Toad Brakes; Permanent or Portable
Just purchased a 2020 Equinox as a toad for our first RV and would like input on which type of supplemental braking system to buy. We plan on at least 10 yrs with this toad.
Forum Discussion
wa8yxm wrote:
Well I will talk about a few systems
Brake buddy and other box in the driver's seat systems
Good if you have a "Fleet" of towed's but.
You need to install them EVERY Time you tow. and every time you install it's a chance to mess it up.
Also for a short trip there is a strong temptation to say "To heck with it" and regret that decision later (Murphy's law says that is the trip you will wish you had put it in)
M&G This is an Air over Hydraulic system that is 100% under the hood. Noting in the cockpit on the car. 100% transparent to a driver.
IF it fits and your MH has air brakes.. Seriously consider it.
Next are electric over hydraulic. My first choice in this is the US-Gear Unified brake decelerator but there are many nearly as good. These mount in the cockpit but can be hard to see less you know what to look for
There are some versions of this that use compressed air but with electronic controls. (like the brake buddy) but are either installed or half installed
Finally there is the Ready Brake. (my next braking system) this is a surge brake system. 100% mechanical as the car pushes against the MH the brakes are applied. Blue Ox also sells a competing product.
Advantage all of the above With a couple of exceptions all you do is plug it in 2 seconds and it's live. Those exceptions are the ready brake and comptitor where you clip the clip to the cable (ALso a 2 second job) and one where all you do is pulg in the Tow Light Plug. it draws power off the tail light line and control off the turn/brake leads.
no "Fleet" of cars needed. I used my Brake Buddy in three different toads. didn't need an expensive installation when I changed them.
bumpy
