Stop
art of an enjoyable, relaxing motorhome journey is being safe in the knowledge that everything is working correctly and you’re ready for just about any eventuality. Having a properly functioning supplementary braking system on the dinghy vehicle should be a big part of your travel preparedness. Unlike a trailer, which has its own dedicated brake system that is energized whenever you plug the power cord into the tow vehicle, your dinghy vehicle’s brakes won’t work unless you install a supplementary system that applies the brakes when the motorhome brakes are applied. There are two basic ways to do this: with a portable system that locates between the vehicle’s driver seat and brake pedal, or a permanently installed system — and there are a variety of choices available. Which do you choose? And perhaps more importantly, are supplementary brakes really necessary?
In a word, “yes.” While it may be true that most motorhomes are capable of stopping with a dinghy vehicle in tow, the question is, how much will braking distance be increased? Obviously, this depends on the motorhome and the weight of the dinghy vehicle in question — but there’s no doubt that you will appreciate all the braking power you can get when you’re heading downhill at 60mph and traffic begins to slow suddenly. Plus, a supplementary braking system will take some of the burden off of your motorhome’s brakes, helping to prevent dreaded brake fade and improving brake life.
Besides the obvious safety aspect of a dinghy braking system, there’s another compelling reason to use one: They’re required by law in all but one of the United States as of this writing (Missouri), and in all provinces in Canada. While the requirements do differ by state (and province), they’re all based on either trailer weight or stopping distance — and in the eyes of the law, a towed vehicle is considered a trailer. To wit: U.S. federal law states, “Trailer means a motor vehicle with or without motive power, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by another motor vehicle.” (You can get a complete list of requirements in the U.S. and Canada by visiting drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/trailer-brakes/.)
As noted, there are a variety of supplementary braking systems available on the market today, each with its own benefits. And now that you know all the reasons why a dinghy brake system should be considered mandatory, let’s look at the type of systems offered — segmented by type (portable or permanent) — along with their differences, features and benefits.
Portable Braking Systems
Portable braking systems are by far the most popular, simply because they install easily and can be transferred from one vehicle to another, which is handy if you plan to tow more than one vehicle (like a car most of the time, or a Jeep when you plan to camp off grid, for example).
Portable systems locate between the driver’s seat and brake pedal and incorporate an arm and pedal clamp that depresses the vehicle’s brake pedal when the motorhome’s brakes are applied. Features vary greatly in portable systems, but proportional braking is one benefit that you’ll want to have. “Proportional braking” means that the system in your dinghy is designed to mimic the brake application in the motorhome, both in timing and in the amount of force. As you brake harder, so does the dinghy brake system. Systems that don’t incorporate proportional braking can cause a perceptible jerking sensation when the brakes are applied. It still works, it’s just not as smooth.
The Blue Ox Patriot 3 is a proportional, all-electric system, meaning it doesn’t use a pump and compressed air to depress the vehicle’s brake pedal. Weighing in at just 15 pounds, the Patriot 3 is light enough to be handled by anyone and installation takes just minutes. Simply place it on the floor, attach the brake claw to the brake pedal, then slide the seat forward until it makes contact with the push pads on the unit. Next, plug the Patriot into a constant 12-volt DC (cigarette lighter) outlet. Once connected, green lights on the cord will glow to verify that electricity is present. Press the power button, followed by “set-up” and you’re ready to tow. A built-in, lifetime super capacitor battery allows the unit to operate for up to 30 minutes without a power connection, and an in-coach controller with extended range allows you to make adjustments from the cockpit if necessary. A break away cord is included. Blue Ox, (800) 228-9289, blueox.com
Brake Buddy is one of the best-known names in portable braking systems. The company’s Classic and Select systems still rank among the most popular in the RV industry, and its latest versions, the Classic 3 and the Select 3, come with some pretty cool features. Among them are what the company calls TruFit riser technology, which features independently adjustable legs that allow the units to be correctly positioned on irregularly shaped floorboards. Both systems offer proportional braking, a towed vehicle battery charger, an Easy-Pull cord for power/breakaway and a compact, low-profile design with carrying handle. The Select 3 adds an interactive remote that allows the user to adjust settings from the cab of the motorhome and also provides alerts if anything goes wrong. Other handy features include a new universal Quick-Lock clevis, which is designed to fit brake pedals of all sizes and shapes, and an AutoStart feature, which automatically performs a diagnostic system check and cycles the brake pedal. Brake Buddy, Hopkins Manufacturing Corp., (800) 470-2287, brakebuddy.com
The Delta Force from Demco Products is the only portable, proportional system that doesn’t wedge against the driver’s seat or floor pan; instead, a tether attached to the floorboard prevents the unit from moving rearward. Another handy feature is the Set-It-Once pedal clamp, which only requires that you adjust the pedal clamp during the initial installation. The system’s wireless CoachLink system, meanwhile, monitors connectivity to the towed vehicle, displays braking effort and offers visual/audible alerts for fault codes and the breakaway circuit. The Intuitive User Interface checks the unit’s functionality when the “initialize” button is pressed and offers different user profiles. Demco Products, (800) 543-3626, demco-products.com
Roadmaster’s Even Brake is a compact unit packed with a lot of thoughtful features. In addition to full-time proportional braking in the dinghy vehicle and constant self-diagnostic testing, the system’s status is transmitted to an easy-to-read monitor located in the motorhome cockpit. Power Save protection warns of a low battery condition with LED and LCD alerts, and a sleep mode preserves battery power while maintaining emergency braking if battery voltage gets too low. Automatic brake protection warns the driver of dragging brakes, then will release brake pressure to avoid excessive wear. Even Brake is also equipped with on-board memory, so it will “remember” your adjustment settings—just position the unit between the seat and brake pedal, slide the driver’s seat forward and plug it in. Roadmaster Inc., (800) 669-9690, roadmasterinc.com
How about a dinghy brake that actually tells you what to do? The RVibrake3 system features an Audio Assistant that walks the user through a 30-second set-up with the push of just one button, and can also advise of a brake lock condition. Weighing only 10 pounds, the low-profile unit is designed to be positioned against the rise in the floorpan underneath the seat, rather than the seat itself. And instead of a monitor, the RVibrake3 includes the company’s Command Center tablet and hub, which helps the user select the correct settings, monitors proportional braking in real time, and alerts the driver of a breakaway using a proprietary wireless connection. Tire pressure monitoring can also be added optionally. RVi, 800-815-2159, rvibrake.com
Permanent Braking Systems
Permanent systems are a great choice if you only tow one vehicle and plan to keep it for a long time. While these systems take longer to install initially, very little preparation is required before towing — just plug in a power cord and/or quick disconnect and the system is ready. Another key benefit is, these units tie into the air or hydraulic brake system in the motorhome and/or its electrical system (brake signal) to activate the brakes in the towed vehicle, so they are all proportional. Permanent systems are also practically invisible, typically consisting of a small control unit that mounts underneath the hood or out of view in the passenger compartment.
The Brake Buddy Stealth consists of a compact 14-inch by 5-3/8-inch actuator box in the dinghy, while the controller with digital display is located in the motorhome cab. The Dual Controller mounts similarly to a trailer brake controller (in fact, it can function as a trailer brake control if you ever tow a trailer or boat) and allows sensitivity adjustment, while the display shows braking action and breakaway condition. Built-in battery protection keeps the dinghy’s battery charged while towing, and a vacuum pump restores the vehicle’s brake system vacuum after each braking event. Brake Buddy, Hopkins Manufacturing Corp., (800) 470-2287, brakebuddy.com
Designed for use on motorhomes with air brakes, Demco’s Air Force One uses a pilot signal from the coach’s air brake system to deliver 100%, direct proportional braking, and energizes the towed vehicle’s power brakes through a patented process that doesn’t require an electronic vacuum pump. The system is composed of three main components: The Operating Unit, the Actuator and the Coach Air Assembly. The Air Force One operating unit mounts under the hood of the towed vehicle. It houses the vacuum generator for the dinghy’s power assist and also the reserve air supply for the breakaway circuit. The compact actuator mounts on the brake arm of the towed vehicle and secures to the firewall with just one self-drilling screw. Once installed, the entire system is invisible and always ready for towing.
Designed for motorhomes with hydraulic brakes, the Stay-in-Play DUO uses the power and speed of air pressure to activate your towed vehicle’s brake pedal while creating vacuum for the power brake system. DUO requires both deceleration and coach brake lights to apply the dinghy vehicle brakes instantly — there’s no need to set gain or sensitivity to achieve the proportionate balance of brake effort. DUO’s small operating unit is installed under the hood, and the system does not have to be taken in and out for normal operation of the towed vehicle. Demco Products, (800) 543-3626, demco-products.com
Available for both air and hydraulic brake systems, the BrakeMaster is a truly proportional auxiliary braking system that uses the brake line pressure in the motorhome for activation, so the brake application in the motorhome is always mimicked by the BrakeMaster system in the towed vehicle. A small air cylinder weighing just 3.75 pounds and measuring 17 inches long connects to the towed vehicle in less than one minute without any tools, adjustments or settings; simply attach the brake pedal clamp, secure the other end to the seat adapter, connect the air hose, and you’re ready to tow.
InvisiBrake is Roadmaster’s best-selling permanently installed braking system, featuring fully automatic, progressive braking that uses the same electrical signal from the towed vehicle’s brake lights to activate the system. When the motorhome’s brakes are applied, InvisiBrake uses a vacuum-operated cable and pulley system to apply the dinghy’s brake pedal, then increases brake pressure until the user-selected setting is attained (adjustable from 5 to 100 psi). InvisiBrake also trickle-charges the dinghy vehicle’s battery while towing and energizes the power brake system, so it’s not working against a “dead” brake pedal. Roadmaster Inc., (800) 669-9690, roadmasterinc.com
