Braking system for my towed vehicle

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Braking system for my towed vehicle

December 20, 2016, 01:30:22 pm

Hi all,

I had an recent accident with my 2015 Jeep Wrangler, hitting dump truck, and Wrangler's engine caught fire and is totaled. It was hard hit but I am fine so do my dog Pebbles (took her to recover after a week and now back to herself

So I just got new 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk (comes with Jeep Active Drive II as standard). Will order Blue Ox baseplate and wiring harness. Now as for braking system, I am leaning toward SMI's Air Force One. I did topic search and seems seeing positive things from this system. Is there any other current system I should check as well?

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

Jamie
'96 U270 "Ms. Blue Jay"

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #1 – December 20, 2016, 02:11:57 pm

We have -

M & G Engineering - Car Braking Systems: Home Page

Seems to be simple and appears to work.

You will get lots of input on this.

If you do a Search for: towed braking system, you will get all kinds of threads to read.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #2 – December 20, 2016, 02:14:10 pm

I use the NSA Ready Brake System. It is simple to install and then works without any other fussing around when you tow. Just hook up and go. Breakaway system too.
NSA RV Products - Ready Brake and Ready Brute Home

They have tow bars with the Ready Brake built in.
RV Tow Bars

We really like ours, they are worth a look. No modification to the coach or toad (other than installing it). Lighting was not too hard.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #3 – December 20, 2016, 02:35:57 pm

+1 on the M&G system. Ties into the coaches air brakes & provides braking assistance while driving as well as break-away protection. Does not affect normal driving. Plug & play by connecting airline at the bumper. Installation is a little bit involved but not bad. Can be done yourself. 10+ years on our Toyota 4Runner with no problems.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #4 – December 20, 2016, 02:39:07 pm

I also have the ready brake system on my Toad. It is a surge brake system and does not require modifying the air system of your coach. I installed it myself and was rather easy, although it took me several hours to accomplish.

The air force one is probably a better brake system, but the ready brake meets the requirement for toad brake and was significantly less expensive.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #5 – December 20, 2016, 02:40:02 pm

We use the US Gear proportional braking system. It works for us. When we plug in the light harness into the Jeep the braking system is also hooked up and live.

Roland

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #6 – December 20, 2016, 03:20:07 pm

M & G works very well and is a no-brainer to use.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #7 – December 20, 2016, 03:22:28 pm

I am completely pleased with the SMI Air Force One system. Just one additional connection, the air line, and you have great proportional breaking whenever the air brakes are applied. Just along for the ride with the reader alone, but really kicks in when you apply the foot break.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #8 – December 20, 2016, 03:31:22 pm

We also have the Air Force One system. Works well.

Keith

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #9 – December 20, 2016, 04:45:49 pm

Another vote for Air Force One

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #10 – December 20, 2016, 05:00:39 pm

There is a issue with the active drive that requires some kind of accessory.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #11 – December 20, 2016, 05:14:06 pm

This is what I have. Very good system. M & G Engineering.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #12 – December 20, 2016, 05:14:10 pm

Jamie,
I purchased a 2016 Cherokee with also Active drive II system. If not already done make sure dealer installs the MOPAR "towed" wiring harness. I went through a bunch of hoopla with them. When all said and done the wiring harness about $150 which dealer try to charge me and i did not pay they did & Jeep paid for the $180 installation fee. Without it you can not flat tow a Jeep Cherokee. It does not get power to front wheels with out the MOPAR wiring harness.
As of this wring i don't have the part number etc but i can get it for you.
If you have the wiring harness installed you should have the switch inside of your arm rest compartment and a 10am fuse. You also need to have a wire to your engine battery from your coach batteries to charge your Cherokee batteries while towing it.
AL

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #13 – December 20, 2016, 07:09:52 pm

I would not install M G if modifications have to be made under hood, like cutting and repositioning parts. On some newer models this is necessary. I have SMI Aire Force One. Very pleased.

Roy

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #14 – December 20, 2016, 08:27:44 pm

Another vote for Air Force One, works well on my 6,500lb pickup easy install.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #15 – December 20, 2016, 08:41:29 pm

M&G had it on 2 jeeps never a problem. Some installations do require some cutting and parts relocation, not a big deal. Took me about an hour and a half on my Wrangler.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #16 – December 20, 2016, 09:15:46 pm

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – December 20, 2016, 02:14:10 pm

I use the NSA Ready Brake System. It is simple to install and then works without any other fussing around when you tow. Just hook up and go. Breakaway system too.
NSA RV Products - Ready Brake and Ready Brute Home

They have tow bars with the Ready Brake built in.
RV Tow Bars

We really like ours, they are worth a look. No modification to the coach or toad (other than installing it). Lighting was not too hard.

Roger, did you go with their tow bar?

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #17 – December 20, 2016, 10:41:25 pm

Airfource1 for me. Has been on two coaches and works great.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #18 – December 20, 2016, 11:38:51 pm

I use a M & G system to tow a 2004 Grand Cherokee or a 2016 f150 XLT Super Cab 8 ft bed with a golf cart in bed. Works great for me.
Bill

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #19 – December 20, 2016, 11:43:46 pm

Quote from: Jeff & Sandy – December 20, 2016, 09:15:46 pm

Roger, did you go with their tow bar?

I did not use their tow bar. I have a Roadmaster Stowmaster. I bought a used one for $200. It had towed a car to Florida and back. I used the Civic baseplates that came with it with some adaptation to fit on the Jeep. With a receiver Ready Brake and a dropped ball so that the tow bar is flat I can tow the jeep and have brakes with anything that has a 2" receiver. That has proved to be pretty handy. It works well for me.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #20 – December 21, 2016, 07:34:40 am

We are on our third MG system two of which have been on Subaru Outbacks and one on a Chrysler Town and Country. The two Subaru's were installed at MG in Athens Texas with minimal underhood alteration. The Chrysler was installed by a dealer in Florida also with minimal alteration. We chose MG because it is IMHO the simplest and most reliable system.

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #21 – December 21, 2016, 08:04:10 am

Ditto for AF1. Completely satisfied

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #22 – December 21, 2016, 09:08:22 am

Ditto for M & G
2 Mazda pickup's, same units on different pickup's
1 Avalanche

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #23 – December 21, 2016, 09:19:43 am

Thanks to all, great info here. AF1 do have notification system where it notify the driver that toad brakes are being applied or not. Do other systems do that too?

Re: Braking system for my towed vehicle

Reply #24 – December 21, 2016, 09:29:34 am

ReadyBrake does too. There is a small LED indicator on the dash that comes on when the brakes are applied. There are spare wires from the engine area to the dash area on the driver's side. Easy to hook up.

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