toad braking systems June 30, 2009, 10:08:46 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103615Just wondering what most of you use for your toad braking systems and how much you like them. Inquiring minds need to know soonJudy Wms.Blue '07 RB "Dog Daze"And all the fur kids[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: toad braking systems Reply #1 – June 30, 2009, 10:25:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103616We really like our Ready Brake. It works great. Garth installed it himself which he said was easy. We have a light hooked up to the dash that tells us when the jeep brakes are on. That's nice to know. One time it was on when we took off and we stopped, wiggled the wires, and the light went off. Guess we didn't have the wire in tight enough. Denise and Garth in Paso Robles, California last week we enjoyed dry camping for a couple days at the beach at Avila.
Re: toad braking systems Reply #2 – June 30, 2009, 10:26:44 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103617Judy, We started towing May 2008 with US Gear. Very simple to hook up, and no problems. We had had no experience with towing before, so went with Blue Ox Towbar and wiring, US Gear for braking. Very happy with the setup. Had found many comments on this site. Norma
Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #3 – July 01, 2009, 12:39:37 am Yahoo Message Number: 103621We will be going to Seattle (Lake Washington) in August for the Dragon boat races and will be looking for a place to camp near by. Does anyone know the area and have any ideas?Lenore and Gary 23.5 FL ( Silver Lining)
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #4 – July 01, 2009, 01:11:28 am Yahoo Message Number: 103623Lenore and Gary:You could contact Vasa Park and see if they have openings. It is convenient to I-90 and about 13 miles to downtown Seattle. http://www.vasaparkresort.com/1525.html Will you have a tow vehicle? Even if you don't, it would be an easy drive across I-90 to Lake Washington Blvd. Where exactly on the lake are the races? I watched them years ago; very impressive. Let me know if you have any other questions about Seattle. When in August are you arriving?Marti in SeattleRver at Comcast dot net We will be going to Seattle (Lake Washington) in August for the Dragon boat races and will be looking for a place to camp near by. Does anyone know the area and have any ideas?Lenore and Gary 23.5 FL ( Silver Lining. http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=5371349/grpspId=1705126185/msgId =103621/stime=1246423181/nc1=1/nc2=2/nc3=3>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
toad braking systems Reply #5 – July 01, 2009, 05:49:57 am Yahoo Message Number: 103626Judy, I have a Brake Buddy system. That would not be my first choice again. It works ok, but is a hassle to put in and take out. I would much rather have something like the US Gear system, I think. Ken F
toad braking systems Reply #6 – July 01, 2009, 10:28:59 am Yahoo Message Number: 103627I use the SMI system, works great but difficult install. I tow an '06 HHR which is also great to tow. It costs me about .4mpg to tow. http://www.smibrake.com/Jerry (presently at Tower Park Marina) till 7/8/09 http://www.towerparkresort.com/
Re: toad braking systems Reply #7 – July 01, 2009, 10:36:06 am Yahoo Message Number: 103628Quote "Just wondering what most of you use for your toad braking systems and how much you like them. Inquiring minds need to know soon "Judy Wms.Blue '07 RB "Dog Daze" Judy, if you go to the "searchable archive" on the home page and type in any combination of toad brakes, braking systems, braking devices, etc, you will find many messages discussing this topic.Chris
Re: toad braking systems Reply #8 – July 01, 2009, 10:54:06 am Yahoo Message Number: 103629wrote: Judy, if you go to the "searchable archive" on the home page and type in any combination of toad brakes, braking systems, braking devices, etc, you will find many messages discussing this topic. --- Good suggestion, and I'd add to not overlook the posts which contain information on "beefing up" the LD hitch to make sure that it's fully capable of *safely* towing what you plan to tow!Joan
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #9 – July 01, 2009, 12:36:29 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103633There's a spot I pass frequently but don't really know anything about but it always seems to have a variety of RVs around the itsy-bitsy lake. It's the Lake Pleasant RV Park and is
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #10 – July 01, 2009, 12:41:01 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103634Lake Pleasant is a very nice little park. I've stayed there before, and it's a nice walk around the lake. Quiet and clean, have propane should you need to refill.Cheers, Helen
Re: toad braking systems Reply #11 – July 01, 2009, 02:34:54 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103637I'd look first at ReadyBrake, because 1) it costs less than half as much as any of the other toad brake systems such as Brake Buddy, SMI Stay-IN-Play, or US Gear Unified; 2) it's the easiest installation (next to a portable "brake-in-a-box" systems, which as Ken notes, is less than desirable); and 3) people I know who have ReadyBrakes are very happy with them. It's a simple, foolproof system, as long as you keep it lubricated. I would have used ReadyBrake with my Honda Fit, but there was no way to install the necessary through-the-firewall cable directly behind the brake pedal--on the other side of the firewall there was too much equipment. I ended up with a US Gear Unified Tow Brake (UTB) system, and I'm happy with it. From what I've heard, the SMI Stay-IN-Play system is equally good, so it's also worth considering.URLs: http://www.readybrake.com/brake-systems.html> http://www.smibrake.com/Items.aspx> http://www.usgear.cc/> You can find a more detailed discussion of toad brakes and towbars on my personal website's page "Follow the Leader":http://www.andybaird.com/travels/skylarking/2009/towing.htm>Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: toad braking systems Reply #12 – July 01, 2009, 02:52:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103638Quote Just wondering what most of you use for your toad braking systems and how much you like them. Inquiring minds need to know soonJudy Wms.Blue '07 RB "Dog Daze"And all the fur kids[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Judy, We use the SMI braking system. It is similar to US Gear but what we liked about it is the size of the piston or whatever you call it is so much smaller than the foot long US Gear. I could not come up with an installation spot for the US Gear that was acceptable to me. The SMI fits in the palm of your hand and is attached to the brake pedal arm.Jim
Re: toad braking systems Reply #13 – July 01, 2009, 06:26:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103645"the SMI braking system... is so much smaller than the foot long US Gear. I could not come up with an installation spot for the US Gear that was acceptable to me." To be fair, the US Gear solenoid--I just measured mine at a hair over ten inches long--can be mounted in so many locations that very few people will have a problem with it. The most common location is high on the passenger's-side footwell, and that's where Mike Sylvester placed mine, well out of the way of anyone riding with me. In fact, it's completely invisible, thanks to the carpet covering it. And because the US Gear solenoid actuates the brake pedal via a Bowdoin cable and pulley, it can also be mounted under the driver's seat, behind the driver's seat, behind the passenger's seat, on the firewall in the driver's-side footwell, on the engine side of the firewall... there are enough placement choices to suit just about any vehicle. :-)Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: toad braking systems Reply #14 – July 01, 2009, 10:41:24 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103653Quote "Just wondering what most of you use for your toad braking systems and how much you like them. Inquiring minds need to know soon "Quote Judy Wms.Blue '07 RB "Dog Daze" Judy, if you go to the "searchable archive" on the home page and type in any combination of toad brakes, braking systems, braking devices, etc, you will find many messages discussing this topic.Chris>>>>>>>>>>>Thanks Chris, but I did do that first. I was just wondering what people have installed lately that might not have anything in the archives. "Do your homework they say" And thanks muchly to everyone who responded to my question.Judy Wms.Blue '07 RB "Dog Daze"And all the fur kids[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #15 – July 02, 2009, 12:28:43 am Yahoo Message Number: 103654Quote Lake Pleasant is a very nice little park. I've stayed there before, and it's a nice walk around the lake. Quiet and clean, have propane should you need to refill. Map quest show's Lake Pleasant about 15 miles from Lake washington. We do not have a toad. How is the road and traffic in the area ? Looks like a great campground.thanks everyone for your reply'sLenore and Gary 23.5 Silver Lining
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #16 – July 02, 2009, 09:49:34 am Yahoo Message Number: 103655wrote:thanks everyone for your reply's --- Gary and Lenore, you probably won't thank me for this one; it appears like the 2009 Seattle Dragonboat festival has been cancelled. :-(http://www.seattledragonboat.com/Joan
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #17 – July 02, 2009, 10:10:23 am Yahoo Message Number: 103656There is still a Dragon Boat event going on in August. "TSNW (Team Survivor Northwest) will continue to run the Celebrating Life! Community Dragon Boat Race which was to be a part of the Seattle Dragon Boat Festival. For more info see http://www.teamsurvivornw.org/"Marti in sunny Seattle-------- Gary and Lenore, you probably won't thank me for this one; it appears like the 2009 Seattle Dragonboat festival has been cancelled. :-( http://www.seattledragonboat.com/ Joan[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #18 – July 02, 2009, 11:31:43 am Yahoo Message Number: 103657QuoteMarti in sunny Seattle-------- Gary and Lenore, you probably won't thank me for this one; it appears like the 2009 Seattle Dragonboat festival has been cancelled. :-( I saw that when I went to the web site. Our team is racing in the survivor event only. So far that is still on. We are going to try to park in the parking lot as per Marti's suggestion. From Seattle we are going up to Lake Louise and then Glacier. Thanks for all the help Lenore
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #19 – July 02, 2009, 11:33:56 am Yahoo Message Number: 103658"Map quest show's Lake Pleasant about 15 miles from Lake washington. We do not have a toad."Hi Gary Before having a toad, we used Enterprise Rent a Car for city touring. They will deliver a rental to your campsite, if it is within their range. It's a lot more pleasant to drive a car into downtown Seattle instead of the LD.Larry
Re: Camping Lake Washington in Seattle Reply #20 – July 02, 2009, 02:32:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103660The roads are fine but getting into Seattle without hitting major traffic takes some luck. I would not want to be looking for a spot to park the RV--even a small one
Re: toad braking systems Reply #21 – July 02, 2009, 02:59:57 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103664QuoteJust wondering what most of you use for your toad braking systems and how much you like them. Inquiring minds need to know soon Judy, Since I frequently tow in the mountains there is one feature I consider essential that I seldom see mentioned. When I am going down a steep mountain grade and need to use the brake to slow down, I want the brakes on the toad to come on too. None of the systems that use an inertial sensor for activation will do that unless they are set to come on every time you touch the brake (not desirable unless they are progressive and proportional) or you really stomp hard on the RV brake to activate the sensor (hard on RV brakes). This is where the US Gear system really shines. The toad brake comes on EVERY time you apply the RV brake but it applies the same relative amount of breaking to the toad that you are using on the RV. Light brake pressure in the RV to slow down results in light brake pressure in the toad. Yet, if the brakes in the RV should fail you can apply full brake pressure in the toad to slow down and get stopped. I think the ReadyBrake system results in a similar proportional brake application but cannot be quickly adjusted like the US Gear system.I know there have been some advances to the boxes you set in front of the seat since I was looking at braking systems but I don't think any of them can match the ease of set up (connect a wire) or the mirrored braking function of the US Gear system. Yes, the initial installation is a bit involved but not difficult. After that you just connect the tow bar, cables and wires and go.MontiMonument, CO
Re: toad braking systems Reply #22 – July 02, 2009, 03:44:15 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103668We use the SMI system and have no complaints with it. We have it set to apply the toad brakes only when the LD brakes are put on more than just a touch.Installation was not difficult, I did it myself. So I know how it works and could troubleshoot it if necessary.I believe that SMI and US Gear are both good systems.Cheers, Don
Re: toad braking systems Reply #23 – July 02, 2009, 04:02:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 103669QuoteAfter that you just connect the tow bar, cables and wires and go.Monti Monument, CO Monti and others, The US Gear tow brake system is excellent!! However, care must always be exercised when disconnecting the electrical control cord (umbilical cord between the towed vehicle and the motorhome). Also make sure the motorhome can make sharp right and left turns without strain on the umbilical cord or safety lanyard. Too much strain on the plug-ins can back the electrical wires away from the connector causing the system to operate erratically. Do not throw or drop the umbilical cord to the ground as the impact can also back the electrical wires away from the connector. (well I guess we know what I did!!). A periodic inspection of the umbilical cord and safety lanyard by your RV tech. or certified electrician is a must.Still, about the best system out there!Slammy5150/Paul "MERVN" 06-30' IB So. Cal[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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