Ready Brake

We have been using our ReadyBrute Elite tow bar with an integrated ReadyBrake for over 40,000 miles towing two different toads. Zero problems...

I use the Ready Brake built into the tow bar. Works very well. You also need a break away system that NSA also sells. .

I bought the complete Ready Brake Elite system with breakaway in January for my 2013 CRV but have not installed it yet. Getting ready to do so soon. Towing to Bristol, TN in August.

I was talking to my buddy today about RV stuff. When he heard me say that I didn't use a braking system he freaked out. Merely not having the equipment in service is a violation of law in some states. Get in a crash and they will toast you. The equipment will cost way less than the headaches.

I've used the ReadyBrake for about 4 years, excellent product. Easy to hook up, trouble free, good customer support. I had the box type previously and found the box cumbersome and it would wear down the toad battery. ReadyBrake does not affect the battery, as you are using the toad braking. I did order a new cable this summer as it was showing some weathering, replacing the cable was easy as it just slipped back into the sleeve all the way to the brake peddle. I had it installed by a auto technician as I was afraid to drill through the fire wall in the Saturn...everything was just so close together.

North Carolina State Laws, Para. 20-124 (f):
"Every semitrailer, or trailer, or separate vehicle, attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle, and having a gross weight of two tons, and all house trailers of 1,000 pounds gross weight or more, shall be equipped with brakes controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle, which shall conform to the specifications set forth in subsection (e) of this section and shall be of a type approved by the Commissioner."

I have never found out which (if any) "types" of auxiliary brakes are "Approved by the Commissioner".
North Carolina, AFAIK, is the ONLY state which has such a law. However, as stated elsewhere, many states (and the FMVSS) have "braking performance" laws.
Which, interestingly, brings us to the Section (e) which is referred to above. It states:
"(e) Motor trucks and tractor-trucks with semitrailers attached shall be capable of stopping on a dry, hard, approximately level highway free from loose material at a speed of 20 miles per hour within the following distances: Thirty feet with both hand and service brake applied simultaneously and 50 feet when either is applied separately, except that vehicles maintained and operated permanently for the transportation of property and which were registered in this or any other state or district prior to August, 1929, shall be capable of stopping on a dry, hard, approximately level highway free from loose material at a speed of 20 miles per hour within a distance of 50 feet with both hand and service brake applied simultaneously, and within a distance of 75 feet when either applied separately.

(e1) Every motor truck and truck-tractor with semitrailer attached, shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels, except trucks and truck-tractors having three or more axles need not have brakes on the front wheels if manufactured prior to July 25, 1980. However, such trucks and truck-tractors must be capable of complying with the performance requirements of G.S. 20-124(e)."
Of course, that seems to be VERY specific, and it does not appear to relate to RVs towing a vehicle.

mowermech wrote:
North Carolina State Laws, Para. 20-124 (f):
"Every semitrailer, or trailer, or separate vehicle, attached by a drawbar or coupling to a towing vehicle, and having a gross weight of two tons, and all house trailers of 1,000 pounds gross weight or more, shall be equipped with brakes controlled or operated by the driver of the towing vehicle, which shall conform to the specifications set forth in subsection (e) of this section and shall be of a type approved by the Commissioner."

I have never found out which (if any) "types" of auxiliary brakes are "Approved by the Commissioner".

I'm not aware of any standard passenger vehicle that is not equipped with brakes of a type approved by the federal DOT and/or NHTSA, and typically by reference by each state. The auxiliary brake controllers typically used in the RV market however, apparently do not require such approval.

Been using a Ready Brute Elite tow bar with built in Ready Brake since 2010. If I were buying today, I would buy the same.

I ordered the whole Ready Brake system yesterday. Thanks for all the comments. I got an email this am that said it was ready to be shipped and could not be canceled so, I assume that it will be here next week. I gotta say that it will make driving down the interstate and through the mountains a little less stressful. I do feel the CRV pushing me when stopping. Hard stops are pretty difficult and I know it's a lot of abuse on the whole business from the base plate to the hitch without some braking on behalf of the toad.

We are about to follow the same path to tow our 2014 Ford Focus. The problem with the Focus is that the last step in hooking up is to unhook the battery so their onboard computer will not try to change gears while towing. The Ready Brake Elite is the ONLY tow bar we have found with surge brakes that control a steel cable that does the braking while driving. ALL of the other tow bar / braking systems MUST have electrical power during an emergency brake away event. Again, the Ready Brake system is the ONLY one we have found that can stop the car after it breaks away.

Good luck with yours, glad to hear the comments in this thread that others, who actually have it, like it.

PS: looks like the negative comments are coming from those who like what they have.