Brake Buddy Test

[Jasperdog]

I have an older Brake Buddy. How can you test it other than have someone sit in the car as you drive the RV around braking? Do RV repair shops test these units?

[rockhillmanor]

See the two links above that I provided.

They are instruction manuals for the Brake Buddy Classic.

AND I posted the link for the wireless alert system you can buy that installs INSIDE the RV that turns on when activated in the toad.

[SCVJeff]

None of this tests the calibration of the relative weight setting nor applied pressure. All it does is test the compressor and piston activity. How does the factory suggest this is checked?

[j-d]

If it's original BB, now called Classic, you'll feel it apply when you stop the coach harder than normal.

Can you see your toad from the coach while towing? Either mirror or backup camera? We have a rear coach window, so I made up a "monitor light." It's an LED trailer lamp with Running and Stop/Turn elements. Power Outlet lights Running when the Key is in ACC, and by being plugged into that Power Outlet, there's Ground for the Stop/Turn element also. Hot side of Stop/Turn goes to the Brake Pedal Light Switch. The Lamp bungees to the toad's rearview mirror. This lets me see the toad's still there, the Key is in ACC, and brightens when BB applies the brakes. What I actually really want to see, is that the BB has completely RELEASED the brakes, shown by the bright Stop/Turn elements going OUT.

[j-d]

WildSideFL wrote:
If you simply need to see it operate, you can always put it in the passenger floorboard and drive the toad around. When you brake hard enough, it should activate.

A Brake Buddy Tech Support Guy told me to do exactly that. Or on the passenger seat, so the rod extends out into the air. But the BB unit has to stay level during the testing. If it rocks forward and back, it'll go erratic.

[BarneyS]

Moved to Dinghy Towing forum from Towing.

[WildSideFL]

If you simply need to see it operate, you can always put it in the passenger floorboard and drive the toad around. When you brake hard enough, it should activate.

[LadyRVer]

We used to hit the test button one time while both of us stood there, then 4 more times while one of us went inside an watched the alert system inside to see if it lit up. Alone,
would just do the test button min of 5 times. My last Classic BB had a red light showing and with each test it went green.

[rockhillmanor]

Jasperdog wrote:
I have an older Brake Buddy. How can you test it other than have someone sit in the car as you drive the RV around braking? Do RV repair shops test these units?

That is what the TEST button is for! :B

You should always use the test button after you put the brake buddy in your toad. It activates the rod to the brake and shows if it is installed properly against the seat and working.
www.brakebuddy.com/pic/instructions/classic_instr.pdf

You should have also gotten the wireless alert system that plugs into your cig holder inside the RV. That shows when it is activated or not. If you didn't get one with your BB you can buy them separately.

It's just another check point to see that everything is working for you behind the MH.
www.brakebuddy.com/pic/instructions/classic_alert.pdf

[SCVJeff]

Jasperdog wrote:
I have an older Brake Buddy. How can you test it other than have someone sit in the car as you drive the RV around braking? Do RV repair shops test these units?

if you question its operation, send it directly to the manfacture