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MichaelOH59's avatar
MichaelOH59
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2017

Autostop vs Ready Brute vs something else

To the assembled wise men and sages i submit this Class A newbie question: Is it more wise to use a surge brake system such as Blue Ox Autostop or ready Brute Elite, if so do you have a preference; or is it more wise to tow with a conventional tow bar?

I have a 97 Foretravel U320 11L Cummings tipping the scales at about 31K#. I will be towing an 03 Acura TL weighs @3500#. I prefer something the old lady can hook and unhook so convenience is a pretty big consideration otherwise she aint gonna do it. Also the huge cost savings of a surge brake system is interesting but not absolutely necessary if the surge brake systems had significant disadvantages. So, if you would please share your experiences with the surge brake systems, good and bad.
  • Got rid of my Brake Buddy (too hard to get down on my knees, get under the dash a bit to hook it up to the pedal (hopefully it's not raining down my back and into my car interior while I do this) and then struggle to get up off my knees). Threw it in the trash as I didn't wish that experience on anyone else even if they are young and healthy.

    Got the B.O. Autostop and love it. Do the normal hookup with my tow bar and electrical connection/break away brake and then clip the Autostop cable to the cable loop on my car. I'd estimate the time to do the complete Autostop connection to be between 1 and 1.5 seconds.

    The same would be true of Ready Brake but I was in the midwest when I said to H... with the Brake Buddy and stopped at B.O. to have them do the install (don't have much faith in dealers and RV shops). I've had mine two yrs and have about 30,000 add'l towing miles since I got it. Zero complaints.

    Daughter who full times liked it and bought the little autostop extension for her towbar and now has a yr of carefree use.
  • I haven't found any disadvantages to using our ReadyBrute Elite tow bar/brake system. The 8,000 lb rated all-terrain aluminum tow bar is easy to hook up to our Blue Ox base plate, and the brake hookup is quite literally a "snap". Once the initial braking setup adjustments were made a couple of years ago, I've not had to re-adjust anything. It just works...
  • I prefer the RVI brake because it's adjustable from the MH. You can monitor it remotely and adjust settings from the driver's seat.

    PS I am obliged by the union rules to remind you that Cummings is a town in Georgia, and Cummins builds engines. ;-) (believe me if I don't someone else will!)

    Welcome to the forums!