Braking System - Stay-In-Play Duo?

[travelingbard]

I think I have my braking system narrowed down. I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty LTD, will be pulling behind a gas model Class A.

I'm a little afraid of the portable box units. Convenient to be able to move them, but not as reliable and consistent as the more permanent models.

The Stay-In-Play Duo seems to be a reasonably easy install (all things considered) and fairly fool-proof. Not a lot of mess in the floorboard compared to a couple of similar models.

Is there anything "new" that has recently come out that would be a contender? Seeing a lot of great reviews on this one, but I want to make sure I didn't miss something during my searches!

Thanks!

[John_Wayne]

Also have the stay & play installed it in the drive way. I ran a wire to the MH dash to tell when the toad brakes come on. They now have a wireless system that can go in the MH to tell when the toad brakes are on, just more money for it.

[Janss]

I have the Stay-N-Play. Had it on my previous tow car also. Moved it to current car. Works like a charm. Yes, definitely have the indicator light put in the MH. On my old car I had it hanging from the car's rear view mirror. Thought I would be able to see it in the MH backup camera, but couldn't distinguish the light.

[tropical36]

READYBRUTE/ELITE if you don't have the towing bars, as yet and the READYBRAKE add on if you do.
The only way to go IMO for simplicity and cost effectiveness.

[Seneca_35GS]

I have a SMI Stay-N-Play DUO system on my '07 Jeep Liberty and it works great. My MH is a Super C with hydraulic brakes. If I would change anything I would have installed the LED indicator in the cab of the MH instead of on the toads front bumper. System has been installed for 5 years. I really liked the idea of no box on the floorboard of the toad. Hook-up is very simple, flip one switch and complete one elec. connection.

The M&G brake system is similar to the SMI Duo system also.

[willald]

X3 on the Readybrake, its all I've ever used or will use.

Just can't beat it, IMO - Costs significantly less than all the others, provides a simple, reliable braking system with no electronics, nothing to have to put in or take out every time you tow, and no need to tap into any part of your vehicles' electrical system or brakes.

And, most anything that can break on it, you can easily repair yourself with parts found at any hardware store for less than $20. Readybrake is the only system that gives you that simplicity.

Oh, and if you ever sell or trade your towed vehicle, you can order a new Readybrake cable for the new vehicle, for just $60. Sooo, Readybrake can be used with multiple vehicles very easily.

If you haven't bought a tow bar yet, you can get ReadyBrake's ReadyBrute Elite tow bar package, that includes both a tow bar AND their Readybrake system all in one package deal, for 'bout the same as you'd pay for just a tow bar from anyone else. That can save you over $1k from what you'd pay for many other systems, including the SMI.

[bluwtr49]

I had an Even Brake...now a paper weight in the garage, went to a Ready Brake which I liked but now switching to the M&G air system.

Hopefully this will be the last one.

[Executive45]

I too, went with the ReadyBrake by Night Shift Auto. Easy to hook up. Install will take about an hour or $150 if you want someone else to do it. I've had it on my last three tows. Excellent product with nothing to break...Dennis

[Effy]

I went with the ready brake (actually the ready brute elite bars with integrated brake). Totally mechanical and no tapping into anything in your car. It's a completely isolated system that is a one and done install. All you do to hook it up to tow is clip on a cable. I like it. Install was not as easy as it sounded but took about an hour.

[WyoTraveler]

Surge brakes have been around for quite a while. Different types of trailer used them long before they were used on towed RV vehicles. They are all reliable fixed or portable. The fixed units have their advantages. Probably less work to hook up and go. The portable units also have their advantages. If you sell a tow vehicle or have more than one tow vehicle.

The tow vehicle brakes that don't use the surge system are probably better under some conditions. For example down steep grades where a surge system, some models, don't have in cab adjustable control.

Mostly, the big difference in toad brakes are personal choice not a safety issue.

Bottom line. If I was overly or hyper concerned about equipment and safety I wouldn't be driving a class A on a highway. Most MHs fall apart in accidents plus there is nothing in front of the driver or passengers in an accident.

[enblethen]

The Roadmaster invisibrake is very similar.
Invisibrake