supplemental braking systems

[Les Marzec]

I have had an '03 Patriot thunder 40' with a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.  I am looking to install the M & G air brake system.  It looks like a good simple system.  Any recommendations or comments?  I like the idea of not having to install a unit in the Jeep. Currently do not have any braking system.

Lester Marzec

[LEAH DRAPER]

Don't overlook another supplemental braking system.  I dumped the Brake Buddy and installed the SMI Brake system last year and I find it simple and very effective.  Bend Beaver Coach was also able to tap into factory supplied line to allow viewing the LED lights indicating that the brake is being applied, into the driver compartment.
Here is the web address:

 http://www.smibrake.com/

[Gerald Farris]

Lester,
I towed a 2000 Grand Cherokee (same parts and installation as 2004) for 4 years with the M&G system. I loved it. I am now towing a 2005 Grand Cherokee that I transferred the M&G cylinder to when I purchased it. The installation on the 2005 was a little more complicated than the 2000 was because of the clearance issues on the 2005, but it was not to hard.

The hook-up and disconnect each take about two seconds and the system has performed flawlessly for all of the years that I have been using it. It requires nothing from the driver except to plug in the air hose. The air brake on the car works just like the ones on the coach.

If you are not mechanically inclined, the M&G factory in Athens Texas will do the full installation for you at a reasonable price and they do excellent work. In my opinion the M&G system is one of the best, if not the best supplemental brake on the market for a coach with full air brakes. If you do not have full air brakes (like the air over hydraulic on some Beavers), there are probably better matches for your coach.

Gerald    

[Les Marzec]

Leah and Gerald

Thanks for the input.  I have been leaning toward the M & G.  A buddy of mine has one and he loves it too.  The SMI looks like a nice unit and has a built in breakaway system. Tough decision as they appear to both be good units that are simple to use.

Les  

[Ken Kruse]

Gerald,

M&G also makes a supplemental braking system for RVs with air over hydraulic and RVs with hydraulic brakes.  

I have been using their air over hydraulic system for some time now and agree with you that it is the best and easiest to use system on the market.

I can also attest to the value of installing supplemental braking on towed vehicles.  Shortly after we had ours installed a lady pulled out in front of me without looking but glanced in her rear view mirror and saw me barreling down on her so she panicked and hit her brakes.  Without supplemental braking on our tow car we would have had some crumpled vehicles or I would have been in the ditch.

[Gerald Farris]

Ken,
I agree with you that the M&G system is great for any coach and toad combination, but the only reason that I was not giving it an unqualified endorsement for coaches with hydraulic brakes is that the cost and complexity of installation of the system increases with hydraulic brakes.  

Gerald

[Bill Sprague]

I had my heart set on an M&G for our Ford Edge.  Unfortunately they couldn't fit one in.  I had to find an alternative and have enjoyed having a Brakemaster by Roadmaster.  It is a simple air cylinder that takes air from the coach brake system and pushes on the brake pedal.  It takes about 30 seconds longer to set up than the M&G.  

That said, I have yet to find any real performance data that compares systems or gives useful information on how any supplemental brake systems of any brand work in panic stops.  There are so many variables nobody seems to be able to tackle the job.  

There is no question that all of them apply the brakes.  But, other than various opinions, nobody can show that they apply the right amount of braking force at the right time under various road conditions!  (No, I am not trying to start an argument!  On this subject they never end!)

Bill

[Les Marzec]

Thanks guys for all of the input.  Everyone that I talked to that had installed one really loved them and have had absolutely no issues with them.  I just talked to M & G and I ordered one.  I also found out that they offer a factory rebuilt one with the lifetime warranty for about $200 less.  Only difference is that it may have a few scratches on the out side. They may or may not have one in stock for every vehicle.  My buddy just installed one on his 2010 Explorer because the one he had on his older Explorer would not fit.  He had transferred the unit twice from a couple of Broncos as well.  Same performance as the new one.

Again, thanks for all of the help.

[LEAH DRAPER]

In the latest issue of 'MOTORHOME MAGAZINE" (Feb 2011) there is an excellent article on the SMI "Airforce One" supplemental braking system for diesel air brakes. Very detailed 3-4 pages.

[Kerry Bennington]

I had the M&G system installed in my 2010 Ford Ranger and it works great.

[Larry Fisk]

Just one thought from me, both systems are great from what I have heard, very easy to use & work great. The only comment I have heard that was somewhat negative was the SMI AF1 system installation is a lot more involved than the M&G. I have the SMI on my coach and don't regret it but the installer charged me 8 hrs to install it at $120.00 an hour. The installation book says it should take 4 hrs. to install, but this was their first time to install one. They said they usually install the M&G and it is much less involved.

[Joel Ashley]

I see that Roadmaster has a whole new animal, InvisiBrake, out.  It works on some different principals.  Nothing to connect or disconnect inside the toad, and it charges the toad's battery as well.

Will be interesting to see how well the idea pans out.  New ideas often need some bugs worked out, but Roadmaster has some pretty good engineers.

-Joel

[Michael Kauffman]

[size=14][face=Arial]I need to add supplemental braking to my 83' CJ-7.  I thought that I had Air over Hydraulic on my 98' Patriot.  Is there a way that I can confirm that?

Thanks, Mike[/face][/size]

[LEAH DRAPER]

I think your hunch is right, but call Bend Beaver Services to be sure.

[Gil_Johnson]

I have the SMI Air Force One system and it works as advertised.  I did the installation in a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Alliance Coach in Wildwood did the installation on the coach.  There's no way I was crawling under the coach.  I believe it works as advertised.  The only thing I changed, at the reecomemndation of the folks at Alliance, is the light to tell you it's working is on the dash of my coach rather than hung on the rear view mirror of the Jeep.  FWIW, I could not have used the M&G system as there's zero room to install it.

Gil
08 Contessa