Supplemental Brake Systems - update 8/7/06

JDEnsie wrote:
Like Nolimits we use the Redi-Brake system. We have a Demco tow bar that we replaced the yoke to adapt the Redi-brake and it works great as he stated.
We also made an adapter for our bicycle rack so that the braking system still works.
Know when it is on or off by the light in the dash area.
Is a lot easier to hook up and disconnect.
We did all of the work ourselves and the cost as stated above was around $1300.
Best part is we don't have to lug a box around the country.

$1,300? That works out to about $75 in sales tax, and I don't have half that much invested in the two braking systems I installed on my Bounder for a Honda CRV and Ford Edge.

I used a cruise control motor that I found at a junkyard, and hooked up the cable to the brake pedal, and that pulls the brake pedal to the floor when I apply the brakes in the RV.

I ran a 3/8" air hose from the RV engine to the back of the RV with a air line quick disconnect. Then from the toad, I ran a vacuum line to the RV quick disconnect, and then to a tee. One side goes to a 3 way valve, the other to a check valve, then another tee in the vacuum line coming from the brake master cyliner to the engine vacuum source. There needs to be a new check valve installed between the new tee and the engine. I bought the check valves at the junkyard, along with finding a three way vacuume switch there too.

The cruise control motor came from a Nissan, was about 2.5" in diameter, so can provide about 20 - 30 pounds of pull against the cable, and it is attached to the floor, and the brake pedal. No need to install anything other than the power cord and air hose when hitching up.

It provides a noticable amount of braking. When I was driving through the White Mountains in Arizona, I was applying light brake pressure in the RV, keeping the brake lights energized, so the toad brakes where activated, and they helped slow the RV down the steeper hills (in addition to locking out overdrive). I took the RV into a rest area, and even after using the brakes for about 30% of the time on a long downgrade, then about 1 mile of level area, the brakes where not hot on the toad or RV.

I tow a Ford Edge with all wheel disk brakes.

It took about 2 hours to install this system, and perhaps another hour to drive to the junkyard for the parts. Many people spend more than this much time just to read about braking systems on the internet, before deciding what to purchase!

Good Luck!

Fred.