Towd Questions January 09, 2008, 09:19:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 88103I currently own and pretty much full time in a fifth wheel. I am prepairing to buy a 1998 26.5 MB LD. One of the reasons for this move is that I am tired of only having a 178 in. wheelbase crewcab, longbed, Ford F-350 to use as transportation. Previously I had a lance camper on the truck and a Subaru Baja as a towd. I'm getting old and stiff and therefore do not want another manual shift car. I also would like a permanently installed suplemental braking system because I learned with the Even Brake that attaching it to the brake pedel required getting down on your knees and being a contortionist. What suggestions does this highly informed group have for me? Best Towd? Best/easiest towing system? Best/easiest suplemental braking system?Thanks All. Robbie
Re: Towd Questions Reply #1 – January 09, 2008, 09:59:05 pm Yahoo Message Number: 88104If you're looking for a supplemental braking system that requires absolutely no contortions to hook up, consider the one called Stay and Play manufactured by SMI. When it is installed, a permanent cartridge is hooked to the brake pedal of the toad. It only operates when the unit is turned on, otherwise you just drive the car as if the cartridge it wasn't there. The SMI unit - a box about a foot square and 4 inches high, can be installed anywhere in the car. We have a 2005 Saturn Vue (which we consider an excellent toad) and had it put under the front passenger seat, accessible from the back. All you need to do is bend down and flip a switch which activates the unit and the cartridge, go through the specified towing requirements given you by Saturn (or your car manufacturer) and probably go under the hood to remove a specific fuse (so that odometer does not register miles towed). We have used this SMI unit for several years with no problem. Once we were crossing Texas and the signalling unit in the motorhome began beeping erratically. We called SMI on our cell phone and they said it was probably stray radio waves from police transmitters. Sure enough, when we hit New Mexico it went away. But when we got home 5 months later we found a message on our home phone answering machine from SMI, asking us to let them know if the problem was corrected. That's what I call a responsible company!Marv and Dell Kline 30' IB Silverbelle NE 51 _ (mailto:)Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in shape. http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp00300000002489[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Towd Questions Reply #2 – January 09, 2008, 11:15:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 88111"What suggestions does this highly informed group have for me? Best Towd? Best/easiest towing system? Best/easiest supplemental braking system?"RobbieTwo systems that seem to work well and fit your requirements are US Gear's Unified Brake and SMI's Play and Stay. We have used a SMI Play and Stay in a Jeep Cherokee for several years now and it has been trouble free. The control box stays under the front seat and the rest of the gear is permanently installed under the dash. It is a hardwired brake that does not use a radio link. To tow, hook up the tow bar, plug in the umbilical cord between the LD and toad and turn the SMI's control box 'on'. 4X4 Jeeps are easy to tow. Put the transmission in Park, transfer case in neutral, the key in the wheel unlocked position and go. Honda automatic CRVs, among others Hondas, are popular toads. Many Saturns, with automatics, are towableSee Motorhome Magazine Dinghy guide for more information on towable vehicles. http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/output.cfm?ID=1073647>Larry
Re: Towd Questions Reply #3 – January 09, 2008, 11:22:17 pm Yahoo Message Number: 88113.... a supplemental braking system ......toadHi Robbie - We had the US Gear Unified Brake System installed to our '07 26.5RB and '07 Toyota Matrix in November '07 right after delivery of our LD - it is absolutely excellent & their tech guys are right on the spot for assistance. I do all the driving and connecting the tow car etc due to Jim's health condition. The US Gear System is just a small clip to connect and that is it. Tow equipment we went with all RoadMaster and ordered it through etrailer.com - we talked to Roadmaster and etrailer on phone several times and they helped us with everything. For our tow car we used the info available on MotorHomeMagazine.com site is a link for towables. Our tow car is manual, but I did not want a car that was limited to distance/speed in towing and with the simplest steps for set-up to tow - but that is not to say there are not automatic cars that will do same - Our Matrix is curb weight of 2700#'s, do recommend staying well under the 4000# tow limit of the LD -Good luck and hope we see ya On the Road Virginia & Jim central Texas Starr & Midnight Roadie http://travelingstarr.blogspot.com/
Re: Towd Questions Reply #4 – January 10, 2008, 07:32:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 88147We have been making these same decisions with the help of folks on this list. We wanted a relatively lightweight vehicle with some storage space and it had to be automatic.We tried the Honda Fit, CRV, Saturn Vue and Chevy HHR. We ended up with the HHR. With the exception of the Vue it was the quietest vehicle we had driven and very comfortable. We ruled the vue out because the weight was too close to 4,000
Re: Towd Questions Reply #5 – January 10, 2008, 11:39:45 pm Yahoo Message Number: 88150I like our set-up:Jeep Wrangler (look for the previous generation as the latest are heavier). Only about 17 mpg overall though.Demco Aluminator tow bar.SMI braking system.All very easy to use and have proven reliable.Look for a toad with the gas filler on the same side as the LD as you'll often fill both at once.Terry2003 26.5'RB Gardnerville, NV 1 Likes
Re: Towd Questions Reply #6 – January 11, 2008, 11:59:34 am Yahoo Message Number: 88158Hey Jim, If I had known then what I know now, I would have stayed away from those portable brake boxes. I invested in a Brake Buddy Even Brake System(over a grand)and it's a PITA. I am picking up a SMI system ASAP(hopefully next month). However, if you are really convinced that’s what you want, I know where you could pick up a good used one, CHEAP!………………………mikeNever miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Towd Questions Reply #7 – January 11, 2008, 12:43:48 pm Yahoo Message Number: 88161My recollection is that the consensus over the years has favored the US Gear braking systems. While some folks are happy with Brake Buddy-style portables, the many ways in which such a system can fail to work properly due to misalignment, etc. make me uncomfortable. With US Gear or a similar hardwired/permanently installed system, you plug it in and it works--period.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: Towd Questions Reply #8 – January 11, 2008, 09:30:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 88189Thanks for all the responses to my question. It looks like the SMI system probably wins. US gear comes in second and I will check it out.Blue Ox seems to be the easiest to hook up/unhook.The best vehicle to employ as a towd is still openWill let you know what my experiences are.Robbie
Re: Towd Questions Reply #9 – January 12, 2008, 09:30:47 am Yahoo Message Number: 88204Quote Thanks for all the responses to my question. It looks like the SMI system probably wins. US gear comes in second and I will check it out.Blue Ox seems to be the easiest to hook up/unhook.The best vehicle to employ as a towd is still openWill let you know what my experiences are.Robbie Robbie, Curious, what is it that causes you to rank the SMI first and US gear second?Jim
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