brake assit for TOAD

[Tom McCarthy]

Jim,

Like George, I did not want to install, uninstall and store anything
for a toad brake. I looked at United and SMI Silent Partner. I
ended up with SMI only because of the remote control and monitoring
unit in the coach cockpit. It is proportional, has breakaway
feature and the cylinder is permanently installed. It does tap into
the toad vacuum system for actuating the cylinder. It does not use
the coach air brakes. It is activated by an inertia system in a box
in the toad. Unfortunately, I think the box is a little big and
might be hard to find a hidden spot to keep it. My last toad
required that I unplug it when I needed to use the passenger seat.
Defeated the purpose of the simple concept. With my Rubicon
Wrangler, it works the way I wanted.

Take a look at both and decide what works best for you.

Tom McCarthy
Poway, CA
"Penny Express" '95 PT42


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, George Lowry
wrote:
>
> HI Jim,
>
> I have looked at most of the various systems available and have
actually
> used two. The Brake Buddy and other copies consist of a heavy box
that
> must be installed and uninstalled each time, and stored someplace
when
> not under tow. To me, it is most inconvenient. I have met several
> people that had one of them and changed to another system.
>
> I originally used the Brakemaster on the El Camino towed by the
> Converted GM bus. It works very well, is proportional to the brake
> pressure on the towing vehicle. However the drawbacks are: it
requires
> tapping into the air brake system on the coach (not difficult) and
(that
> the wife objected to most) Installation and removal of the
actuating
> cylinder each time. This is the cylinder that applies pressure to
the
> brake pedal. There is also an air line with quick disconnects that
> connects between the coach and the toad. The wife objected the
work of
> installing/removal of the cylinder, especially after she saw a
friends
> Unified Tow Brake made by US Gear,
>
> When we got our Bird and decided to tow the Fleetwood Caddy, she
> insisted she wanted a tow brake that did not require any work on
her
> part and was hidden from view. The Unified Tow Brake fits these
> requirements. It is proportional to the slowing of the coach
(determined
> electronically) and takes no effort in the hook up process. The
only
> connection between the coach and toad is two wires which I
incorporated
> in the same cable as the lights so no additional work. I take that
back
> - I do have to connect the break-a-way cable. That is the only
> additional work. The installation is completely hidden. In my
case, I
> put the actuator under the carpeting in the truck and ran the
actuating
> cable up to the brake pedal under the carpet. The only thing that
shows
> is the clamp on the brake pedal arm. At the driver's station of
the
> coach, the controller is mounted in a convenient spot. It senses
the
> deceleration of the vehicle and sends it to the toad. It also has
> indicator lights that tell you how the system is working and a
manual
> lever for manual operation of the system.
>
> I found a place in MO (Can't remember the name right now) that had
the
> best price. Google or Yahoo should give you a lot of places that
have it.
>
> Hope this helps you in your decision.
>
> George Lowry
> '06 Alpine Apex - former owner of '95 WBDA 4203
> Spearfish, SD enjoying the weather in Palm Springs.
>
> scoggins_jim wrote:
>
> >I am thinking of putting a brake assist in my new TOAD--06 Jeep
Liberty.
> >I know nothing about them other than one name-Brake Buddy. What
are
> >your thoughts on the different brands.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Jim Scoggins
> >04 M380
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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>