Supplemental Brake Systems - update 8/7/06
Updates: 1/1/06: Roadmaster has stopped making BrakePro and replaced it with a revised system that it calls Even Brake. A DRAFT review of the Even Brake System has been added. Like the other rev...
Forum Discussion
Someone mentioned another system early on in this thread, and it has never been mentioned again. It's not been reviewed, and I'm not sure why.
It is Tow Brake International's Mountain Master Brake system.
I just purchased it and had it installed in my new Jeep Liberty. Their website for the Mountain Master is: http://www.towbrake.com/towbrakes.htm
The initial installation is time consuming. However, it is easy to use once it is installed. It takes a bit of fussing to get it properly calibrated for the correct sensitivity. Nearly every part of it is adjustable. There is a Mercury switch in the coach (so it is inertial) and you can adjust the amount that will trigger it.
It has a break away built in.
It is all electric, non invasive. It is a cylinder that attaches with a pin and in the case of the jeep, it is has a bar bolted to the floor in front of the seat that it attaches to. The cylinder is adjustable as to pressure, and throw.It is NOT proportional (which is fine, I don't want to engage my toad brakes EVERY time I use the coach brakes.)
It is controllable from inside the coach via a panel that allows you to manually apply toad brakes, manually disengage them (for long grades, hence the name mountain master, I presume), plus two lights that show whether the brakes have been engaged, if there are any problems, and an alarm.
If you can apply the brakes manually, you can avoid potential jacknife situations (presumably...yhou must understand the causes of such manuevers and know when and how).
The system does require quite a bit of "getting to know you" to understand how it works and adjustments, so it assumes some proactivity on the part of the owner/driver. However, for the control it offers as a trade off, I'll take it. I'd rather know and understand and learn, and in turn, have the ability to override the brake on a long downhill grade, or conversely, apply the brake when I have a potential jackknife situation.
It is comparably priced, by the time you have it installed. and one should really have it installed by someone who is conscientious and thorough, not just trying to get the job done. You don't want to miss any of the calibration steps.
I thought I'd write this up because I hadn't seen anything like it except another user who also liked his wrote about it.
Any chace we can add this to the review?
I had a brake buddy (still do) for my other toad, and it discharged the battery (and doesn't warn you). I just ended up with a dead toad at a reset area in Janesville WI. couldn't start the car for it's 5 minutes "on time" (it was a Honda civic). I had problems with that toad battery being run down frequently with the brake buddy, although other than that, and having to kneel down into the mud on a rainy day setting it up a few times, it worked as advertised. I don't care for the wahy the brake buddy attaches to the brake pedal with that claw foot. It can come off if the latch works its way loose, or if the spring comes off the claw mechanism.
After my experience with the brake buddy, I decided to get something more interactive and less dependant on little claw feet with tiny springs that can come loose.
I will touch base after some considerable experience with the Mountain Master brake (I am going through the colorado mountains next...) and let you know how that goes.
I'd be happy to share information from my documentation with the moderator if you want to add it to your review.
Thanks.
Patricia
It is Tow Brake International's Mountain Master Brake system.
I just purchased it and had it installed in my new Jeep Liberty. Their website for the Mountain Master is: http://www.towbrake.com/towbrakes.htm
The initial installation is time consuming. However, it is easy to use once it is installed. It takes a bit of fussing to get it properly calibrated for the correct sensitivity. Nearly every part of it is adjustable. There is a Mercury switch in the coach (so it is inertial) and you can adjust the amount that will trigger it.
It has a break away built in.
It is all electric, non invasive. It is a cylinder that attaches with a pin and in the case of the jeep, it is has a bar bolted to the floor in front of the seat that it attaches to. The cylinder is adjustable as to pressure, and throw.It is NOT proportional (which is fine, I don't want to engage my toad brakes EVERY time I use the coach brakes.)
It is controllable from inside the coach via a panel that allows you to manually apply toad brakes, manually disengage them (for long grades, hence the name mountain master, I presume), plus two lights that show whether the brakes have been engaged, if there are any problems, and an alarm.
If you can apply the brakes manually, you can avoid potential jacknife situations (presumably...yhou must understand the causes of such manuevers and know when and how).
The system does require quite a bit of "getting to know you" to understand how it works and adjustments, so it assumes some proactivity on the part of the owner/driver. However, for the control it offers as a trade off, I'll take it. I'd rather know and understand and learn, and in turn, have the ability to override the brake on a long downhill grade, or conversely, apply the brake when I have a potential jackknife situation.
It is comparably priced, by the time you have it installed. and one should really have it installed by someone who is conscientious and thorough, not just trying to get the job done. You don't want to miss any of the calibration steps.
I thought I'd write this up because I hadn't seen anything like it except another user who also liked his wrote about it.
Any chace we can add this to the review?
I had a brake buddy (still do) for my other toad, and it discharged the battery (and doesn't warn you). I just ended up with a dead toad at a reset area in Janesville WI. couldn't start the car for it's 5 minutes "on time" (it was a Honda civic). I had problems with that toad battery being run down frequently with the brake buddy, although other than that, and having to kneel down into the mud on a rainy day setting it up a few times, it worked as advertised. I don't care for the wahy the brake buddy attaches to the brake pedal with that claw foot. It can come off if the latch works its way loose, or if the spring comes off the claw mechanism.
After my experience with the brake buddy, I decided to get something more interactive and less dependant on little claw feet with tiny springs that can come loose.
I will touch base after some considerable experience with the Mountain Master brake (I am going through the colorado mountains next...) and let you know how that goes.
I'd be happy to share information from my documentation with the moderator if you want to add it to your review.
Thanks.
Patricia
