Brake Buddy Operation

[Healeyman]

After 10 years of flat towing 2,400 pound Miatas without an aux brake, I am about to start towing a nearly 4,000 pound Equinox.

In preparation for that, I have bought a pre-owned Brake Buddy. With THIS Brake Buddy, it appears as if the Brake actuation is ON or OFF, not proportional, however the sensitivity to actuation is adjustable.

The Brake Buddy has a light that shows the RV driver when the brake is actually ON.

It appears as if the Brake Buddy is designed to actuate and depress the towed vehicle brake pedal only under a fairly hard stop. Is that how the Brake Buddy actually works? Only when you really, REALLY need it???

Tim

[GDC]

Healyman

You pretty much have the operation correct.

The only thing to be aware of is to make sure you set the brake buddy so that the actuator is in line with the brake pedal. I did a bunch of experiments with ours before I pulled the dingy to make sure I understood how it worked and what could happen if I didn't set it up properly. Long story short, what I found was if the actuator was at an angle to the direction of travel of the brake pedal, the probability of the brakes getting stuck on increased. Download and foll ow the instructions and you will be fine. Also make sure to install a breakaway kit on the dingy.

[Mandalay_Parr]

sch911 wrote:

Mandalay Parr wrote:
I've had one for 11 years. Call me and I will explain. Works good.

The giving out of advice is what the forums are for. Why not share here so that we all could learn?

I've had a Classic for a couple of years and think it's working fine, but I'm always looking for tips, lessons learned, etc...

I normally do but in this case it was too much to write and I don't type that well.
Sorry
Jerry Parr

[dicknellen]

Are you looking for instructions or info? Have been using the same BB classic since 2005 works good. Dick
If you need instructions go to this site:
http://www.brakebuddy.com/Support/Installation-Manuals

[sch911]

Mandalay Parr wrote:
I've had one for 11 years. Call me and I will explain. Works good.

The giving out of advice is what the forums are for. Why not share here so that we all could learn?

I've had a Classic for a couple of years and think it's working fine, but I'm always looking for tips, lessons learned, etc...

[lj2654]

That's what we use, towing a 2012 Cadillac SRX. Had an issue with the air compressor, sent it back and replaced under warranty. Been a good unit for four years now.

[Mandalay_Parr]

I've had one for 11 years. Call me and I will explain. Works good.

[j-d]

Sounds like a Brake Buddy "Classic" which does not offer "proportional" braking. We had one of those and didn't ever feel that its responses were excessive. After a number of years, it got erratic and we sent it back to BB. They said it wasn't repairable and offered a discount price on "Vantage Select" which IS proportional. I really don't see the need. Another OP here, sent his Classic in, and was offered the current Classic model at discount. That price was a lot less than I paid for Vantage Select. If I'd had the choice, I'd've gone back with another Classic.
So if Classic's what you have, use it and you'll be pleased. There's an air pressure setting based on the weight of the toad. Then from there you pick the sensitivity (responsiveness to deceleration because RV is braking).
Be sure to run a dedicated power supply from Battery to Socket for the BB's power plug. If you call BB and tell them you need one, they'll send it, free. If you rig one yourself, be sure the socket is METAL. BB pulls enough power that the plastic ones will distort.