setting brake sensitivity
We towed an HHR automatic over 10k miles with no problems using our Blue Ox Patriot brake system set for a gain of 5. When the HHR developed transmission problems, we decided to retire our HHR in favor of a 2015 Fiat manual transmission. The Fiat weighs 800 pounds less than the the HHR but that weight difference proved catastrophic on the same mountain roads we towed the HHR on.
Instinctively I had reduced the gain from 5 to 3 because of the weight difference. I should have dialed down to 1. After only 10 miles of steep and winding roads where most of the MH braking was transmission the toads brakes were glowing hot. So hot that the valve stem caps and hub caps melted. The heat destroyed both front wheel bearings and one cvc joint.
The problems as I now see it is that the Blue Ox responds to inertia so although 80% of the motorhome braking was supplied via its transmission and exhaust back pressure the Blue Ox was applying the toad's brakes almost continuously.
So buyer beware although Blue Ox Patriot claims to be a proportional braking system it is only proportional to the perceived change in vehicle inertia which is not necessarily the amount of braking force actually needed.
I found a newer version of the owners manual that alludes to possible over braking with light weight vehicles and suggests settings of 1 or even 0. Zero would be for break away only. Unfortunately my manual did not include this information.
Instinctively I had reduced the gain from 5 to 3 because of the weight difference. I should have dialed down to 1. After only 10 miles of steep and winding roads where most of the MH braking was transmission the toads brakes were glowing hot. So hot that the valve stem caps and hub caps melted. The heat destroyed both front wheel bearings and one cvc joint.
The problems as I now see it is that the Blue Ox responds to inertia so although 80% of the motorhome braking was supplied via its transmission and exhaust back pressure the Blue Ox was applying the toad's brakes almost continuously.
So buyer beware although Blue Ox Patriot claims to be a proportional braking system it is only proportional to the perceived change in vehicle inertia which is not necessarily the amount of braking force actually needed.
I found a newer version of the owners manual that alludes to possible over braking with light weight vehicles and suggests settings of 1 or even 0. Zero would be for break away only. Unfortunately my manual did not include this information.
