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Topic: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar? (Read 4 times) previous topic - next topic
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Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Yahoo Message Number: 89661
I have a 2004 26.5 RB.  I know LD specifies a 4-wire plug for towing, but some of you have used a 6-wire.  Am I right that the 6-wire is used by those who wish to use separate lights for the toad rather than diodes?  I also understand that from 2004 on, diodes do not cause dimming of lights, as Ford upgraded the gauge of the wiring starting in 2004.  So, with a 2004 RB, my impression is that diodes are ok and I only need a 4-wire system for the towbar (Roadmaster Sterling).
FYI, I am planning on using the SMI DUO for braking.  Am I on the right track?
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89665
Quote
I have a 2004 26.5 RB.  I know LD specifies a 4-wire plug for towing, but some of you have used a 6-wire.  Am I right that the 6-wire is used by those who wish to use separate lights for the toad rather than diodes?  I also understand that from 2004 on, diodes do not cause dimming of lights, as Ford upgraded the gauge of the wiring starting in 2004.  So, with a 2004 RB, my impression is that diodes are ok and I only need a 4-wire system for the towbar (Roadmaster Sterling).
FYI, I am planning on using the SMI DUO for braking.  Am I on the right track?
We have an US Gear tow system for our 94MB and CRV toad. We followed the auggestion of our original supplier and went from 4 to 6 just to get rid of one 4 wire and one 2 wire connections. Simpler and faster to hook up no other noticeable advantahe. kc johnson
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89668
"So, with a 2004 RB, my impression is that diodes are ok and I only need a 4-wire system for the towbar (Roadmaster Sterling).
FYI, I am planning on using the SMI DUO for braking. Am I on the right track?"

No Name
 I hard-wired our SMI toad brake and needed a 7-wire cord and plugs to make the connections.
Order a 6 or 7-wire system. An unused wire is better than being one wire short.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89670
Quote
Am I right that the 6-wire is used by those who wish to use separate lights for the toad rather than diodes?    So, with a 2004 RB, my impression is that diodes are ok and I only need a 4-wire system for the towbar (Roadmaster Sterling).  FYI, I am planning on using the SMI DUO for braking.  Am I on the right track?
With the SMI DUO system you do not need any separate electrical connection to the motor home.  The 4-wire system will run your toad lights no matter if you use diodes or separate lights.  So, for your intended setup you only need the 4-wire system.  However, if you ever add anything in the future that needs additional connection to the LD you would need to either run separate wires or change to a 6 or 7-wire configuration depending on the requirement of the item being added.

I have been using the SMI Plug-and-Play system in my Honda CR-V but am in the process of changing to the US Gear Unified Tow Brake which requires two additional wires.  Consequently, the 6-wire connection would be more convenient but not necessary.

If you haven't yet purchased the SMI system, you might look at the price for the US Gear system at PPL Motorhomes.  Currently $789.63 with free shipping as an alternative.  The installation is a bit involved but the control you get over braking can not be beat.

Monti

Monument, CO
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89671
Quote
"So, with a 2004 RB, my impression is that diodes are ok and I only need a 4-wire system for the towbar (Roadmaster Sterling).
FYI, I am planning on using the SMI DUO for braking. Am I on the right track?"

No Name
 I hard-wired our SMI toad brake and needed a 7-wire cord and plugs to make the connections.
Order a 6 or 7-wire system. An unused wire is better than being one wire short.

Larry
Larry--
 I have read your DUO installation posts--with awe!  My impression is that the Sterling towbar is sold only in a 4- or 6-wire configuration.
How did you get a 7-wire plug?  Also, if I get a 6-wire, will it connect to the LD connector, or will the LD connector need to be modified or replaced to accommodate the Sterling 6-wire?  Thanks.
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89674
Just curious Monti, why are you switching from the Plug-N-Play. What advantages does the US Gear set up have over the SMI besides price? tks
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89675
Dennis,
 It is primarily a matter of convenience.  The Plug-N-Play (no longer made) needs to be set in and connected every time I hook up the car and removed whenever I disconnect.  My wife really does not like that hassle and I don't enjoy it.  It has never given me any trouble and the wireless indicator in the LD alerts me with a light and a buzz whenever the toad brakes are activated.
However, it always uses the same amount of force on the brakes and If I ever have a need to activate the toad brakes independently, it cannot be done.
Also, the sensitivity cannot be adjusted while moving since that control is on the box in the car.
 The US Gear system provides progressive and proportional braking with the proportional force adjustable from the MH and I can activate the toad brakes with a flick of my thumb.  Also the US Gear system trickle charges the toad battery while I drive.  No need to worry about running the battery down as the vacuum pump runs.  Hookup and activation is just a matter of connecting the wires between the MH and toad.  If I need to disconnect the toad and drive away it takes only a minute or so.

Monti
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89676
Quote
FYI, I am planning on using the SMI DUO for braking.  Am I on the right track?
I took a good look at the SMI DUO system when I thought about upgrading from the SMI Plug-N-Play.  One thing that is not obvious from their web information is that the indicator that shows when the brakes have been activated is a LED that you mount on your towbar or the front of the toad "within the driver's line of sight." When I asked SMI about that, they replied that it is intended to be mounted so that the driver can see the LED in the TV monitor! Not a very practical method for most class Cs.  They do sell the RF monitoring system like I have with my Plug-N-Play at extra cost or you can extend the LED to the RV by installing extra wire and a disconnect.  Even then, you do not get the audio warning with the LED that is part of the RF system.

Monti

Monument, CO
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89677
Monti, funny thing, I just inquired about the SMI this morning before this thread and they are sending me literature on the plug n play.
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89678
"I took a good look at the SMI DUO system when I thought about upgrading from the SMI Plug-N-Play. One thing that is not obvious from their web information is that the indicator that shows when the brakes have been activated is a LED that you mount on your towbar or the front of the toad "within the driver's line of sight.""

Monti
 One of the reasons why I hard-wired the SMI was to have a dash mounted indicator light and a brake activation button.
While driving, you can test the toad brakes simply by pushing the button and seeing if the indicator light turns on.
The hard-wire unit also has a 'hot' wire coming from the LD to the toad, used to keep the toad's battery charged.
The toad's battery is the primary power supply for the SMI brake unit.

I believe the US Gear brake has the same features.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89679
Quote

"I took a good look at the SMI DUO system when I thought about upgrading from the SMI Plug-N-Play. One thing that is not obvious from their web information is that the indicator that shows when the brakes have been activated is a LED that you mount on your towbar or the front of the toad "within the driver's line of sight.""

Monti
 One of the reasons why I hard-wired the SMI was to have a dash mounted indicator light and a brake activation button.
While driving, you can test the toad brakes simply by pushing the button and seeing if the indicator light turns on.
The hard-wire unit also has a 'hot' wire coming from the LD to the toad, used to keep the toad's battery charged.
The toad's battery is the primary power supply for the SMI brake unit.

I believe the US Gear brake has the same features.

Larry
Larry--
 Would your previous writeups on your installation be sufficient for me to give to a tech to do an installation like yours?  Ted
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89680
"How did you get a 7-wire plug? Also, if I get a 6-wire, will it connect to the LD connector, or will the LD connector need to be modified or replaced to accommodate the Sterling 6-wire?"

No Name (hint!)

7-wire plugs and cable are available from many places on the Internet.

http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/>
http://www.etrailer.com/c-E.htm>
 There are plug adapters that will connect a 4-wire to 6-wire plugs or the two can be hard-wired together, my personal choice.
http://www.etrailer.com/pc-A~30637.htm>
http://www.etrailer.com/pc-A~30717.htm>

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89681
Larry,
 In the past, SMI made several different systems some of which offered a lot of control from the MH and others that relied on inertia in the towed and activation of the MH brake lights to apply the brakes.  I don't remember the names of all the options and don't know which one you have.  However, their Web site now lists only two systems the Air Force One and the Stay-IN-Play DUO.  In a series of e-mails with the company president he mentioned that these are the only models they now offer.
The DUO system does not have any hot wire coming from the MH and uses 2 boxes in the toad.  One is a compressor/control box mounted under the hood and the other is the sensitivity control mounted on the kick panel on the driver side.  The system uses compressed air to power the cylinder mounted on the brake pedal and also a vacuum pump to supply the toad power brake system.

Anyone thinking about buying a SMI system now apparently needs to forget about all the old systems and look at their current offerings.  I think they are good systems but when I found I could get the US Gear system for less I opted for it.

Monti
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89682
Quote
"How did you get a 7-wire plug? Also, if I get a 6-wire, will it connect to the LD connector, or will the LD connector need to be modified or replaced to accommodate the Sterling 6-wire?"

No Name (hint!)

7-wire plugs and cable are available from many places on the Internet.

There are plug adapters that will connect a 4-wire to 6-wire plugs or the two can be hard-wired together, my personal choice.

Larry
Sorry, Larry--it's Ted (can't change my yahoo id).  Is there some way we can arrange to talk by phone, so I do not bore the rest of the group?  You can write to me directly at rapgroupltd at yahoo dot com.
Thanks--TED!
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89746
Quote
Monti, are you installing yourself or having it done?

Dennis
I installed it myself. I don't know how many hours it took as I did it over about a 5 day period in small steps. I would guess it probably totaled 10 to 12 hours with at least 2 hours spent just determining where to put everything and how to run the cable, etc. As I expected, installing the solenoid and connecting it to the brake pedal was the most difficult part due to the limited space I had to work in but even that wasn't very difficult.

If you want to see what is involved, go to usgear.com and download their installation instructions. The only thing the download didn't cover was the need to cut the brake light wire on the LD and insert a blocking diode. An easy job except the wires are hard to reach with both hands.
 I completed the installation today and everything works as advertised.

Monti
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89747
Oops, I intended to type usgear.com but inadvertantly typed smi.
My reply pertained to the US Gear unit and I have deleted my original reply and reposted with the corrected name.

Monti
 
Re: Should I order 4-wire or 6-wire tow bar?
Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89749
Thank you all for your responses--and the added bonus of brake systems discussion.  Much appreciated.  Ted