riggarob
Farmington, NH
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Joined: 09/30/2005
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lou100plus wrote:I'm researching options for towing my 02 Rav4 with my 05 Sunova. One of the itmes I'm considering is The Unified Tow Brake from U.S. Gear. My Service guy tells me it's the only Tow brake he recommends. I'd like to know if anyone has had any experiences with this equipment good, bad indifferent. What do ya'll think?
Or are there other Tow braking systems that are comprable even better than this one?
I searched braking systems 'till I was blue in the face, and decided on the US Gear. It's been on 2 gas rigs, and my present DP, and 2 different toads. You don't have to cut into any coach air lines, like you do w/some other products. Search on line, and you can find it fairly cheap. I install all of my own stuff, and although it's somewhat involved, it's quite straight forward. I like that it charges the toads battery, also. No lifting the hood to pull dirty fuses. Robbie
08 Fleetwood Providence 40X
FL-XC
US Gear Braking system
Blue OX towing system
06 Saturn Vue AWD toad
Wife and best friend Martha Baby
SweetPea - 16 year old "Maine coon cat" still mean as ever
Beware of those who point their finger the LOUDEST !
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xctraveler
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 10/28/2002
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Check out my signature. We have pulled the RAV4 across the country round trip 3 times plus several other trips since we installed the US Gear Unified Brake. Love It! Towed 45k miles with no supplemental brake system. I feel like an idiot for having done that.
I like being able to see how much brake is being applied and then being able to adjust for mountain terrain or flats. I like that I don't have to do anything extra to during hook up to have the brakes be active.
The only problem I have experienced is failure of the breakaway switch due to letting moisture get into the chamber (lost the O ring on the plunger). This is not a US Gear part. Replacing it this week.
Sometimes people will tell me the tow'd is making noise when we are idling with the brakes on - under hood compressor is running as designed. The charge line is a blessing when the lighting umbilical fails and I need to turn on the tow'd lights in stormy weather or after dark. No run down battery to contend with.
Paul
Trucking down the road in a 2004 Southwind 36E on Workhorse Chassis with a 2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD stick shift tow'd with US Gear Brake System. Check out my journal
FMCA 352081
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bill h
coastal reconquista
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Joined: 08/02/2001
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When I bought our US, it was the only one that had the ability to manually and variably actuate the toad brakes. That can be lifesaver if the tail starts to wag the dog. I rolled up a car, boat and trailer and could have straightened things out if I had that ability.
The only difficult thing on installation is getting the pulley in the right place without interfering with proper brake pedal travel. This, of course, will vary widely depending on the vehicle.
84 Barth 30 tag powered by ht502/Thorley, Gear Vendors OD
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes
4WD Toyota toad
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Georgi
Kelowna BC Canada
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Joined: 08/06/2005
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Another positive vote here after 3+ years 2 rigs and the same toad. The system just flat works and is hidden which we wanted. We committed longterm to this toad. My hitch guy just replaced the breakaway switch due to corrosion for free.
2000 Beaver 40' Patriot Thunder
Cat C-12 Allison 4060
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Not a Clue
Southern Ca
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Joined: 07/01/2007
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We love ours. Like being able to adjust it.
Linda B.
Our Blog
2009 29' Fleetwood, Fiesta V10 - The Little Bus
2008 Saturn Vue (Toad)with US Gear UBS
& Demco baseplate and tow bar.
Traveling with Robin(friend),Liz(cockapoo)&Buddee(cavalier)
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richarfg
Wildwood, Texas
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Joined: 06/03/2008
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Just my 2 cents worth...I chose the Ready Brake System because it's mechanical. It's a very simple process to hook up, and very easy when, and if, you need to trouble shoot. No electrical or hydrallic inputs.
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SunflyerA
Andover, Minnesota USA
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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Quote:just bought a Unified tow brake and im going to install it on a 1999 Dodge Durango. I'm a pretty handy guy when it comes to wrenching but the instructions make it look like a complicated install and some shops have quoted me up to $800 dollars to install. Does anybody here have any experience installing one?
I have installed in 4 different Durangos, Pull the front seat and put the solenoid there. Route the braking cable under the door base plate. It's not that hard to pull the wires through the fire wall with a fish wire and after the hookups are made you can cable tie the control box under the dash. I spend one to two hours a night for a week and that includes base plate, wiring rear lights with diodes, and all the braking system. Just break your tasks down into bite size pieces like mechanicals one night, wireing another, under hood connections another etc. This makes it much less over whelming when you focus on one task at a time.
sunflyer
2005 Fleetwood Excursion 39S
350 Cat
If you are what you eat; then I am fast, cheap and easy
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SunflyerA
Andover, Minnesota USA
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Joined: 01/08/2004
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Steve,
I just noticed that you have a 99 Durango. If the solenoid will not fit under the front seat I did mount one in the center counsel on a 98 Durango. You do loose the storage box this way. Their are two bolts under the front drink holder matts and some under the compartment box if I remember correctly. I believe I drilled some holes and tapped some bolts into the back seat heating vent to secure the solenoid.
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pb24
Castaic
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Joined: 04/16/2005
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SunflyerA I just sent you a PM
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Echo2
Wiggins, MS
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Joined: 04/21/2002
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I need some information on this system and installation on a 2008 CRV. Specifically, are there any problems with space or installation that I should be aware of? This is a system that interests me, but in my research I have found no specific info on installing in my vehicle. Other systems do present space problems.
D. White
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