Installation costs of braking systems

[stargirl96]

We went to a trailer/hitch place to get info. on getting an auxiliary braking system. By the time they started showing us all the options (usually involving $2000 or more for brake and installation) that my head was swimming. We originally planned to buy the equipment so we could dinghy tow our CR-V, but I'm thinking we may just buy a tow dolly since they already have the brakes.

Before I discard the plan, I was wondering what's the average intallation cost for braking systems?

[Yosemitebobr]

Blue Ox base plate 350.00
Blue Ox 10,000lb bar 800.00
wiring with diodes 150.00
battery tender 50.00
drop hitch 8" 120.00
brake SMI 1,200.00
installation all me

total 2,670.00

[F1bNorm]

stargirl96 wrote:
Thanks for all the good information. We haven't bought anything yet since I'm a little OCD when it comes to researching everything. I'm interested in the Ready Brute since it combines tow bar with braking system, but the two dealers I talked to don't know anything about it, and didn't seem interested in installing it. I guess it's hard to find someone to do the work.

It's been 2-3 years, but we had a new Ready Brute system, baseplate etc. installed on our CRV for around $2500, out the door. This was in Los Angeles at an Ready Brute listed dealer. I figured the labor was $800+ but worth it to me for a nice clean install.

Like your experience,(and I don't know why) many dealers/installers are not familiar with the ReadyBrute/NSA system. Nor is it mentioned in the MH magazine Towd guide. Dealers are listed on the NSA web site.

Norm

BTW - we're happy with the whole package, '09 CRV and ReadyBrute.

[Fiesta]

$917.Total. Bought a good used Brake Buddy, cross bar and Sterling tow bar (Top of the Line). $500
Only retail item was the '07 Honda Accord base plate for $400. Installed everything myself. My new Fleetwood Discovery even came with a heavy duty 7 wire cord. Wired it so I did not need diodes.
Took me almost 3 days, but saved at least $3000 over full price and overpriced labor. AND I know it's done right too.

[stargirl96]

Thanks for all the good information. We haven't bought anything yet since I'm a little OCD when it comes to researching everything. I'm interested in the Ready Brute since it combines tow bar with braking system, but the two dealers I talked to don't know anything about it, and didn't seem interested in installing it. I guess it's hard to find someone to do the work.

[SCVJeff]

Looks like the OP is gone

[dalerussel]

It cost us about $3800 to set up our CRV for towing including parts, labor and taxes. We went with a recommended Blue Ox and SMI installer in Arizona for everything. This included the following costs:
1. Blue Ox base plate ($420)
2. Wire harness and cords ($160)
3. SMI Stay and Play Duo braking system ($1090). We had the installer mount the brake light inside of the coach.
4. Fuse Master fuse disconnect to disable the recommended CRV fuse while towing ($75)
5. Blue Ox Avail tow bar ($900)
6. Drop hitch ($64)
7. Labor ($880) and Tax ($230)
I am sure there are ways to save money through Amazon and other installers but we wanted to get everything done at once by a known, experienced tow bar installer.
We looked long and hard at using a tow dolly but finally decided against it because a dolly is harder to hook up and we would have to store it somewhere when not in use. It is also not as easy to store at some campgrounds.

[willald]

..Since it sounds like you haven't bought any of the towing hardware yet, I highly, HIGHLY recommend you look at the tow bar and integrated braking system offered by NSA, the Readybrute Elite tow bar and Readybrake braking system package.

You basically get a very nice tow bar AND braking system, for almost the same $$ as you'll pay for just a tow bar alone from anyone else. That alone right there, will save you several hundred $$ (close to $1k) from what you'll pay for a tow bar and separate braking system of any other type. And, you get a very simple, reliable, no-nonsense cable operated braking sytem that simply works, and works great.

As to your specific question about installation cost for a braking system: Really depends a lot on the braking system and the vehicle involved. Can range anywhere from $0 for a 'brake-in-a-box' system like Brake Buddy that you have to put in and take out every time you tow, to right up around $1000 for installation of the more complicated electronic systems.

The Readybrake system I mentioned is somewhere between those two extremes, again depending on the vehicle involved. It is a pretty simple installation, though, since it only involves installing, routing a physical cable from the brake pedal out to front of the vehicle.

A good point was made earlier, too: Are you asking about strictly the cost of installation with regards to a braking system, or installation of everything required for flat towing? There is a huge difference, as there are other installation costs for flat towing that you have to do regardless whether you use a braking system or not: Base plates, tail light wiring, etc.

[Gonzo42]

In my case there was no need to drill through the firewall for the breakaway switch cable as I used an existing hole. However, I did drill 4 holes in the license plate backing plate to mount the breakaway switch itself.


I had a thread here looking to select a braking system and on page 2 I have a chart outlining some options:

Braking systems

[rockhillmanor]

All 'new parts' and 'installed', yes runs around $2,800 depending what the hourly rate is in your area.

The tow bar and brake buddy is around $1,500 right of the gate.

tow bar
brake buddy
base plate/installation
tow chains
wiring for diodes to brake lights

EXCEPT for the base plate you can look on line on RV sites and get a 'used' Brake buddy for a couple of hundred bucks and same with the tow bar. You will have no problem finding these 2 items for sale used.

Buying just the tow bar and brake buddy used will save you a $1,000 or more.

[robatthelake]

My comment relates not so much to the choice of Tow Bar and Braking system ,but more to the weight ratio of The Tow Car to the Motorhome!

I'm not seeing any reference to Your Rig and Honda is now on the fourth Series of CRV .the newer ones are pretty heavy! And may not be able to be put on a Tow Dolly!

A lot more research is needed!

[Hank85713]

If speaking of full towing hookup INSTALLED yes you are talking pretty big $$.
In my case we only had to buy the base plates as the guy we got the rig from gave everything else. Paid $700 installed at Camp World for baseplates install and light kit. I just didnt have time to tear everything apart to install, would take me days what took them a day and a 1/2.

The brake system is an SMI and is installed in the engine compartment with a switch to turn on in the driver compartment. Took about 2-3 hours after watching You tube video. Big thing nothing bulky to move around for install/takeout couple of wires and vacuum line thru firewall to switch, mount the activation cylinder and hook up to brake arm.

Some folks use a surge system I guess or a break away system but you need something to active the brakes to assist in towing.

Now all my stuff came with the RV except as noted, they guy did pay a pretty penny to get all this stuff but there are work around like on CL, Ebay amazon, but the cost of the tow bars themselves can be less than 1/2 on CL for fairly new stuff. except of course for the base plates and install. I bought at CW because they had a $39 install going on and the cost of the baseplate was about $150 more than could be had on line, but at $75-100/hr to have pieces installed I figured it to be a no brainer and paid the 150. Check CW out they may have a deal going on now that the season is starting, but you do have to be GS member to get their special pricing but even their regular ricing may not be too bad if combined with some used accessories and you self install?

coast of a dolly would be about approximate if bought new and not much less if used, plus now you have another set of tires and a spare to take into account. Do search her on tow dollys and see some of the comments. But if yours is an automatic you may have to go the dolly route anyhow?

[SCVJeff]

dup

[SCVJeff]

Same question:
Are you talking about braking systems or towing hardware. The two are really unrelated ?

[tatest]

Which braking system? There are systems that permanently install under dash or under seat, some that run cables through the firewall, some that you just sit on the floor in front of the seat and clamp to the brake pedal. For some the installation takes some time, others that you self install with every use and the dealer installation is a first time adjustment. BrakeBuddy, Hidden Brake, ReadyBrake all different in cost, labor, installation, ease of use. You make your own choice on cost and convenience trade offs.

I'll do the box on the floor because it is temporary and transferrable, but it can also be expensive to buy.