Toad Brake System (your opinion)

Willaid, not sure where you get the price for the M&G but I was ready to install it on a little Ford Ranger I used to have. All the M&G consist off is an adapter to the master cylinder and it comes with the air lines. It is sold as a kit and for the Ford Ranger it was something like $550. I did not install it on the Ranger because the fuse box was on the way and modifications had to be made to move the entire fuse box.
But it is a very good system on diesel coaches.

I went with the Brake Buddy because it was easy to install even though at the time it was double what the M&G cost was.

The Brake Buddy has served me well for twelve years, but I would have liked the M&G better. JMHO!

A 12 year old Brake Buddy, used on three different toads and three different MH's. Fulltime. No complaints.

For a portable system the RVi2 is the most compact and easy to use. I have been using one for a couple of years.

Had nothing but a brake buddy for 15 years. Hooking it up takes two three minuets and I can move it from car to car or my truck in the same amount of time.

Two Jayhawks wrote:

427435 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Our ReadyBrute Elite tow bar has an integrated ReadyBrake auxiliary brake system. The ReadyBrake system is entirely mechanical, so there are no electronics, motors, or compressors to fail. It's also fully proportional and after the initial installation only requires snapping on a cable to hook up. We've used ours for about 6 years now, and it's been very reliable and maintenance free.

X2

I will never go back to a system with electronics.

X3

X4. Simple, works great, no electronics to foul up. It is only system I'll probably ever own.

Not only is it so simple and works great, it also costs SUBSTANTIALLY less $$ than any other system. Especially if you get their ReadyBrute Elite tow bar and braking system package. You end up paying almost the same you'd pay for just a tow bar from anyone else, and it includes the braking system built into it. Thats a good $1k savings right there, since you don't have to buy the braking system separately.

That being said, if we're talking about a diesel motorhome with air brakes, AND $$ is no object and you want the absolute best you can get regardless of cost...In that case, the suggestions for M&G or Air Force one are good ones. If you have air brakes, those systems are indeed the best choice, although they come at a very, very high price compared to systems like the Readybrake.

If you have a diesel pusher with air brakes, I'd go with Air Force One or M&G. Otherwise, Readybrake is the only way to go, IMO.

Another vote for ReadyBrute...why buy something else you have to hook up? With the ReadyBrute, you hook and go. Nothing else to do....how easy is that. There's also nothing else hooked up to your towed..cheaper too....easy peasy.....Dennis

Since we have 2 toads, we use the Brake Buddy so we can move it between the cars. It has worked well for us but we have not tried anything else.

427435 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Our ReadyBrute Elite tow bar has an integrated ReadyBrake auxiliary brake system. The ReadyBrake system is entirely mechanical, so there are no electronics, motors, or compressors to fail. It's also fully proportional and after the initial installation only requires snapping on a cable to hook up. We've used ours for about 6 years now, and it's been very reliable and maintenance free.

X2

I will never go back to a system with electronics.

X3

I used the Brake Buddy for 6 years.

If I could do it all over again knowing what I know now I would most definitely buy one of the new brake systems that is installed where all you do is just go or flip a switch.

Shoving that Brake Buddy in and out of the toad gets REAL old over time.
Especially if you are tall and your toad is small and low and you have any type of back issues. :W

Had a BrakeBuddy that went to the plant about once a year for 7 years for air line, compressor and control board problems. Now have had a Patriot Braking System for almost 4 years with no air lines or compressor, much happier.