We have been looking into towing a vehicle behind our vintage 1985 coach and are stumbling over the question of braking. The way I see it is I am adding a lot of weight (7,000 pound) I need to stop or hold back on hills if I tow 4 down and I am not able to use the toads brakes. If I go the trailer route I add additional and independent brakes. The 4 down seems much faster for connecting (advantage) then a trailer but I get brakes (the big one) and storage with the trailer.
Do the trailer brakes rally add to overall braking power?
Is there a system that would let me use the toads brakes?
Would my coach handle a toad without additional brakes (say through the I40 basin between NC and TN)?
My research 4 years ago showed that most states require toad brakes for any vehicle over 3000 lbs. I was worried more about liability if involved in accident than getting a ticket.
For quick disconnect, I decided to spend the dollars for the Airforce One system that connects the toads brakes to the coach air brakes. Worked well but expensive.
Having brakes on the toad will lessen stress on the tow bar as well. Check out the Family Motorcoach association. Lots of good info. Most RV suppliers advertise there. Their magazine has articles u will find helpful.
Fmca.com
I can tell you that our "classic" coaches with a brake system designed 50 years ago have a limited stoping capability compared to modern Semi trucks on the highway with all wheel disk brakes and an antilock system. I found out what an extra 7000 lbs feels like in our coach when the brakes on the enclosed trailer we tow quit working. I knew immediately we had a problem. Stopping distance was greatly increased.
Ok guess I should have Googled toad brakes first but didn’t know they existed. I just Googled it and see the requirements per state and all the options. I thought towing 4 down only required a tow bar but after the reply’s see I would need a supplemental braking system and that the exist. Yep I feel stupid now but thanks for the quick replies.
Another option is the Ready Brake system which utilizes a surge brake built into the towbar or a standalone surge brake that slides into your coach receiver then your towbar slides into the surge brake. Then you have a cable that attaches to your toad that is attached to your toad's brake pedal. Easy to hook/unhook and is proportional since whenever your toad is going faster than your coach it activates the toad's brakes to slow it down to match the coach speed.
I've been using this for about 10 years now and pleased with it.
https://www.readybrake.com
Mark, Next time u feel stupid go back and read some of my early posts!!!!! Or even some of my later posts!!! You will feel better!!! We've all been there and are glad to help. B-)
if we tallied up all my questions that were silly, i would easily win the award for the most.
even just now i asked darlene what day it was. good news is that it is saturday......5th saturday. life is good
tom
At Honda tech almost 50 years ago , the instructor said in his overview : " The only stupid question is the one you don't ask ".
Chris