Calibrating the Brake Buddy

I have the Vantage Select. I use the chart on the side panel and its set on 40 per the chart. Also I selected Proportional. I'm sure the system is actually working, I just want to be able to have braking best matched to the system as a whole. I can't measure the braking force without some sophisticated force metering which would be expensive and I certainly don't have or to have access.

If I had a method of determining whether the toad brake is not too soft or too hard, that's the ticket. If too soft, the braking under panic stop condition will still have excess stopping distance. If too hard, it might lock the brakes and the toad's rear could buck or start jumping side to side.

Don't know about the select. But the Classic has a weight chart ( on the side). Set the pressure with the black knob according to your vehicle weight. That can usually be found in your toads door jam.

Second, if you want the BB to apply brakes quicker you can adjust the sensitivity setting - more green lights mean more sensitive for braking - less for lighter braking. Use the black button for that. Ours is set a 4 lights. According to BB it only works at around 15 mph or more. I know when mine is braking as the part that plugs into the 12v accessory connection turns green until braking stops.

Setting those is a tough call. We had the Original till it died and replaced with Vantage Select. Both let you adjust Apply Force (air pressure, that's the one supposed to relate to toad's weight) and Sensitivity (how it reacts to coach braking). I think we're talking Sensitivity here. But Vantage Select also offers "Full" (like Original Brake Buddy Classic) or "Proportional" (which should mean it brakes hard only if the Coach is braking hard).

Which mode(s) are you using/adjusting? You can call BB and speak with a tech, I've found them helpful. You can drive around with it on the seat beside you and see how it's responding to braking. Doesn't have to be the Coach, just drive around in your toad. All you have to be sure of is to avoid the braking rod when it extends. AND keep the BB firmly level. If you let it tip, it'll false react.

BB told me to try that and I said the instructions call it a safety issue and not to do it. Said they do it all the time, just don't let it bite.

when I used my original brake buddy I just adjusted it so that it would only come on under reasonably severe braking. I didn't want the toad stopping the MH. an easy thing to tweak as desired. IIRC they gave a setting based on toad weight but I never used that.
bumpy