Question for thos using Ready Brake

[Empty_Nest__Soo]

I’m setting things up to tow our new car. It will be the first time I’ve towed 4-down. I’ve purchased the Ready Brute Elite tow bars, the one with the Ready Brake surge brake system built in. I’ve made arrangements for the dealer where we bought the car to install the base plate and the cabling for the Ready Brake, as well as the cable for the break-away brake. Now that I’ve received the items I ordered, I have a question:

The Ready Brake came with an "In-Dash Indicator Light," which is supposed to light up when the Ready Brake applies the brakes on the towed car. Installation of this Indicator Light involves drilling a hole thru the dash, tapping into a 12-volt source which is hot when the ignition is on, and running a supplied wire from the rear of the coach to under the dash to connect to the light. Given the season here (cold), I’m wondering whether it is worth the bother for me to crawl around under the dash and under the chassis running this wire, or paying the dealer to do it.

As near as I can tell, the light will be lit-up by the movement of the little arm that actuates the cable to apply the brakes on the car. If I were to do something foolish like adjust the brake-actuating cable too tight, or forget to hook it up when getting ready to tow, I don’t see where this light will alert me to something gone wrong. It looks like it will only light up when the mechanism is trying to apply the brakes in the towed car, not the actual application (or lack thereof).

I’m not persuaded that the bother or expense of installing this light adds much value. I am inclined to not bother with installing it.

Am I missing something?

Thanks,

Wayne

[gemert]

I don't have the light installed. I also don't use or need a bungee cord for the brake pedal. I leave about an inch of up or down play in the brake cable once everything else is connected and ready to travel. Works great and easy.

[bluwtr49]

When I was using the Ready Brake I never bothered with the light. Could not see a need for it than and never missed it. Now we have am M&G air brake system and still no brake activation light, still don't miss it.

[TriumphGuy]

Dale.Traveling wrote:
It's a feel good item that can be saved for a warm weekend when you're not on the road.

I took the configuration a set further. Rather than working off the tow bar I taped into the switch on the toad that activities the brake lights when the brake pedal is moved. Power for the indicator is actually from the toad rather than the coach. Adds an extra set during hook up connecting the additional cable but it will give me an indication if the brakes are hung up due to a mechanical problem with the cable or tow bar actuator. The possibility of problem is pretty low but like I said a feel good item.

Great idea using the toad brake switch for the light. What do you use for a quick connect when "hitching up?"

Ready Brute is on my list for when we get a Class A (hopefully within a few months).

Come to think of it I'll do both the dash light and a light on the toad I can see in the rear view camera. I like redundancy. Redundancy is good.

[JerryofWV]

I have use the ReadyBrake on two motorhomes and 4 towed vehicles. I have not used the indicator light on any of these.

[kalynzoo]

On my previous MH I had the indicator light installed per instructions. On the first few trips I found it reassuring, then it became just a bother. It only tells you the lever is working. I will not have the light installed in the new motorhome. I do have wheel/tire pressure temperature sensors, which will warn me if the brake hangs up and increases tire temp.

[Two_Jayhawks]

My Ready Brake is a little older and we are on our second coach as well as toad. I did not install the little red light this go around and I doubt I will.

[topflite51]

olfarmer wrote:
I really like the indicator light and like said above it is wired into the brake lights on the toad.

Same here.

[wolfe10]

Wayne,

Send you a PM

[olfarmer]

I really like the indicator light and like said above it is wired into the brake lights on the toad.

[Big_Katuna]

I tow a light trailer with my Honda at home, so it has a trailer hitch and I added the four wire converter for the trailer lights.

I ran an LED and two wires from the rv dash and plug it in the trailer plug when towing.

I want to know if the toad brakes are dragging. It definitely helps you adjust the cable.

[Dutch_12078]

Like Dale, I have the toad brake indicator LED wired to the toad brake switch for a more accurate reading. That's actually the way the older units were designed to work. I also installed a turnbuckle in the brake actuator cable on the tow bar for easy adjustment.

[holstein13]

You could always just hook up a red LED to your toad's braking system and set the light on top of the dashboard of your toad. If you have a rear view camera, you can easily see the dash of your toad and tell if the brakes are working.

When you aren't towing, just disconnect the indicator light. That way you don't have to drill holes anywhere.

[hanko]

I dont have my indicator light installed yet. I do plan on it soon. good system, youll like it. One note, I had to tighten the cable up to the point that my brake light was on, the fix is hook a bungee cord from under the seat to the brake pedal. the two inches of slack they refer to is to loose

[Dale_Traveling]

It's a feel good item that can be saved for a warm weekend when you're not on the road.

I took the configuration a set further. Rather than working off the tow bar I taped into the switch on the toad that activities the brake lights when the brake pedal is moved. Power for the indicator is actually from the toad rather than the coach. Adds an extra set during hook up connecting the additional cable but it will give me an indication if the brakes are hung up due to a mechanical problem with the cable or tow bar actuator. The possibility of problem is pretty low but like I said a feel good item.