M&G Car Braking System-air line installation

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

My M&G Car braking system has arrived which I intend to install myself. Just wanted to check with you guys and see if anybody has experience locating the point where I should tie in for the air supply to the toad? As always your input is appreciated.  

05 34 Beaver Monterey

[Mandy Canales]

Larry...I have an older coach (90 Marquis) with an all air system and an M & G toad car braking system.  I'm not sure the newer coaches have the same system but will give some input.  As I understand the two braking systems: AIR and AIR OVER HYDRAULIC one would have little trouble installing the M & G on an all air system.  On my coach there are two extra air attachments near the middle the rear axle and all I had to do was to remove one of the plugs and screw in the 1/4 inch air hose that goes to the toad.  I'm not sure that in the newer coaches the AIR OVER HYDRAULIC system needs an extra air tank to facilitate the toad air attachment.  I'll be anxious to read what some of our newer coach owners had to do to install the M & G system.  I have had my system for 10 years and enjoy it very much.  Good luck to your installation.

[Robert Wilson]

Please keep us posted I am interested in this system for my coach

[Gerald Farris]

Larry,
My 2000 Marquis came from the factory with a brake air line already routed to the rear of the coach at the hitch (receiver) area, so on it I only had to remove a plug and install an air line quick coupler. However on my first Beaver, a 1993 Patriot, I had to run the air line myself. I installed a tee in the brake air line (not the parking brake air line) at the rear wheel air chamber, and ran a line to the rear hitch.

Your coach will probably be like my 1993, in that you will have to tee the air line at the rear wheel air chamber. On the SMC era Monterey (1997 to 2002) that have hydraulic brakes, installing the M&G brake system is more complicated and expensive.

I have been using the same M&G brake system (on two different coaches and two different toads) for ten years now and it has preformed flawlessly. The best source for installation information is the M&G factory. They have installed the system on all makes of coaches and toads, and they are very helpful to do-it-yourself installers. Call them if you have any questions.

Located 7 miles North of Athens, TX
on Hwy 19

Office: 903-675-2812

Toll-free: 1-800-817-7698

Fax: 903-675-2701

Email: mgoffice@centurylink.net

Web: www.MGBrakingSystems.com      

Gerald

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

I finally got around to installing the M&G braking system on my 2002 GMC 2WD Sierra 1/2 ton Pickup truck.
I found the instructions to be somewhat crude and poorly written. The product itself appears to be well made which is all that matters to me. The installation took me about 4 hours taking my time and should be no problem for someone with decent mechanical skills. I went ahead and just drilled a hole through my bumper for the male air coupler rather than using the bracket they supplied. I mounted the runaway device under the license plate-the leash I hung temporarily on the male air coupler but decided to store it in the truck. Instructions state to remove the fuse when not in use in case of a switch failure.
I still need to locate and install (thanks Gerald) the air feed line from the rig.  

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

Believe it or not this was the best place to mount the valve in my situation...By the way that valve comes fully assembled. I just had to install the supplied air lines.

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

The emergency air resevoir (Black cylinder) is very compact and easy to mount. Because my truck is two wheel drive I had to install a Remco transmission lube pump (visible in background) which was very time consuming to install. With the installation of the tow plate I wont be tempted to buy a new truck for a long time!

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

The leash is shown here attached to the male air coupler. I detached the entire leash and now keep it in the truck cab while not in use.

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

Here is the runaway switch (I forgot what it's called) located under the front bumper dead center. It seemed odd the switch only has one mounting hole at one end. It seems as though this would allow the switch to swivel  and the teather could get hung up on something. I'm not gonna worry about it.

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

And finally, the male air coupler that supplies air to the system. I couldnt find a place to mount the bracket so I just drilled a hole through the bumper. I found a vacumn cap and capped the port so a big bug can't fly inside  

[Keith Oliver]

Larry:

Would you mind giving a summary of the costs of the various parts of your system?  Including the transmission lube pump.  
I have a car whose owner's manual says has to be towed 4up, so I am looking at various solutions short of a trailer.

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

Hi Keith, you can check Remco's component pricing for your vehicle here: http://www.remcotowing.com/node/6

I found a used front tow plate and complete Remco pump assembly on E-Bay for $300. Had I bought the components from Remco I would have spent $1400. The M & G system was around $700 not to mention another $400 for a 10K Lb. Tow bar which I also bought on E-Bay. I installed everything myself which was probably 20 hours in labor. Had I known years later I would be towing my pickup truck behind the Beaver I would have purchased a 4WD truck. At one point I was using a Brake Buddy but that was too inconvenient for me.

[Keith Oliver]

Larry;
Thanks for the information.  I checked the Remco site.  It agrees with my owner's manual, that the Infinity QX4 must be towed 4up.  I guess the easy solution is to tow my Volvo instead.  I am already set up for that car, for which I had to buy a dolly, but without any lube pumps or other add-ons.

I am away for a few weeks, but when I return I could check my Beaver for the attachment point for the M&G air line that the previous owner installed, if you haven't finished your installation by then.

Keith

[Robert Wilson]

Excellent pictures do you have any pics of the coach hook up ?? Thanks

[Larry and Heidi Lee]

Hi Rob, I still have yet to hookup the coach side of the system but will post pics when the install is complete.