Ready Brake Elite System and Brake Lights

[mfox20]

Getting ready to pick out and install the towing system for my 2013 Honda CR-V. Have been looking at the Ready Brake Elite setup and Blue Ox baseplate.

Question: When the brake system activates do the brake lights on the CR-V work or is addition equipement needed.

Appreciate your insight on this, I am new to the TOAD world.

Thanks,
Michael

[joe_b_]

I bypassed my Jeep Wrangler wiring system completely. Purchased a set of boat trailer LED lights, mounted them on the rear Jeep bumper, then ran the trailer wires, that came with the lights, under the jeep to its front bumper. Then use a 4 ft extension to plug in the new rear bumper lights to my tow vehicle's 4 prong plug in.

I wanted turn signals as well as brake and running lights. Now I can tow my Jeep behind any vehicle that has a flat 4 plug. I have had my Ready Brake for several years now. It has been trouble free and works like I expected it to do. Plus my toad battery never gets run down as some systems will cause.

[mtrumpet]

I use the Ready Brake when towing a 2003 Ford Explorer. The brake lights do come on when the pedal is activated, regardless of the position of the key. The way I understand it, it depends upon the vehicle.

The best way to check is simply open the door and push down on the brake pedal and see if the brake lights come on.

[Dutch_12078]

I don't know the wiring harness layout in a CR-V, but in my RAV4's, I was able to access all the wires I needed for the rear turn, stop, and tail lights behind the driver's side kick panel. That saved routing wires all the way to the back, and located all the diodes in one place.

[mfox20]

Thanks again for all the replies. I wasn't really thinking the whole setup all the way through. Must have not had my coffee yet yesterday.
Will be adding everything required to control the lights from the motorhome.

Now I just need to figure out if I am putting in or paying $$$ to have it done.

Thanks again,
Michael

[wa8yxm]

On most modern cars the brake lights will work if the pedal is pushed or pulled down with out regard to the ignition switch position, You can test this by one of two methods.

if car is in garage, enter garage, lights out, enter car, push pedal, IT should get brighter inside the garage with a nice cherry RED glow.

Or if not garaged: back up in twilight or at night to any shiny or plate glass non-lit window and hit the brakes, turn off engine, hit brakes and check the rear view.

In either case you need a diode kit to operate the TURN SIGNALS and tail lights when towing, Not just the brake lights.

[Dale_Traveling]

I also use a Ready Brute but on a much older 1998 Accord and you need to wire in the toad to the coach for lights. Even though the Ready Brute system pulls in the brake pedal there are times that it doesn't. What I have encountered with light coach braking the toad might not have enough force to push on the tow bar. Many times I'll lightly brake on a long approach to a stop light and the dash indicator trigger by the tow bar doesn't light. Once stopped the toad is no long pushing on the bar and the brakes are no longer active along with the brakes lights.

Also you will still need rear running lights during night time travel and turn signal lights. I was wondering the same thing when I started out. Figured the Ready Brute would activate the lights until I got to thinking about the running lights and turn signals.

[willald]

Question: When the brake system activates do the brake lights on the CR-V work or is addition equipement needed.

In many cases, yes, brake lights DO come on whenever the brake pedal is depressed, even if ignition is off (as it would be when towing). Obviously there are exceptions to this, so only way to know for certain is to just try pressing the brake pedal on your CR-V when ignition is off, see if brake lights come on.

However, don't let this answer mis-lead you: There IS additional wiring that needs to be installed, in order for your toad's tail lights to work properly when being towed. Installing the ReadyBrake cable is not the end of it.

The Readybrake cable engaging the brakes may cause toad's brake lights to come on, but you still need some kind of tail light wiring, for left and right turn signaling, as well as to make tail lights come on when towing at night.

There are numerous different ways to do this: You can install and wire in separate taillight bulbs, or you can wire directly into and use your existing tail lights using diodes. There are kits available for either approach. Or, you can buy a set of separate lights you put on the back of your toad (frequently known as 'magnetic lights'). One other approach is to use a wireless 'light bar' that sits on the back. Obviously, each approach has its own set of pros and cons, a subject of which gets debated here quite frequently. 🙂

..I would also like to say, you have made a GREAT CHOICE, going with the ReadyBrake Elite setup! You will like it a lot, and will save you a boatload of $$ and hassles, compared to most other 'brake in a box' type setups.

[dahkota]

For our jeep, we installed a wiring harness to connect to the 7 pin out of the rv. They make them for CRVs also. This gives us all the lights - turn, brake, hazard, etc. We also use the ready brake elite (custom bumper for base plate) and have had no problems. Hooking up is easy.

[gfs1943]

I wired my 2006 CR-V so the brake lights are fed from the coach. Scott sent me his wiring diagrams, and I used a wiring kit with diodes as Dennis said.

Anytime I'm braking enough to turn on the coach brake lights, the brake lights on the CR-V are on. I've not had any problems with it working like that in several thousand miles of travel.

I believe the front area of the CR-V was redesigned on the 2007 and later models, so the Blue Ox baseplate probably is easy to install. On my 2006, I went with a Roadmaster base plate because the Blue Ox would have required me to drill out a couple of welds and chisel off part of the existing bumper/fascia bracket. The Roadmaster was a direct bolt-on.

[jerseyjim]

As mentioned,with the engine off...COMPUTER off...do the brake lights on the "toad" work? I'd say "no". There may be an exception somewhere.....let me know what it is.

Using most any towbar, even the "ReadyBrake" to use the brake lights on a "toad" you generally have 2 options:
1- install a diode kit. That way, the brake lights will work...no extra bulbs needed. Rear turn signals and marker lights will also work.
2- Buy magnetic lights and hook them up to a flat 4 or whatever the coach has. Then the brake lights will work. The magnetic lights also show the turn signals and marker lights.

I've used both systems in 3 different "toads". No problems. My current "toad" is a 2011 Ford Ranger 4WD automatic. With this, I use the magnetic lights. The RV mechanic told me NOT to use the diodes "in these newer cars and trucks". He said that they may cause a "check engine" light....a false alarm/problem.

[mfox20]

On the 2013 CR-V you leave the key in the accessory position.

Appreciate the replies so far.

[Big_Katuna]

I believe my 09 CRVs lit up with key off. I used magnetic lights on the roof from the motorhome plug anyways.

[FIRE_UP]

Dennis,
If I'm reading your answer right, I'm not sure you're answering the OP correctly. I certainly could be wrong here (imagine that)but, I think he's asking if the toads brake pedal, when applied by the Ready Brake, will activate the CRVs brake lights. If that's his question, that would be something he'd have to check for sure, on his car, to make certain they are, or are not, activated by the CRV brake pedal with the key in the "Off" position.

Some cars activate the brake lights with the key off and some don't. I used to think all of them did but, that theory went down the tubes fast. All of my 7 Jeeps I towed activated the jeeps tail lights if, there was an auxiliary braking system in the Jeep when we towed it. Most of the time, way back then, I had no braking system when I towed all of them.

But, our present toad, an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4, does NOT activate the brake lights with our Ready Brake when the key is off. So, that made it really nice for wiring it up to use the stock tail lights as toad lights when towing. Not sure if any of this helps the OP or not. Good luck.
Scott

[Executive45]

The toad's brake lights operate in conjunction with the brake lights on the coach...if you use the toad's lighting system, diodes are necessary to prevent backfeeding into the toad's electrical system. To avoid this, you can add separate light bulbs in the toad's tail light housings and make the system independent....easily done either way and can be done in less than an hour with common tools....Dennis