Do I Really Need A Brake Buddy

[Retired_VSP]

I tow a 2006 Honda Accord....been using a brake buddy but since it's not a heavy vehicle I don't want to use the brake buddy. Most of my travel is level with some slight hills. Used to do the 11,000 foot mountains but not now. Any thoughts on this. Thanks.

[msturtz]

Retired VSP wrote:
Thanks everyone for your input. This is very good information and thought provoking advise. I had been told some time ago from a service technician at an RV garage that I really didn't need an auxiliary brake for my car. I'm going to continue to use my brake buddy. I have had issues in the past locking the brakes when I did hard braking but probably didn't have the correct setting. Ended up with flat sided tires.

I had a Roadmaster EvenBrake which is very similar to what you have. When we got our DP I switched to the Air Force One from SMI. The benefits are toad brakes don’t apply when using the engine exhaust brake and direct synchronized brakes with the coach. Worth every penny

[mowermech]

Executive wrote:
California, with all it's idiot laws and non-laws, actually has one of the best definitions. Your vehicle, whether towing a trailer or car or whatever, must be able to stop within a specified distance at a specified speed. If it does not, you're in violation. That's paraphrased, of course. For you purists, refer to California Vehicle Code 25454 (a). Slowly, California is trying to make sense of some of their laws. i.e. They're slowly changing all their towing restrictive speed signs to simply read, "All vehicles while towing" 55MPH...which leaves very little to interpretation.....Dennis

Actually, the last time I looked at the California Braking Performance Law, they give you 5 feet farther to stop a "combination of vehicles" than most other states (45 feet vs. 40 feet) and the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) (also 40 feet)

[rgatijnet1]

Executive wrote:
California, with all it's idiot laws and non-laws, actually has one of the best definitions. Your vehicle, whether towing a trailer or car or whatever, must be able to stop within a specified distance at a specified speed. If it does not, you're in violation. That's paraphrased, of course. For you purists, refer to California Vehicle Code 25454 (a). Slowly, California is trying to make sense of some of their laws. i.e. They're slowly changing all their towing restrictive speed signs to simply read, "All vehicles while towing" 55MPH...which leaves very little to interpretation.....Dennis

That is exactly right and which is why I gave one of the laws in Washington State, that is also mentioned in several other States, that you have to be able to stop your RV, while towing, in less than 40 feet at 20 MPH.
Good intent and all of that, BUT, and this is the huge BUT, can you imagine any law enforcement officer, in any situation, asking you to demonstrate that your can stop your RV in less than 40 feet at 20 MPH??? :B

[Executive45]

California, with all it's idiot laws and non-laws, actually has one of the best definitions. Your vehicle, whether towing a trailer or car or whatever, must be able to stop within a specified distance at a specified speed. If it does not, you're in violation. That's paraphrased, of course. For you purists, refer to California Vehicle Code 25454 (a). Slowly, California is trying to make sense of some of their laws. i.e. They're slowly changing all their towing restrictive speed signs to simply read, "All vehicles while towing" 55MPH...which leaves very little to interpretation.....Dennis

[Mr_Mark1]

The SMI Air Force One supplemental braking is a plus in that there is nothing to set or adjust. Since I have air brakes on the coach, the air hose attaches to the braking system on the Lincoln giving it equal pressure braking on the toad.

Now, it's not cheap as the total set-up with the SMI supplemental braking and brake away, Roadmaster base-plate and new Roadmaster tow bar was slightly over $5,000. Worth every penny.

MM.

[Gonzo42]

Whatever you may want to call it, an automobile in tow can still be considered a 'trailer', IMHO. This implies that most states could cite you for not having sufficient braking capacity. Would you care to test this legally by rear-ending someone?

[BigMac]

Correct settings are important. Even more important is to assure that you exercise your brakes per the brake buddy instructions after anytime you run your car or in anyway energize your car's brake power assist system. If you don't, you are almost guaranteed to lock you brakes up on your first braking attempt, and possibly subsequent ones as well.

[mike_brez]

Retired VSP wrote:
Thanks everyone for your input. This is very good information and thought provoking advise. I had been told some time ago from a service technician at an RV garage that I really didn't need an auxiliary brake for my car. I'm going to continue to use my brake buddy. I have had issues in the past locking the brakes when I did hard braking but probably didn't have the correct setting. Ended up with flat sided tires.

Do you have a Brake Buddy alert?

[enblethen]

Good Choice!

[Retired_VSP]

Thanks everyone for your input. This is very good information and thought provoking advise. I had been told some time ago from a service technician at an RV garage that I really didn't need an auxiliary brake for my car. I'm going to continue to use my brake buddy. I have had issues in the past locking the brakes when I did hard braking but probably didn't have the correct setting. Ended up with flat sided tires.

[mike_brez]

My 16 year old Brake Buddy is a peice of cake to hook up has and is working flawlessly and can move from towed to towed in two minutes.

[tropical36]

The OP can't even claim poverty, he's already got the brake.

And evidently a PITA, otherwise he wouldn't have bothered posting and just went with it.
Again, with the READYBRAKE, you only install it once and after that, it's just one more little cable to latch on, when hooking up.

[Lwiddis]

wrestling with being able to stop reasonably, jplante?

[tropical36]

Retired VSP wrote:
I tow a 2006 Honda Accord....been using a brake buddy but since it's not a heavy vehicle I don't want to use the brake buddy. Most of my travel is level with some slight hills. Used to do the 11,000 foot mountains but not now. Any thoughts on this. Thanks.

Not necessarily a brake buddy, but you should have something and even if it only gives you an extra foot of stopping power, which might be all it takes.
My preference is the READYBRAKE and most hands free, maintenance free, best bang for the buck, on the market, IMO.

[Ductape]

This thread is on the same arc as every other iteration. Wannabe lawyers arguing the laws or lack thereof.

Physics does not care if the thousands of pounds in tow was designed as a passenger car or a cargo trailer. Your coach can't tell the difference between a U-haul and a Civic. You're just advocating careless behavior, prioritizing money over safety.

The OP can't even claim poverty, he's already got the brake.