Supplemental Brake... Necessity or Preference
We seem to have a good number of discussions on the issue of the need for supplemental brakes... Unfortunately many of the discussions are not very productive in terms of giving those who have an open...
Forum Discussion
In the mid seventies I started towing a very light race car (1290 lbs) on a light trailer without brakes. I was using a Chevy 1 ton van class B. I also flat towed our Toyota Celica without brakes. I was very careful and never had any problems. Moving to our current class C (75 American Clipper on Dodge 1 ton) I towed the race car and flat towed numerous vehicles on tow dollys, again without brakes. Still no problems.
We are planning on retiring and full-timing in the next 6 months. We bought a '13 CRV and flat tow it behind our RV. (still the 75 Dodge). I installed the SMI stay-n-play system on it, and have been amazed at the difference. I have not done any measurements, but I know I've shortened my stopping distance
considerably. I wish I had done this 30 years ago.
The reason I chose the SMI system is because I didn't want to have to set up and remove a box every-time we hook-up or un-hook. You simply throw a switch. Nothing to store, and nothing that might move.
Take it from someone who has RV'd for 45 years and over 225,000 miles, the supplementary braking systems are worth it in peace of mind and stopping distance.
We are planning on retiring and full-timing in the next 6 months. We bought a '13 CRV and flat tow it behind our RV. (still the 75 Dodge). I installed the SMI stay-n-play system on it, and have been amazed at the difference. I have not done any measurements, but I know I've shortened my stopping distance
considerably. I wish I had done this 30 years ago.
The reason I chose the SMI system is because I didn't want to have to set up and remove a box every-time we hook-up or un-hook. You simply throw a switch. Nothing to store, and nothing that might move.
Take it from someone who has RV'd for 45 years and over 225,000 miles, the supplementary braking systems are worth it in peace of mind and stopping distance.
