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Braking devices

Yahoo Message Number: 1977
Has anyone used successfully or unsuccessfully either "Brake Buddy" or "Silent Partner" as a braking device for a tow vehicle? Or any similar product that can be easily set up and removed.

Re: Braking devices

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1980
I have the brake buddy and it seems to work very well. If you purchase one, make sure you get the 'new style' which just came out. the old one is essentially a box. The new one is more of a molded plastic body but supposedly the sensor device in the new one is more effective than the older 'pendulum' style.
I believe the brake buddy is around $800.00 I bought a vehicle alert system which plugs into the brake buddy and is supposed to send a signal to a small unit you plug into your cigarette lighter, and light up whenever the brake buddy is engaged, however that didnt work so I have to figure that out. Maybe its something simple.
But I could tell the brake buddy was working. I like it because I didnt have to cut into any pipes or tubing or wires. Just put the unit in front of the drivers seat in toad. connect to brake pedal and plug into cigarette lighter. It has a built in compressor in the unit. And they give good instructions for adjusting.
I have a 40' Prevost with a Jeep Liberty for Toad.

Re: Braking devices

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1981
-In the latest issue of Motor Home on pg. 60 is an ad for the Silent Partner. It appears to work like the Brake Buddy but has features that it does not. Pat

Re: Braking devices

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1982
-In the latest issue of Motor Home on pg. 60 is an ad for the Silent Partner. It appears to work like the Brake Buddy but has features that it does not. Pat

Re: Braking devices

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1983
Thanks, Pat. I was familiar with the SMI product, but didn't know that they called it the "Silent Partner".

Glen R. Fotré, Portland, OR

glen@...
1996 Beaver Patriot/Toyota 4x4 Pickup FMCA-F36478 Good Sam-ZC0494229 BAC

Re: Braking devices

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1985
I use the "Brake Buddy." Works great, the wife can set it up without any problems.

Jim C. of Durham, NC
2000 MADP

Re: Braking devices

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1987
Glen, I responded earlier..said I had a 'brake buddy' and was happy with it. I just realized which product you are referring to ..'silent partner.' by SMI.
I investigated both products and went with the Brake Buddy. I listened to all the preaching about 'dead brake pedal' , excessive pressure needed to push it, etc. But I talked to a number of people who have the Brake Buddy and the swear by it. The SMI product requires that you tap into your car's braking system. I did not want to do that. I felt that if I tampered in any way with the cars braking system and had a warranty problem, they might try to get out of it because I had altered the factory system. I have a new Jeep Liberty. If I was towing a car out of warranty, it might not bother me as much. As I said, I have used the brake buddy and the system works well. I think the new style they just came out with (last few months) works even better than the previous because it uses electronic sensoring . My understanding is they are both good products but the Brake buddy requires absolutely NO connections to your cars systems other than plugging something into the cigarette lighter and snapping the swing loaded clasp onto the brake pedal. It sets up fast and you can move it from tow vehicle to tow vehicle. Thats my two cents. Jim

Re: Braking devices

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1988
Jim Boldebook wrote:
Glen,

I responded earlier..said I had a 'brake buddy' and was happy with it.
I just realized whichproduct

you are referring to ..'silent partner.' by SMI. I investigated both products and went with the Brake Buddy. I listened to all the preaching about'dead

brake pedal' , excessive pressure needed to push it, etc. But I talked to a number of peoplewho

have the Brake Buddy and the swear by it. The SMI product requires that you tap into yourcar's

braking system. I did not want to do that. I felt that if I tampered in any way with the carsbraking system and had a warranty problem, they might try to get out of it because I hadaltered the factory

system. I have a new Jeep Liberty. If I was towing a car out of warranty, it mightnot

bother me as much. As I said, I have used the brake buddy and the system works well. I think thenew

style they just came out with (last few months) works even better than the previous because ituses

electronic sensoring . My understanding is they are both good products but the Brake buddy requiresabsolutely NO connections to your cars systems other than plugging something into the cigarette lighterand

snapping the swing loaded clasp onto the brake pedal. It sets up fast and you can move it fromtow

vehicle to tow vehicle. Thats my two cents. Jim I just attended an FMCA regional rally where I went to (5) seminars on various Toad Braking systems, talked to people manning the Vendor booths and coach owners using several different Toad braking systems.
I purchased the Brake Buddy (2nd choice was SMI) for the same reasons Jim choose it. (Several vendors and a couple of users also had high praise for the M & G system but they weren't at the Rally) Dick

Re: Braking devices

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1992
Hi Jim, I have been silently ('til now) reading the comments on braking systems with interest as shortly I need to add a system to our TOAD.

My short list is the Brake Buddy (new version) or US Gear.
Not exactly apples to apples but both appear to be well liked systems by present users.
Right at this moment I am leaning toward BB based on the lower acquisition cost and the ability to move the system to another vehicle without having to reconfigure the second TOAD but my thinking changes almost daily. GGG.
Another plus for BB is that you can shop for a good price (make sure you get the latest version) and there is no time in the shop to have it installed. When you replace the TOAD, no cost to transfer the BB to the new vehicle.
To me there appear to be two downsides to BB. 1. It will take a little longer to setup the TOAD before towing each time you leave the campground and 2. It may not be quite as effective when braking.
I can recall no negative comments about the US Gear system except high acquisition and initial installation costs. Once past that hurdle it is certainly easier to connect up and move.
Initial installation may require a couple of days in the dealer/instaler shop.
At first look the additional acquisition cost (1400 - 1700 installed) looks a considerable compared to BB but when I step back and think about the cost of my coach plus Toad the additional outlay seems less significant.
Decision, decisions, decisions. All I really know right now is come July one of the systems mentioned will be on our TOAD as we plan to visit Canada and that country requires a supplemental braking system.

David, 2000 Intrigue, 11062

Re: Braking devices

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1993
David, I cannot comment on the other manufacturers product because I've never used any toad braking system other than BB. In regard to your first concern of setup, it takes no time at all.. after you do it the first time, it probably would take no more than 5 minutes.
You put the unit in front of the drivers seat. Attach the spring loaded clamp to the brake pedal and plug the unit into the cigarette lighter. There are no physical connections between the toad and the coach. Kinda works like a surge brake on u-haul trailers. You can adjust the sensitivity to brake the toad at just about any level you want. Incidentally, I don't work for BB or sell them. I just think its a solid product and so far, it has peformed exactly as advertised for me.
As far as your concern for effective braking, it seems to work very well for me..but again I have nothing to compare it to. I definetly feel the effect of the brake being applied to the toad and my stopping distance is the same as it would be without the toad.
You could always buy the brake buddy.. (be sure you get the new style unit..don't take one off the shelf that's been sitting there for a while.. ask if its the newer style unit that was just introduced) try it for a few months and if you don't think it's effective, sell it at a slight loss and get involved with the other system.
Maybe there is someone else on line here who has had experience with both systems and could tell you the difference between them.

Re: Braking devices

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1994
David,

It takes the wife or me about 5 to 10 minutes to hock up the car to the coach, and this is taking our time. If I had to do over again I would get the another Brake Buddy.

Jim C. of Durham, NC
2000 MADP

Re: Braking devices

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2128
We use the Blue OX, Toad Stop. It works on vacuum and you do nothing but attach a quick couple hose from the coach to the car. We love the system, there is nothing to remember when you are hooking up. But it is not cheap. It cost about $1500 from Bill Plemming, installed and then we purchased a truck hydrulic hose and 2 quick couples to go between the coach and the car. Blue Ox gives you a $3 hose and 2 hose clamps with the system.

Bill G. 2001 Magna