Trailer or Dinghy supplemental brakes - RV-Dreams Community Forum

MickeyD · RV-Dreams Lurker

Trailer or Dinghy supplemental brakes

MickeyD · RV-Dreams Lurker

We are setting up an 04 Jeep Liberty to tow behind our 37' Fleetwood Diesel pusher w/air brakes. I see supplemental trailer brake systems and I am wondering if they are worth the extra cost?

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I wouldn't tow my Jeep without supplemental braking, and some states require you to have them. I really like the M&G Braking System for our Jeep.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

When our supplemental braking unit broken we could definately tell the difference and were glad when it was fixed. You can never have too much braking, especially in an emergency stop. We no longer have the model that was broken and it is no longer made. We now have a Brake Buddy Vantage and we are happy with it. Cost just under $1100 mail order from pplmotorhomes and it took me about half an hour to install the break away, which required drilling a hole behind the car's brake pedel and routing a cable.

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mickey we used a Easy Brake system with the Roadmaster Tow bar etc.... We towed a 2009 Chevy HHR behind the Mobile Suites We sold the car but didn't take the base plate off. We have everything else for sell. If you happen to know anyone who nees the system minus the baseplate....

COBnKAT · RV-Dreams Community Member

MickeyD,

It may not be a matter of cost but LAW. Please check the below and other web sites to be on the SAFE side.

Also we have a 37' Gulf Stream with a Saturn Vue dinghy. Before we got brakes and going downhill on a curve and then using my coach brakes to slow down I could feel our Saturn pushing my tail around a little.

http://home.roadrunner.com/~morodat/toad-brakes-by-state.html

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have towed for over 10 years now and presently tow with a DP. We have always used the M&G air system for several reasons. First, there is nothing to take in and out of the toad once you arrive or when you are preparing for hte road. Second it is one of the simplest to connect and disconnect when hooking up and unhooking the toad. It's draw backs are that it is expensive and some toad manufacturers will void the warranty if it is installed. We personally have not found the warranty issue to be a problem with either our Ford Sportrac or our Jeep Wrangler, but we have heard of other companies that do consider it a deal breaker on warranty.

As for the functioning of the units, I think most of them, when properly installed and maintained work well. It is just up to you to decide as to cost, versatility and how much effort you want to put into towing.

-- Edited by ahoweth on Monday 20th of June 2011 08:46:09 AM

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We just quit double towing and are selling the Easy Brake system and Roadmaster tow bar. We have everything except the base plate, we left it on the HHR. The price is right.