What's the best braking system for a Class A?

I have the RVi 2 system which is the generation before the RVi 3. Works great, no issues. The 2 can handle tire monitors for the toad if you need them. The 3 will handle all of the wheels on the rig. Since I already have a TPMS that handles all the wheels, I have no need to upgrade.

The only similarity between the SMI AF1 and the RVi 3 Brake is that they both will stop your vehicle. The RVi 3 is portable, the AF1 is a built in unit that requires plumbing in the motorhome air brake system and installation in your vehicle.

Are you guys familiar with "RVibrake3 Auxiliary Braking System"? They offer the breaking system and a TPMS system that work off the same monitoring device. Looks very interesting, what do you think about it? It sounds similar to the SMI Air Force One mentioned above.
Click

Our coach has Air Brakes and we use SMI Air Force One for the following reasons:
- Once installed, connect and disconnect to Toad is simple (i.e. one air-line and safety cable)
- True proportional braking.
- Unaffected by engine braking (does not come on when activating exhaust or Jake brake.)
Note: 1) Surge brakes may be applied while going downhill when using engine braking because the Toad is pushing the Coach. Long steep mountain passes could be a problem.
2) Some engine brakes activate the Coach brake lights and because many Toad brake systems use the Coach brake light circuit to activate them, the Toad brakes could be applied while ascending a hill.
- The Toad brakes are isolated from Coach brakes if the air-line to Toad is severed*
- Does not rely on electricity to apply the Toad brakes
- Activation air cylinder in mounted to Toad brake pedal (eliminates cable kink problems)

M&G brake is a close second but *does not have the Coach to Toad isolation safety feature and charges extra the brake away kit.

Main disadvantage is that it is not portable. If you have multiple Toads, each toad requires brake box to be installed.

mowermech wrote:
"Best"??
Well, considering that none of them have been tested by anybody (That's right, no "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval", no CR tests, no tests by any independent laboratory, nothing AFAIK), the only evidence anybody can give is purely anecdotal ("It has worked for me!" or "No, I had nothing but trouble with that thing!").
But, If I was going to buy one, it would be the Ready Brute towbar/surge brake combination or the Ready Brake system without the towbar. Simple, mechanical (no failure prone electronics), very few bad reports, easy to adjust and maintain, install it and forget it.
The ONLY way to go, IMO.

Don't always agree with Mowermech but this time he's pretty much dead on. When the day came that I needed to tow the daily driver my budget was limited and I wanted the peace of mind of a braking system. A Ready Brake Brute tow bar with the integrated surge brake was a simple solution at a much lower cost. No electronics that needed power, no vacuum pumps or air pressure required for proper operation. Six camping seasons and a second tow car later still going strong with no failures of any kind.

Ready brake

I have used M&G on 3 different toads with great results. Of course, the factory is just 6 miles north of here so that is where I get them installed. I didn't have a "brake-a-way" system on the first two but do on the CR-V I now tow.

I have never used any other system, but am sure there are some very good ones on the market. Whatever you get will probably be with you for a very long time so choose carefully because "they ain't cheap".

Best of luck on your search. Arnold

"Best"??
Well, considering that none of them have been tested by anybody (That's right, no "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval", no CR tests, no tests by any independent laboratory, nothing AFAIK), the only evidence anybody can give is purely anecdotal ("It has worked for me!" or "No, I had nothing but trouble with that thing!").
But, If I was going to buy one, it would be the Ready Brute towbar/surge brake combination or the Ready Brake system without the towbar. Simple, mechanical (no failure prone electronics), very few bad reports, easy to adjust and maintain, install it and forget it.
The ONLY way to go, IMO.

I would say that the M&G is the best if they make a model that works with your particular toad. 2nd best would be Air Force One.

Give me a brake! :)

lanerd wrote:


ps... and by the way, it braking....not breaking!

and it should be "it's." :)