Ready Brake users

klutchdust wrote:
FIRE UP, I just had one of those "why didn't I think of that " moments. Talk about the need to be flat and level before adjusting the cable. I had my jeep backed into the garage

with the MH just outside. Early AM I hooked everything up and started to go, well the driveway has just a slight incline to it, it was enough though to throw the adjustment off

and as soon as the jeep leveled out the brakes came on. So much for a clean getaway. I will be modifying my cable before the next trip. Fishing in the Sierras.

Yep, that would do it.

FIRE UP, I just had one of those "why didn't I think of that " moments. Talk about the need to be flat and level before adjusting the cable. I had my jeep backed into the garage

with the MH just outside. Early AM I hooked everything up and started to go, well the driveway has just a slight incline to it, it was enough though to throw the adjustment off

and as soon as the jeep leveled out the brakes came on. So much for a clean getaway. I will be modifying my cable before the next trip. Fishing in the Sierras.

klutchdust wrote:
So my first pull of the Jeep toad to Las Vegas was successful and fun. Having driven just about anything that travels the roadways I still find it odd to tow something I can't see in the mirrors. Anyway when hooking the Jeep back up

I backed it up slightly to lock the tow bar. I then went to install the brake cable and it needed to be adjusted. I drove a short distance, stopped and then it was fine. I don't get it. Those that use the ready brake, what is your procedure.

Once the brake cable from the toad to the arm is adjusted it should stay within the recommended specs. Also I noticed the clevis sticks out slightly once the brakes have been applied . I have felt the rotors on the front after driving

a few miles and the brakes are not on.The cable moves freely inside the black cover and there are no sharp bends. I plan on installing the new light system to see when the ready brake has been activated. Is there a vacuum pump that

the Jeep needs?

Klutchdust,
The Ready Brake system is a good system. Been using it for years. However, I made some modifications when I installed it. For one, R/B sets up the link cable (the one between the toad and the actuator) with those dumb-a$$ cable clamps. Talk about CAVEMAN! So, I made my own link cable and, inserted a high quality, ultra-easy to adjust, stainless steel turn buckle. Now, when it comes time for any adjustment, it's a simple turning of that turn buckle and, DONE!

Now, as for the amount and, frequency of adjusting that cable. Well, different things, have different influences on that system. I don't have to adjust it all that often but, on occasion, I do. Sometimes after an initial adjustment, it will go for several tow trips, without the need to touch it. On others, it will have to be adjusted, why, who the h... knows. It's what we in the Jeep world called "FM". I can't divulge what that means on here, it's not good for young eyes.

As for how we do it. Well, I stand there with the tow bar in hand, the wife drives the toad up to within a certain distance, I motion her to stop. Then, while I'm doing all the hookup outside with the tow bar and cables and electrical stuff, she's taking care of the inside stuff. We're normally done in about 1 minute. And that's not hurrying, it's just normal.

Most of the time, after I've hooked up the tow bar, she backs up to lock the arms. Then, I do all my part for the rest of the hook up.
Scott

P.S. As for the notification that your brakes on the toad are ACTUALLY BEING APPLIED, well, I took a different approach to that too. I simply cut the output wire from the Jeeps brake light switch and, sent it to the center post, on a two position toggle, I mounted in the door jamb of the Jeep. From there, I ran a wire from one side of that toggle, all the way to the dash in the coach where, I installed a small, LED bulb.

On the other side of the toggle, I ran a wire, right back down to where I cut it in the first place. Now, when it comes time for towing the jeep, I flip the switch to the forward position and, when the Jeeps brakes are being applied and, the brake light switch is activating, it sends that signal, through the toggle, to the dash LED on the coach and lights it up.

But, when driving the Jeep, we simply flip the switch to the rear and, the brake light signal is now being sent where it's supposed to go, to the rear tail lights on the Jeep. Done!

I hook up all the cables, before backing up the toad. That way, there is slack in the Readybrake line, so I don't have to pull on the cable (on toad side) to connect it.

Remember, that when you back the toad up to lock the bars, most of the time only ONE of the two arms is going to lock, not both of them. Only ONCE in the last 3 years, have I ever lined the toad up so perfectly that both bars locked at the same time when backing up the toad.

That being the case, there should still be some slack in the Readybrake cable, even after you back up the toad to lock one of the bars. Once the MH moves forward, the other bar will lock, at which point the slack in the line should be gone (assuming MH and toad are in a straight line).

You really need to have both bars locked in place, and MH and toad in a good straight line, when you adjust that cable. I know that makes it a bit more of a pain, 'cause it means you have to drive the MH forward some before adjusting. However, it is the best way to make sure you get it adjusted right.

Once you get it set right, you should rarely have to make adjustments. With time the cables may stretch a little and need tightening, but not very often.

Once the towbar arms are locked into position, cable should remain the same length without any further adjustment unless the cable stretches or the clamps become loose. My guess is that you did not have the arms fully locked in place; it happened to me a couple of times.

Ray

The cable slack will vary a bit depending on how much play there is in your tow bar components. Since the brakes are applied as the toad pushes against the tow bar, that's the condition where you want the cable adjustment to be correct. Don't shorten it so much the brake lights come on when the play is stretched the other way though. On a new installation, some re-adjustment may be needed as the initial cable connections settle in and stretch a bit.

Whether NSA's optional vacuum pump will make any difference or not can be determined with a simple test. With the standard ReadyBrake installation, pump the toad brakes a few times to dump the vacuum, and then drive your coach/toad over a few mile planned route with a variety of braking conditions. Then start the engine on the toad and leave it idling while you run the same route again. If there's a noticeable braking improvement, then the vacuum pump would be helpful. If you don't notice any significant difference, save your money.

I put all of the cables on before backing up to lock the tow bar arms, including the brake cable.