We have a Phaeton motorhome and are purchasing a tow bar to pull our Honda CRV. The RV dealer we use for maintenance sells and recommends the Ready Brute Tow Bar. In the pamphlet for the tow bar it states, " The Ready Brute Elite is a multi-purpose aluminum toe bar that has our patented Ready Brake supplemental brake system integrated into the head of it". My understanding is it works like surge brakes. If this is true, would traveling in mountains present a problem with the brakes releasing when going down hill? Does anyone use this type tow bar and what has your experience been? Thanks for your reply,John

No, surge brake systems have an internal brake override spring to prevent brake application when going down hill or during light braking. Surge brake systems are proportional to braking force being applied by the coach.

We have the ready brute elite tow bar. It works nicely and eliminates a lot of headache for having a supplemental braking system. It has a piston set for approximately 250 lbs of force to make the surge brake activate. It requires as small hole in the firewall for the cable to run thru and then it attaches to the brake pedal with a small clamp. It will not activate going down hill or normal braking but will apply if you brake hard. Just make sure you have a drop down or riser extension for your motor home receiver to keep the system close to level. I have a four inch drop on mine. The acceptable range is 2 to 3 inches either way but I preferred level.

Good simple system and works. Im towing a 4-runner with this system, EZ to hookup and unhook and nothing but lights to worry about.LEN

I also use the ready brake elite and I used it on a Honda Fit and then moved it to our CRV. When switching it to the CRV all I needed was a new cable.

Yep, another happy ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/brake system user here. We've been up and down many 5-6% grades with no brake drag problems. As said, there's a pre-load that prevents those problems. We've used ours on two different toads, and I was able to switch everything from one to the other.

Tow Bars | Good Sam Community

33 Replies

OLYLEN
Explorer
Oct 30, 2017
Good simple system and works. Im towing a 4-runner with this system, EZ to hookup and unhook and nothing but lights to worry about.

LEN
Campinghoss
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2017
We have the ready brute elite tow bar. It works nicely and eliminates a lot of headache for having a supplemental braking system. It has a piston set for approximately 250 lbs of force to make the surge brake activate. It requires as small hole in the firewall for the cable to run thru and then it attaches to the brake pedal with a small clamp. It will not activate going down hill or normal braking but will apply if you brake hard. Just make sure you have a drop down or riser extension for your motor home receiver to keep the system close to level. I have a four inch drop on mine. The acceptable range is 2 to 3 inches either way but I preferred level.
lryrob9301
Explorer
Oct 30, 2017
No, surge brake systems have an internal brake override spring to prevent brake application when going down hill or during light braking. Surge brake systems are proportional to braking force being applied by the coach.

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Tow Bars

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