Flat Towing Braking Systems: Your Recommendations and Why?

[Steel City 06]

Photos of the Brake Buddy Stealth

Hella UP30 vacuum pump:

Note the vacuum pump ties into all of the accessories too. I did this so I could also use it to boost cruise control power at or near WOT, and also to make use of the vacuum reservoir to provide a small supplement to the vacuum brakes while flat towing.

 

[JPHikr]

Back years ago I flat towed cars I purchased with a front bumper clamp on tow bar.
We never even imagined a braking system to hook the pick up to the car.

 

[Ryanb86]

The one thing I don't like about the RVIbrake3 is that it doesn't put vacuum on your brake booster. They say it's designed to overcome that, but I feel like that means you are putting a whole bunch of pressure in the pedal, rod, firewall, booster, etc.

 

[IrishRomer]

I looked really hard at that RVibrake3, and if money was no object, it would be my 1st choice. I ended up at the other end of the spectrum with a Brake Buddy Classic, only because I got a killer deal on it. Knock on wood, over 3000 trouble free miles.

A quick FYI for all, the RVibrake is killing our battery everyday on our current roadtrip. We have to get our Jeep jumped every time we unhook it. Save your money and time. We are now looking for a better option.

 

[Steel City 06]

A quick FYI for all, the RVibrake is killing our battery everyday on our current roadtrip. We have to get our Jeep jumped every time we unhook it. Save your money and time. We are now looking for a better option.

Do you have a battery charging circuit wired up on your toad jeep? On your 7-pin receptacle on your RV, there should be a pin that provides +12V constantly whenever the key is in the ignition. In your jeep, wire this directly to the battery and check that the ground connection on the connector on the jeep side is good.

If that's set up properly, your jeep should be charged as you drive by the RV.

 

[Mr. Bills]

A quick FYI for all, the RVibrake is killing our battery everyday on our current roadtrip. We have to get our Jeep jumped every time we unhook it. Save your money and time. We are now looking for a better option.

I have a charge wire from tow vehicle to towed vehicle - whenever the tow vehicle engine is running the towed vehicle battery is being charged. No issues with my RVibrake draining the battery.

It might be time for your jeep battery to be load tested. Also, check whether your unit is adjusted properly and your brake lamps aren't constantly on. The maximum amp draw of the RVibrake is 8 amps when the compressor is actually running, which is only a few seconds every 2nd or 3rd braking event.

 

[LarryTJ]

A quick FYI for all, the RVibrake is killing our battery everyday on our current roadtrip. We have to get our Jeep jumped every time we unhook it. Save your money and time. We are now looking for a better option.

FYI, I use an RVI and tow my TJ for 5-6 hours (x2-3 times & I don't have a trickle charger neither on the Jeep) and have never experienced an issue you described.

The only issue I have been haven with my RVI occasionally is when I go into a turn on a semi rough road & the RVI starts to randomly brake (very frustrating). The RVI is on the Jeep floor (no floor mat) so only thing I can think of the unit is so sensitive it slightly moves on the floor board and activates thinking the Jeep broke away. I plan to strap the RVI down to mitigate possible movement, hopefully that will resolves the random braking.

Anyone else have random RVI braking issues they can share lessons learned?

 

[DC0046]

I’ve used a Patriot Brake for years trouble free. Do they really make a difference, probably not that much , but probably would in a law suite. Ihave the recovery tabs on my Warn bumpers also. When I called Warn about using them to tow with, they said absolutely no. So something to think about. Went with Roadmaster base plates and have used a Falcon II tow bar for years. This is the third Jeep I’ve flat towed with no issues.

Didnt muddle through all the posts but make sure you wire a charge line from your RV to your Jeep battery. Usually the center on your seven pin.

 

[bobthetj03]

Just got back from a 10 hour round trip to the Sierras. Only issue I have is the tablet's charge. Have to leave it plugged in for the trip. Plugged the RVi to the 12 volt plug and chugged along.