TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Topic: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS (Read 1528 times) previous topic - next topic

TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

May 28, 2015, 04:34:54 am

I just bought a TOAD for the Foretravel to drag around. I chose a Jeep Commander Limited, 4X4, Hemi.
Its no light weight, so I plan on a 10,000# rated tow bar.
I have researched on this forum, members comments on tow bars and based on comments I'm leaning toward the Blue Ox Product line.
Looking through Craigslist I have found a few AVENTA II #7335 tow bars at reasonable prices.
I read that Blue Ox will rebuild the bars for $25 at events they attend, or I could order the kit and replace the parts myself.

When inspecting a used bar what should I be looking at besides cosmetics or parts that I can easily and inexpensively replace?
What other options or manufacturers in a bar might I look at?

How about brake systems;
What works?
What should I avoid?
The Jeep has electrically adjustable pedals that tie into the automatic seat, mirror preferences, radio choices.
This bothers me when I look at the brake systems that attach to the brake pedal.
How have you dealt with this option on your TOAD if you choose a system that ties into the brake pedal?
It seems to me that if you set up the brake actuator then the pedals are accidentally moved without your knowledge the braking would be out of adjustment.
Thanks for your advice.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #1 – May 28, 2015, 07:00:45 am

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – May 28, 2015, 04:34:54 am

I'm leaning toward the Blue Ox Product line.

I read that Blue Ox will rebuild the bars for $25 at events they attend, or I could order the kit and replace the parts myself.

When inspecting a used bar what should I be looking at besides cosmetics or parts that I can easily and inexpensively replace?

I would look no further than a Blue Ox bar and baseplate.

Yes they have a crew that will come to your coach and do an "inspection" for around $25.00. That is just a cleaning and evaluation of your bar. Any parts or labor to install replacement parts is extra. If you use this service try to find out who, the factory or an independent dealer is providing the service and contact them prior to the event to get a time slot as those time slots fill VERY quickly.

Turning each tube (the part that attaches to the baseplate) is the most important inspection one can do. Simply turn each tube and look to see if it has a bow in it. If it does, that indicates the someone backed up the TOAD and that will tweak or even bend the tube. Replacement tubes are expensive and in my opinion not worth the purchase of a used unit and having to replace new tubes. All other wear parts i.e. Locking pins, rubber boots etc. are not expensive. David

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #2 – May 28, 2015, 07:54:13 am

I have a blue of system also I bought the tow bar used I have had no problem with the tow bar at but I am towing 2000 lbs. I have a M&G brake system I would stay away from the electrical systems, too fussy for me. The M&G system has an air cylinder between the brake booster and the master cylinder. Elegant engineering and design you can check their website to see if it is compatable with your Jeep

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #3 – May 28, 2015, 08:07:13 am

Agree Blue Ox and M&G Braking system. Got the brake away system also. Make sure any used equipment you purchase is in good working order. Having it inspected by a Blue Ox dealer or factory rep is a good idea. At the larger rallys I have been to they inspect your blue ox unit for the $25.00 range. They even gave me a black cover free. Easy hook-up. So far never any issues. DAN

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #4 – May 28, 2015, 08:28:07 am

For towing our Wrangler we use a Roadmaster Stowmaster tow bar that I bought used. It came with base plates for a Honda Civic which were easily modified to work on the Jeep.

For braking we use the ReadyBrake receiver brake. You can use it with a ball type tow bar or a receiver tow bar. We have the brakeaway connections too which are required in many states.

This braking system is simple, easy to install and adjust. No modifications to the coach, a simple cable to add to the Jeep. If you move your pedals for each driver then set the brakes for the pedals as close to the seat as they go. If you find a common spot for the pedals and don't adjust them then set the brakes for that spot.

Works for us and many others.

Supplemental Brake Systems - NSA RV Products

Roger

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #5 – May 28, 2015, 09:17:10 am

WOW, Roger! we have the Readybrake system on our Vue. I bought it two years ago right from Readybrake for $423, which included shipping. Really like the simplicity of the system, but was surprised at the $500 price tag plus the hookup package.

Only thing I did notice different with the Readybreak from towing our Geo Tracker (with no brake) was that at times it felt like the "tail was wagging the dog". Longer distance to the pivot ball, maybe. Or maybe having the heavier Saturn Vue and the different Blue Ox Aventa tow bar. Also, our coach is only 22,500#.
Great brake system, simple to install and hookup, decent price, relatively easy to adjust the cable, and totally independent of the electrical wiring system. I only had to adjust once because of the difference in angle between the two vehicles when coming down a steep driveway onto the public road.
One thing the Readybrake did that I didn't think of was that when the towed brake pedal is pulled down to activate, the towed brake lights (including the third lite) come on along with the wired lights I installed. Talk about redundancy!! LOTS OF LIGHT BACK THERE THEN!!

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #6 – May 28, 2015, 02:33:22 pm

I got the breakaway setup and the dash indicator light kit free with the ReadyBrake. It was about $450 as I recall. The tow bar was $250 used. My labor is free. All in for about $750. Much less than any other option. And I can pull the receiver part off the coach and hook it up to anything else and tow the Jeep and have functional brakes on the Jeep. Lots of ways to do this towing thing. Do what works for you. I can tell towing the Jeep when the brakes are functioning. They do help. I tried it without hooking then up to see.

Redid the towing light connections to a much more robust set up. One female on the coach and one female on the jeep with a HD male double ended cable between them. Much more durable and reliable.

Got the coach out yesterday for a 30 mile warmup run. Ran the gen and AH too. I can sure tell when there is no tow, get up and go! Lots of smiles! Roger

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #7 – May 28, 2015, 02:50:30 pm

Lon,

Just happened upon this today. Don't know if it helps. He is in the Chicago area like you and I.

Keith

BLUE OX Patiot Braking System/Tow hitch with acces.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #8 – May 28, 2015, 04:07:20 pm

We use a Brakemaster Falcon tow bar and an M&G system on our Wrangler. We had an Inivisibrake - the M&G system is much simpler and almost fool proof. M&G installed at their shop in Athens, TX.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #9 – May 29, 2015, 04:52:55 am

Thanks for all the ideas and advice.
My 95 U320 has a Jake engine break,
Would the Jake engine breaking (it can be very aggressive with the M11 engine) adversely effect the operating principal of the ReadyBrake system?
I can imagine the engine braking going down hill or at highway speeds activating the ReadyBrake with the motor home brakes not activated. The little Jeeps breaks are no match for the Foretravels weight.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #10 – May 29, 2015, 08:13:38 am

Quote from: Carol & Scott – May 28, 2015, 04:07:20 pm

We use a Brakemaster Falcon tow bar and an M&G system on our Wrangler. We had an Inivisibrake - the M&G system is much simpler and almost fool proof. M&G installed at their shop in Athens, TX.

I too have the M&G system and love it. I think it is the way to go.

BUT!!!
M&G says ( TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS)
they aren't able to use them on 2010-2014 Commanders.
My guess is not on 2015s either.

Give them a call..

...
JEEP Years Part#
CHEROKEE NO 2014 95-01 200 1
GRAND CHEROKEE 93-94 NO
GRAND CHEROKEE 95-98 200
GRAND CHEROKEE 99-04 100
GRAND CHEROKEE NO 2011-14 05-10 106
GRAND CHEROKEE DIESEL 2008-10 106
COMMANDER NO 2011-14 05-10 106
LIBERTY gas or diesel 2002- 07 102
LIBERTY 08-14 602
WRANGLER/SAHARA/RUBICON 95-06 200
WRANGLER/RUBICON/SAHARA 07-15 602
...

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #11 – May 29, 2015, 08:58:53 am

Lon, the ReadyBrake activates the brakes on the tow vehicle whenever the tow is pushing on the tow bar. This makes the lever on the top of the ready brake raise up and move forward pulling the cable connected to the brake pedal which pulls the brake pedal down. When you apply the coach brakes or engage your engine brake or the retarder the coach will start to slow down, the tow starts to push the tow br, the brakes on the tow are activated until they are going the sme speed and the the tow a bit less. The push goes away and the brakes on the tow are released. A spring/shock absorber in the tow bar helps smooth out this action and releases the tow brakes when there is no push but no pull either.

The harder the tow pushes on the coach the more braking is applied.

These come with an indicator LED light that goes anywhere on the dash. The light comes on when the braking action is engaged. If you are driving down hill for example and downshift to slow down as the coach starts to slow down even with no coach brakes applied the tow vehicle brakes will be applied until they are going the same speed.

Simple, reliable, easy to install, easy to adjust, no coach mods, no tow mods, nothing to put in or take out of the tow. Just what I wanted.

Roger

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #12 – May 29, 2015, 11:04:35 am

I found MG required cutting the firewall on my Jeep so I put on an Airforce one.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #13 – June 01, 2015, 03:16:32 am

I have Blue Ox and Airforce One. Love them both, especially the Airforce One braking system. I installed both systems myself; quite a job. I tow a Chevrolet HHR automatic; don't even know its back there.
Gary

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #14 – June 01, 2015, 07:15:42 am

Quote from: Home2fromHastings – May 29, 2015, 08:58:53 am

Lon, the ReadyBrake activates the brakes on the tow vehicle whenever the tow is pushing on the tow bar. This makes the lever on the top of the ready brake raise up and move forward pulling the cable connected to the brake pedal which pulls the brake pedal down. When you apply the coach brakes or engage your engine brake or the retarder the coach will start to slow down, the tow starts to push the tow br, the brakes on the tow are activated until they are going the sme speed and the the tow a bit less.

Roger, does that mean when you pull back your retarder on a long hill the tow car is braking all the way down hill? It sounds that it might be and is the position adjustable so it would only come on with real braking?

(Trimmed entire post quote - Michelle)

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #15 – June 01, 2015, 07:46:27 am

Hi John,

Yes it does. When you are coming down a grade for example, and you slow the coach down by down shifting, applying the brakes or applying the retarder, your toad is going slightly faster than the coach and pushing it. This pushing action slides the inner and outer parts of the ReadyBrake together (against the built in spring/shock absorber) and that relative movement moves the top lever which pulls on the cable which pulls the brake pedal towards the floor. As the speeds equalize the brakes are applied less because the push is less. When the speeds are the same, no push, no brakes.

The dash light shows when the brakes are being applied. I don't think this is like riding the toad brakes all the way down the hill since the coach and whatever braking it is doing includes the toad. The toad brakes are applied in addition.

If you come to a stop in a down slope the toad will still be pushing against the coach and the toad brakes will be on until you start up, just as if you were driving the toad by itself.

In systems that are linked just to the coach's brakes (air supply) the brakes on the tow may not be applied when just using the retarder or downshifting. Someone who has one of these can answer that.

The ReadyBrake is proportional to the braking required, works no matter how the coach is being slowed, it is mechanical, no mods to the coach required, simple to install and hook up for towing and reliable.

It meets my requirements. I had a home made sort of thing that worked much the same way on my 1947 Willys more than 40 years ago. Back then everything was home made.

Hope that helps understand how it works. Roger

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #16 – June 01, 2015, 09:12:23 am

It sounds like the ReadyBreak system is similar in concept to the "surge" disk brakes on our Kar Kaddy SS tow dolly. In my experience, they do work great! The harder the coach stops, the harder the tow dolly brakes...the operation is completely transparent to the driver. Plus, there is one less connection to make between coach and towd.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #17 – June 01, 2015, 09:17:41 am

Another advantage--if your tow lights are separate from the towed vehicle--is that when the towed brakes are applied the towed vehicle brake lights also come on. Much better braking light warning as it really lights up the towed.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #18 – June 01, 2015, 09:27:19 am

All of these work, however M&G does not require penetrating the car firewall all others do

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #19 – July 15, 2015, 04:08:30 pm

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – May 28, 2015, 04:34:54 am

I just bought a TOAD for the Foretravel to drag around. I chose a Jeep Commander Limited, 4X4, Hemi.

Lon,
Did you get your Commander set up for towing? I have the same Jeep and was curious what brake system you decided on, how it worked out and how it tows.
Thanks.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #20 – July 15, 2015, 04:47:28 pm

One hole 3/8" dia directly behind the brake pedal, for the Readybrake cable housing and the steel cable that is clamped onto the brake pedal. Then route the cable & housing around the hot spots of the engine and any moving parts, up to a center point, preferably directly in the midpoint of the front of the vehicle & between the tow bar mounts.

The Readybrake actuates when 20# of "push" are applied by your towed vehicle. Once the speeds are equalized the braking actuator no longer actuates your towed vehicle brakes.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #21 – July 15, 2015, 05:38:00 pm

Quote from: John S – May 29, 2015, 11:04:35 am

I found MG required cutting the firewall on my Jeep so I put on an Airforce one.

I just cut mine as required, unless you knew where to look you can't see it.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #22 – July 15, 2015, 07:52:57 pm

We have a 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. No cutting of the fire wall. No cable attached to the brake. The towed vehicle brake is only applied when I press on my brake pedal. Is connected to the Air on the coach - guaranteed for life. Had an Invisibrake and it failed but that's another story.

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #23 – July 15, 2015, 10:37:11 pm

We have a Roadmaster and the Air Force 1 on our 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. the Air Force 1 saved us when our receiver hitch lock broke and the tow bar came out of the receiver on an upgrade. As we began the downgrade, Jeff saw the jeep in the side mirror!! He gently applied the brakes, stopped the coach, and then gently let off on the brake until the Jeep came to rest on the back bumper of the coach. Perfect! We had to replace the tow bar, of course, but there was no damage to either vehicle. The Air Force 1 is worth every dime!

Re: TOW BARS - BRAKE SYSTEMS

Reply #24 – July 15, 2015, 11:49:59 pm

The only problem with M&G is the the new cars are so tight under the hood that they have too cut things out to make their unit fit. Part of my brake manifold and lines were wire tied to the body. This was a on 2010 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited. I bought the parts that had been cut up and returned the unit. Installed a NSA Ready Brake and now have Air Force One. Hate to say anything bad about M & G but I do not feel the installation was safe.

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