Bake Buddy?I have for many years used the Brake Buddy but am not impressed as It seems to be only emergency brake no proportional affect.I believe there new one is proportional?Presently bought a MH that has the Roadmaster on it but would have to buy the car portion dealer states about $850 to do that part Ouch!But is air operated and proportional sounds like much better piece of equipment but seems expensive and that is just the car the MH has the air compressor etc on it aready.Guess still have to set up the air cylinder each time but not like the brake buddy?This is a 26'class A never worried much about system except to meet letter of the law as pulled for many years with a 40K+ bus now this liter rig and poor performance of the old style Brake Buddy gets me thinking!Any experience with the Roadmaster units??
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sealg
Colorado
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Joined: 10/22/2011
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Uh Oh... There I go again.
Seeing all the discussion of the various problems and peculiarities with the several electronic supplementary brakes takes me back....
There are two supplementary brakes available that are non-electric, foolproof, 100% truly proportional, do not have to be repeatedly adjusted, easy to install, work with any MH and any toad. And oh yes, both are less expensive than any of the electronic-based systems.
The two are ReadyBrake and Blue Ox AutoStop
I can see only one reason to go for the more expensive systems. Namely; to pay more to your favorite dealer for a less effective product.
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Ray & June
Location changes from day to day-Full timing!
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Joined: 01/12/2004
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In the mid seventies I started towing a very light race car (1290 lbs) on a light trailer without brakes. I was using a Chevy 1 ton van class B. I also flat towed our Toyota Celica without brakes. I was very careful and never had any problems. Moving to our current class C (75 American Clipper on Dodge 1 ton) I towed the race car and flat towed numerous vehicles on tow dollys, again without brakes. Still no problems.
We are planning on retiring and full-timing in the next 6 months. We bought a '13 CRV and flat tow it behind our RV. (still the 75 Dodge). I installed the SMI stay-n-play system on it, and have been amazed at the difference. I have not done any measurements, but I know I've shortened my stopping distance
considerably. I wish I had done this 30 years ago.
The reason I chose the SMI system is because I didn't want to have to set up and remove a box every-time we hook-up or un-hook. You simply throw a switch. Nothing to store, and nothing that might move.
Take it from someone who has RV'd for 45 years and over 225,000 miles, the supplementary braking systems are worth it in peace of mind and stopping distance.
Sold the house, retired, and full timing. 15 years of dreams come true!
2015 Itasca 33C, Black Garnet
2013 Honda CRV EXL toad
Roadmaster Sterling all terrain tow bar
Roadmaster Tow Shield
Roadmaster Guardian
SMI "Stay-in-Play" Brake system
ISL "Toad Charge"
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Curt and Marie
on the road soon
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Joined: 03/02/2014
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I have the same worry's about the system locking up but my toad is a bit on the heavy side so I will. I am considering investing $80 at auto zone for another rear view camera and installing it inside my toad so I can watch it wireless from my coach?? sound crazy? not sure I am a newby
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buckeyejoey
Fairfield, Ohio, north east of Cincinnati
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Hi All -
We just bought our first good used motorhome last July. We are trying to put together what need to tow our 2010 Honda Fit w/manual transmission behind our 35 foot 2006 Forest River Georgetown built on the Ford F-53 Gas chassis w/ the Ford Triton V-10, 20-valve, 310 HP engine and the F400 transmission. Motorhome has a 3000/300 hitch receiver from factory and we have a Blue Ox Aladdin 4000 lb. rated tow bar that was part of the system that the original owners provided as part of the sale to us. Blue Ox makes a base plate for the Honda Fit. Found a diode plug-in wiring solution for the brake lights and trickle charger for the battery. Trying to find the best economical braking system and break away system to round out the package.
Any experience with "surge" supplemental braking systems like the NSA Readybrake with the additional emergency breakaway system?
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sealg
Colorado
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Joined: 10/22/2011
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buckeyejoey wrote:Hi All -
Any experience with "surge" supplemental braking systems like the NSA Readybrake with the additional emergency breakaway system?
Yes. Lots of experience with blue ox. All good.
See the post just above, Posted: 01/12/14 07:49am
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jdavidsmi
Central Tennessee
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Joined: 04/11/2015
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I have spent some time reading the post about braking systems for towing. but i did not find a answer to a question that been rumbling around in my brain for the last couple of months.
i have an older car dolly without any brakes. my question is should i install a set of electric breaks on the dolly, or use something like the Readybrake
i tow a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta sportswagen with a automatic transmission. around 3300 lbs. so i need to use the dolly.
2004 Fleetwood Terra 31H (no slides) F53 with V-10
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butter
kentucky
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I pull a 2010 smart car with my 210 Roadtrek and could fell the brake buddy doing its job on the back when stoping.Smart only weights 1800 Lbs.
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Yrachmael
Boca Raton Florida
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Joined: 03/26/2015
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I'm towing a 2000# Honda Fit behind my 36' Cheeta pusher using Blue Ox bar and chains. Up to now I haven't had any need for a braking system in the toad. However, I'm planning a X-ross country trip late this spring that will include California. So now I'm questioning whether spending over 1k for a system is even needed and if so is one of those second hand Brake Buddies on Ebay worth a few hundred dollars or just a waste?
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