Boonedocks
Michigan
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Joined: 06/23/2006
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I have just started using a Brake Buddy (half a dozen trips now) with a 2,500 pound tow car. It just doesn't seem to me that it operates very often. I have tried cranking up the sensitivity to the max and it still doesn't seem that the red light on the remote sensor comes on very often. In my normal smooth coach braking, I don't see it work. It is only when I am braking harder than usual that I ever see it. Is this the norm and I just don't know it? How often does your Brake Buddy work?
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rvten
Crossville,TN
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Joined: 11/30/2000
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Same here. Guess we plan our stops well.
Tom & Bonnie
Crossville, TN.
Aspect 29H 2008
Class C passed Class A owner
Pontiac G6
There is NO such Thing as a B+
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T&A
SE Michigan
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Joined: 08/24/2006
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I use the Roadmaster Even Brake and have the same experience. During easy to normal braking, it won't activate. During faster stops it kicks in predictably. I can feel it working without jerking. Just the way I like it.
Terry & Amy
2004 Hurricane 30F on P32 Workhorse Chassis
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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wshrman
Orange, Ca.
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Joined: 05/26/2003
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boonedocks, rvten
You have the settings right, "harder than usual stop". Planning stops saves a lot of wear & tear on both vehicles.
2000 Rexhall Roseair 3450 V10, GearVendor, AutoFormer
2001 Ranger, Remco, BRAKEbuddy
Belgian Sheepdogs, Blazer & Chayna
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tatest
Oklahoma
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Joined: 05/14/2005
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Very seldom, if you are a smooth driver.
Brake Buddy has a single setting for braking power; for that to be useful in a panic stop or break away, it has to be near maximum effort. Thus sensitivity should be set so that the toad brake activates only during maximum effort motorhome braking.
Any more sensitive than that, you will be trying to stop your motorhome with the toad and towbar. You don't want to do that.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
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JaBob
Roswell, Georgia
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Joined: 06/10/2004
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It's probably working more than you think. From other posts I've learned that the remote activator light system is subject to transmission interference caused by the motor home mass. Final analysis, light is not very accurate. I don't use mine.
If you watch and feel very closely you can actually feel the brake apply and release.
Bob
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Vakeel
So. California
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Joined: 04/27/2008
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I just bought a BB Vantage Select w/proportional braking and on the way home the red light never came on, and I know I braked a lot! I just assumed I had accidentally turned the remote off by sliding the on/off button, because it seemed working once at home. Then I saw a lot of posts about problems with the remote on BB, and the length of your MH, but some of them also seemed to suggest that was the older models and the problem was fixed in the newer models.
Does anyone know if the problems with the remotes was fixed? Also, from what you guys are saying is it safe to assume that the remote works fine and the light will come on if I brake hard? I hate to find out it's not working the hard way.
JaBob, I am assuming you mean feeling BB in the towed car applying and releasing. What exactly do I need to feel for to feel that, or I guess how does it feel? And no I am not being smart or facetious. I honestly don't know and would like to know. Thanks. :-)
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Boonedocks
Michigan
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Joined: 06/23/2006
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Sometimes I feel like the Brake Buddy may well have braked the Toad (seeminly feel the jerk of brake application and release), but the light on the remote didn't come on. But every time I test the Brake Buddy with the DW watching inside, the light does come on.
Some day, I am going to have her ride in the Toad and watch what the Brake Buddy does while I brake.
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DouglasCraw
Summerdale, AL
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Joined: 04/03/2005
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I have an original Brake Buddy (10 years old last month) which is still working great. I set the sensativity control to 1 position past center on the plus side. That makes the Brake Buddy actuate on a "harder than usual" kind of stop.
I don't have any remote light indicators but I can tell when the Brake Buddy actuates since I drive a Class C now and the stopping force of the Brake Buddy in my toad is more noticable. When I was towing with a DP it was less noticable but could still be felt. I would say that on average the Brake Buddy actuates less than once a day in my travels - - and that's the way I like it - - nice easy braking when coming to a stop. But when I need it, it's good to know that the Brake Buddy is there to assist in stopping!
Doug Craw
2006 Jayco Greyhawk Model 27DS
Towing 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid with Brake Buddy
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whemme
Spencer, IA
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Joined: 08/26/2004
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I also am still using my original Brake Buddy that I purchased back in 1999. I don't even bother to hook up the remote red light in the motorhome anymore since I can tell just by feel whenever the Brake Buddy activates. When I brake hard enough for the Brake Buddy to activate, just before it activates, the toad will be pushing forward on the motorhome thru the tow bar but when it does activate, the toad will then pull backwards on the tow bar and you can easily feel that reverse jerk due to the slight slack being taken up in my Blue Ox tow bar.
2002 Born Free 26' RSB Motorcoach
2005 Chevrolet Malibu LS Toad
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