Installation costs of braking systems

In my case there was already a tow bar on board and I bought a Brake Buddy which I installed by myself, making necessary brackets for the breakaway switch, plus installing a secondary cigarette lighter on a new panel. So my cost was only labor spread out over several days.

On the money issue, I got mine on fleaBay and saved $700 over retail price and its like new. I did have to buy a breakaway switch which was missing, and BB sent me a power cable for the remote control gratis.

Are you talking about braking systems or full tow packages? Something like a Brake Buddy is around $1k, and running a simple breakaway wire to the front is no big deal.

Dont forget when you sell the car, the BB comes with you.

We don't have the tow system yet and want to wait til we make up our mind about dinghy towing or buying a tow dolly.

I've noticed you can buy the equipment for a lot less than the shops charge (through Amazon and others), but the shops will charge more for installation if you provide your own equipment.

My other question is how much damage (holes from drilling, etc.) is done to cars from installing brake systems?

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.

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

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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?

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!

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.

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