Trying to select toad brakes
- Thread starter Smoky
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
BernieD
Well-known member
Tom said:
Tom
There are those who won't install the M&G and similar type units because of concern about "tapping into the air lines". Chassis manufacturers have discouraged use of the M&G and similar type units claiming any intrusion of the air lines could be a problem. The Spartan kit is an attempt to satisfy both concerns with a factory approved hook up at the chassis air line junction, not at the back end pig tail connector.
Tom
Administrator
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 51,924
BernieD said:
That certainly makes sense Bernie, although IIRC M&G hooked into an existing air junction box on our coach. When it quits raining I'll go check it out
That, of course, wouldn't eliminate the problem I had with a bad (or dirty?) connector at the rear of the coach. FWIW that leaking connector didn't appear to interfere with the braking on the coach, presumably because there was more than enough spare capacity in the system.
I'm wondering what's included in the Spartan kit ???
Bob Buchanan
Well-known member
Marsha:
Yes -- I see that a number of folk here are using US Gear. When I compared features, the ones that none of the others have translated into increased safety. I DID have a problem with the initial install down in Lancaster, CA. They just made some mistakes -- but US Gear sent me to another outlet in NCal and they fixed the problems that the 1st installer had goofed on. Actually, they spent about 1/2 a day of shop time going through the entire install procedure making sure everything was OK w/no charge to me. So I have been very pleased with follow up by US Gear.
Have you ever kicked the gain up just to make sure it is braking the Toad that increased amount? I only did it once to make sure - and could really feel the Toad slowing me down. Of course, as the US Gear rep told me, the Toad brakes are only to slow the Toad - and are only used to assist in slowing the MH in an emergency situation. If my brakes ever fail, I know that I have a 3800# Jeep with brakes locked dragging behind me to help slow me down.
MarshaLassen/CA said:
Yes -- I see that a number of folk here are using US Gear. When I compared features, the ones that none of the others have translated into increased safety. I DID have a problem with the initial install down in Lancaster, CA. They just made some mistakes -- but US Gear sent me to another outlet in NCal and they fixed the problems that the 1st installer had goofed on. Actually, they spent about 1/2 a day of shop time going through the entire install procedure making sure everything was OK w/no charge to me. So I have been very pleased with follow up by US Gear.
Have you ever kicked the gain up just to make sure it is braking the Toad that increased amount? I only did it once to make sure
- and could really feel the Toad slowing me down. Of course, as the US Gear rep told me, the Toad brakes are only to slow the Toad - and are only used to assist in slowing the MH in an emergency situation. If my brakes ever fail, I know that I have a 3800# Jeep with brakes locked dragging behind me to help slow me down.
BernieD
Well-known member
Tom said:That certainly makes sense Bernie, although IIRC M&G hooked into an existing air junction box on our coach. When it quits raining I'll go check it out
All the past installations went into the air junction box and I hadn't heard of any problems at that end.
That, of course, wouldn't eliminate the problem I had with a bad (or dirty?) connector at the rear of the coach. FWIW that leaking connector didn't appear to interfere with the braking on the coach, presumably because there was more than enough spare capacity in the system.
I'm wondering what's included in the Spartan kit ???
Don't know what's in the kit, but I doubt that it would have made a difference at the rear. If the connector is bad, it has to be replaced.
Tom
Administrator
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 51,924
THat's kinda what I think too Bernie. I'm just curious though.
Karl
Moderator Emeritus
Tom,
Just curious - that failing connector - was it brass or steel? I've had the steel ones fail from corrosion, but never a brass one.
Just curious - that failing connector - was it brass or steel? I've had the steel ones fail from corrosion, but never a brass one.
Tom
Administrator
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 51,924
It was brass Karl. I think it was bad to some extent from day 1. I've always had a tough time inserting the female end into that connector and getting it to lock in. I noticed when we hooked this afternoon for the first time with that connector that it went in "clean" and locked. The old one never did that.
Ron
Moderator Emeritus
Was probably a cheapo Brass connector. I had a couple of those that came with my air compressor in MT. All problems were corrected by replacing the brass connectors with new better brass connectors.
Tom
Administrator
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 51,924
You're probably right Ron. When I responded to Karl I almost said "brassed" connector i.e. brass over steel, but I couldn't be sure.
Karl
Moderator Emeritus
Tom,
Thanks for the chuckle:
I always thought it was the male connector that was inserted.... Well, no wonder you had trouble ;D
Seriously, just for giggles, check the old one with a magnet and see if it was only brass plating over steel.
Thanks for the chuckle:
I always thought it was the male connector that was inserted.... Well, no wonder you had trouble ;D
Seriously, just for giggles, check the old one with a magnet and see if it was only brass plating over steel.
Tom
Administrator
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 51,924
Good catch Karl. You were the only one to spot the deliberate mistake ;D
IIRC I threw the old connector in the garbage.
IIRC I threw the old connector in the garbage.
