Topic: Dinghy Braking Systems
Presenters: Jerry & Carol Dale (Blue Ox reps)
One of the biggest problems with supplemental braking systems is that most consumers don't understand them. The majority of problems relate back to installation issues.
The law: Most states have a law that requires the use of supplemental braking systems, but few states enforce them. The state laws are not uniform. In British Columbia reportedly they enforce the law. [NB: other information sources are at odds with this.]
The purpose of the supplemental brake is to reduce stopping distance. The reasons for having a competely adequate towing system (include supplemental braking system) is (i) safety; (ii) security and confidence; (iii) liability; and (iv) cost (reduces cost by reducing stress on towing vehicles's braking system).
Chassis manufacturers are increasingly pointing out the need for braking systems. They typically establish weight ratings (GCVWR) that assume a supplemental braking systems. [Note: At least one mfgr, Country Coach, does not make this assumption.]
System types: Surge, hydraulic, air, and vacuum.
A surge brake uses the weight of the toad against the receiver to create the force that is transferred by cable to the brake pedal. It's a proportional braking system based on demand. "Propotional" means the harder you apply the brake, the more the brake is applied to the towed vehicle.
Hydraulic System: Remco manufactures the only one. Taps into the toads braking system. Applies brakes to either front or rear wheels. All other systems cause braking at both front and rear wheels.
Air system: Requires a coach with air brakes to operate. Requires only tapping into the coaches air brakes, using coach air to activate the toad's brakes. Proportional braking "air to air" demand, in that when you use coach brake, toad's brake is immediately applied to the same degree as the coach.
Two things you don't want to happen: You don't want to lock the brakes, and you don't want the toad to be stopping the motorhome.
Brake Buddy & Apollo: self contained units that have air compressors and adjustable sensitivity. Both have guages. Brake Buddy works off an analog internal computer board that measures G force. Apollo works off of digital G force and takes .25 - .50 second to activate, versus the 2.5 - 3 seconds for brake buddy. Consider the fact that at 60 mph you're traveling 88 feet per second. Options: alert system that has a light indicator in the coach; breakaway system is other option.
Vacuum systems: Uses live pedal, requiring about 26 pounds of pressure.
M&G makes a very good product, but has no alert system.
Toad Stop is vacuum system, about 1/3 size of Apollo type. Can set the box anywhere in the vehicle up to 15' from brake pedal.
Questions to Consider:
1. Does braking go to all four wheels?
2. Is the system proportional?
3. What effect on moorhome or toad's braking systems? (intrusion into vacuum or air systems?) Warranty implications?
4. Ease of hooking up, unhooking, and transferability from one towed vehicle to another?
5. Adjustments required after installation (Qualified/factory trained installers)
6. Reliable manufactureres and installers?
7. Service afte the sale.