Typically, when you buy an RV product or pretty much any product, there is a Good, Better and Best. Unfortunately, that is not true with RV brake systems. Only the DP's can use the proportional brake systems that require air. So that narrows down some of the options for gassers.
One of the first devices was the box on the floor that pushes on the brake pedal. It's completely removable between use and can easily be moved to another vehicle. Some didn't find them trustworthy while others didn't want to mess with the large box.
Another system, used in many forms, is a piston pushing on the brake pedal. Some quickly attach to a fitting under the seat where ones like mine have a small piston attached to the pedal.
A lot depends on how much you want to install each time you tow. My AF1 is always installed and hidden out of the way. All I do is plug in my umbilical and airline at the front of the toad and I'm done. Others don't mind taking a few more steps.
The last one to discuss is the Ready Brake that has a surge brake built into the tow bar. The brake system and tow bar are all one price, saving money on a separate braking system, that can easily cost $700 - $1200.
The Ready Brake requires a fair amount of initial setup on the toad, which includes running the brake cable through the firewall and to the front bumper and a second cable if you go with a break away safety system.
I've actually been pushing these for people who want to save some money on their setup. I've installed 10 tow bar and base plate setups in the last 10 years. Some for me and some for friends. I just completed a Ready Brake install on a Class A gas and Jeep toad. Now that I'm done, I don't know if I would recommend it anymore.
All the parts came with the Ready Brake tow bar kit, except the safety break away. We made custom brackets for all the cables, so they were centered, but when done, it just seemed like a maze of equipment that could easily get caught up on something....two dangling cables.
The tow bar had two coiled safety cables, two 1/8" cables running from the Jeep to the coach, a 7-wire umbilical and a second 2 wire umbilical for the safety break away. We would have incorporated the 2 wires in the umbilical, but using the Jeep made harness prevented that.
They use huge red handled pins for the connection points and another red handled pin to hold the tow bar up when not in use. It was just crazy looking compared to my setup. My Roadmaster tow bar incorporates the safety cables into the tow arms, and I have one umbilical with an 1/4" air hose strapped to it.....that's it. All the pins are small headed and unobtrusive.
So you have a lot of choices to sift through. If you can't do your own install, you need to find what your local installer likes to use.
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 - All Electric
2019 Ford Raptor Crew Cab
