Talk about dodging a BULLET !!!

That guy needs to have a nice talk with who ever put his base plate on... My base plate has safety cables so even if the bolts holding it on break the cables will hold the base plate to the frame of the car. The front or my car might be a big mess if this happens but its not coming off... :D

mowermech wrote:


Wasn't the end result the optimum one could hope for? The car went off the road, and was stopped by bushes. No injuries or fatalities, no damage except to the car and some bushes. Seems to me that is the best one could hope for!

Your right! This guy should buy a lottery ticket. That was his luckiest day of his life.
Nope, he already won the lottery, all the sueing that could have been if someone did get hurt or worst killed.

Aw, come on - lots of "experts" on here say it's not legally required so they don't need no stinking toad braking system. :R
{sarcasm off}

..While I am a huge proponent of the Readybrake system like Dennis, (the original poster), I have to agree with what one poster previously said - This incident does not provide a good case for or against Readybrake. Or any other supplemental braking system for that matter.

A break-away system of some kind, properly installed, absolutely! This incident shows clearly why a break-away of some kind is a really good idea. The two (supplemental braking system and break-away unit) are not always necessarily one and the same. Readybrake's break-away unit, the Ready-Stop, is totally independant of the braking system and can be installed on just about ANY vehicle, whether you are using a Readybrake supplemental brake or not.

However, like mowermech said, there's just soooo many questions surrounding this one, its hard to really say if a break-away unit of any kind would have worked here, and if it did, if the end result would be any better or worse than what happened.

This incident came up previously over in the Dinghy towing section of this forum. The comments then were very similar to whats been said here. I agree, that this driver was EXTREMELY fortunate. I would say he should go out and buy a lottery ticket, but I think he may well have used up all his good luck for a while, haha. :)

Executive wrote:
Please consider installation of a readybrake on your towed vehicle. THIS accident could and should have been prevented. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed....although the owner probably needs a new pair of undershorts......:).....Dennis

Motor Home driver loses toad

not sure if a ReadyBrake would have prevented this accident but I agree with the concept that an aux braking system with a brake-away feature could have helped.

kaydeejay wrote:
Aw, come on - lots of "experts" on here say it's not legally required so they don't need no stinking toad braking system. :R
{sarcasm off}

Tell that to the guy that spent a lot of money only to have his toad end up in the bushes. Yep, his towing system was a good investment. :R
Now ask him if his insurance company is going to reimburse him or if he has to sue the company that installed the base plate, or the vehicle manufacturer.
His auto insurance company may completely deny his claim saying that this was not an "accident" and that it was caused by someone else's negligence.

et2 wrote:
I'm curious why the poster turned it into a promotion for ready brake?

I was wondering the same thing, if you read my previous post. Must be Mr ready brake

My Aunt that passed several years ago was nearly killed in Salt Lake City back in the late 60s when a pick up being towed with a tow bar separated and that pick up crossed the medium and hit them at 70mph.......you would be surprised at how many of these current units are installed by minimum wage illegals that can't even read the directions, on vehicles where they should never be in the 1st place.....This man was lucky.

hanko wrote:

et2 wrote:
I'm curious why the poster turned it into a promotion for ready brake?

I was wondering the same thing, if you read my previous post. Must be Mr ready brake

Stocks in Company.:B

Not much choice due to the vehicle we tow, but this makes me just that more determined to stick with using a dolly or trailer and following my safety protocols. Check, double check, drive around the block a couple of times, hitting the brakes several time then back to the house for another check and double check. Soon as we clear town, I pull off and recheck trailer ball connection and straps.