Smoky
Well-known member
OK, I am in a quandry after speaking with Newmar, Spartan, and M&G.
Spartan maintains if I install any system that "tampers" with the chassis my warranty will be void.
However if I use their air brake "kit" I can have a professionally installed toad brake system that runs off chassis air. The kit costs $365 and gets added to the $1500 the M&G dealer wants to charge for installation and parts for the entire system excluding the kit labor. Don't have an estimate yet on kit labor.
Not only is the price getting out of hand, but the entire purpose of the M&G system is being bastardized according to M&G.
M&G tells me today that the kit that Spartan provides was not designed for the M&G system, but rather to give Spartan peace of mind that they would have a buffer between their chassis air system and "any other" air brake system provided by a third party. According to M&G, the gallon external tank in the kit increases the number of taps into the lines and adds to the risk of things going wrong. The M&G guy agreed I was between a rock and a hard place because of warranty requirements. He said this was new this year and he does not like the idea of a gallon container being added and riding along under the rear axel. It does isolate the coach air system from the toad air system and insures that if the air container is ruptured, the toad brakes will go not the coach brakes. But more is hanging out there to go wrong.
I am getting very close to reverting back to the blue ox and brake buddy combo that my dealer can install for under $2000.
If I go the original route with M&G plus Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain hitch I am up over 4 grand now with everyone fussing with everyone else about the merits of the brake system modifications.
I still need to do the axel lock on the Taurus regardless.
Unless I bite the bullet, take a loss on the Taurus and buy a used towable vehicle.
Ever heard of the tail wagging the dog? I think I have a case here of the toad wagging the pusher. I want to spend time on the pusher and planning my routes and now today I spent 4 hours on this toad thing and got nowhere.
Spartan maintains if I install any system that "tampers" with the chassis my warranty will be void.
However if I use their air brake "kit" I can have a professionally installed toad brake system that runs off chassis air. The kit costs $365 and gets added to the $1500 the M&G dealer wants to charge for installation and parts for the entire system excluding the kit labor. Don't have an estimate yet on kit labor.
Not only is the price getting out of hand, but the entire purpose of the M&G system is being bastardized according to M&G.
M&G tells me today that the kit that Spartan provides was not designed for the M&G system, but rather to give Spartan peace of mind that they would have a buffer between their chassis air system and "any other" air brake system provided by a third party. According to M&G, the gallon external tank in the kit increases the number of taps into the lines and adds to the risk of things going wrong. The M&G guy agreed I was between a rock and a hard place because of warranty requirements. He said this was new this year and he does not like the idea of a gallon container being added and riding along under the rear axel. It does isolate the coach air system from the toad air system and insures that if the air container is ruptured, the toad brakes will go not the coach brakes. But more is hanging out there to go wrong.
I am getting very close to reverting back to the blue ox and brake buddy combo that my dealer can install for under $2000.
If I go the original route with M&G plus Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain hitch I am up over 4 grand now with everyone fussing with everyone else about the merits of the brake system modifications.
I still need to do the axel lock on the Taurus regardless.
Unless I bite the bullet, take a loss on the Taurus and buy a used towable vehicle.
Ever heard of the tail wagging the dog? I think I have a case here of the toad wagging the pusher. I want to spend time on the pusher and planning my routes and now today I spent 4 hours on this toad thing and got nowhere.