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Open Roads Forum  >  Dinghy Towing

 > US Gear Unified Tow Brake

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anconn

Qualicum Beach, B.C. Canada

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Posted: 01/28/12 11:21am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have just istalled a US Gear Ubified braking system on my 2005 Jeep liberty. I found that in all the instructions for it there there is no where that tells me how to set up the gain for use. I have come from towing a 5th wheel that the brake controlled gives detailed instructions for set up. I would like to know what others set the gain to for towing.


2002 Seabreeze 34' MH
2005 Jeep Liberty

rk911

Wheaton IL

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Posted: 01/28/12 11:53am Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

we tow either our '03 wrangler or our '10 libety and i have our UTB set at 3-4.


73,
rich, n9dko
www.bananaboatbytes.com
I know a guy who's addicted to brake fulid. He says he can stop anytime.
_________________________________

2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
'46 Willys CJ2A
'03 Jeep Wrangler TJ
'10 Jeep Liberty KK


othertonka

Stockton, CA

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Posted: 01/28/12 01:15pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

According to the installation instructions you set the gain at 5 to start out and then you can fine tune it from there. Here is the quote from the instructions.
Quote, "Setting the gain level is like setting the gain on electric trailer brakes. We recommend initially setting the gain level at the mid-point of 5, which allows the towed vehicle brakes to mirror the braking action of the motorhome. With a lower gain setting, you will have less aggressive braking from the towed vehicle. With a higher gain setting, you will experience more aggressive braking effort in your towed vehicle. Set the gain knob to the setting that gives you the brake effect you like. The numeric indicators on the gain control knob will assist you if you would like to have different settings for different driving conditions. When your driving conditions change, you could then quickly set the gain knob to your previously selected location." Un Quote.
I have mine set at 3. I read somwhere to set it at 5, do a normal slow speed stop on pavement and make sure that the toad brakes don't lockup. Then find a gravel surface and do the same stop. If the toad brakes slide in the gravel you can then tweak the gain to 4 and try again, then 3 and try again until you get the setting you are comfortable with. Don't know where I read this and am just offering it as a place to start or a subject to google for more info. I do know that I don't want the toad brakes to do more work then the MH brakes so that is why I have mine set at 3. Look at the US gear web site and poke around for more info. Good luck.


Othertonka
2004 Southwind 32VS 8.1 Workhorse chassis
2002 CRV Toad
U. S. Gear Unified brake system
Retired Fire Captain, SFD


lanerd

Newport, OR

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Posted: 01/28/12 01:38pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I initially set mine at 5, but several times while pulling into a campsite, slight pressure on the brakes would cause the toads wheels to lock up. I lowered the gain to 4 with less locking up and then 3.

From this I learned to lower the gain when on dirt/gravel roads. On hard pavement I keep it at 5 to make sure that I get sufficient braking from the toad during a hard and/or panic stop.

Hope this helps

Ron


Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35 CAT C7
Toad: 2011 GMC Terrain SLT2
Tow Bar: Sterling AT
Toad Brakes: Unified U.S. Gear
TPMS: Pressure Pro
Member of: GS, FMCA, Safari Intl, CAT


RETIRED!! How sweet it is....

anconn

Qualicum Beach, B.C. Canada

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Posted: 01/28/12 02:04pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

When I took the unit to storage I could smell brakes when I got there. It was set at 4. Has anyone else smelt brakes form their toad.

chevylover1965

Southern CA

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Posted: 01/28/12 02:09pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I have my gain set at 1 1/2 to 2. Any higher makes the CR-V brake too aggressively.


06 Tiffin Phaeton 40 QDH
Freightliner, CAT
08 Honda CRV EXL/NAV
Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain tow bar/US Gear
FBINA 144


univmd

Maryland

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Posted: 02/01/12 12:11pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

chevylover1965 wrote:

I have my gain set at 1 1/2 to 2. Any higher makes the CR-V brake too aggressively.


Ditto!


2008 Gulfstream Tourmaster
2011 Honda CRV
Blue Ox Baseplate & Socket Wiring
Blue Ox Alladin Tow Bar
US Gear Unified Tow Brake


othertonka

Stockton, CA

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Posted: 01/28/12 04:07pm Link  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

anconn wrote:

When I took the unit to storage I could smell brakes when I got there. It was set at 4. Has anyone else smelt brakes form their toad.


You didn't by chance leave the parking brake on, did you?
Just asking because it has happened. If you smelled the brakes did you remember using them excessivly on the trip to storage? If you did not use the brakes I don't know how that could happen. Look at the cable where it hooks to the brake pedal in the toad and make sure that there is slack in the cable connection where it pulls down the brake pedal. But if that was misadjusted, your toad brakes would drag when you drive the toad by itself so that is probably not the problem. next time use a infared thermometer and chek the brake temp at each wheel when you get that smell is all I can suggest.

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