What Supplemental Braking System Should be Used with Two Different Tow Vehicles with Diff Brakes

Question:

I have a 2022 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon that needs to be towed by 2 different vehicles. Tow Vehicle 1 is a 2005 Newmar Dutchstar with air brakes Tow Vehicle 2 is a 2021 GMC Duramax diesel no air brakes My preference is utilizing a Roadmaster RM-676 Nighthawk Tow Bar and either a Roadmaster RM 8700 or a Demco Stay in Play Duo Braking System with wireless monitor Proportional, or something similar that is permanently mounted Can you provide me with a complete list of suggested part s to include diode light kit, battery charge kit and anything else required? Thank you Larry

asked by: Larry S

Expert Reply:

Hey Larry, you are on the right track picking out the correct components to flat tow your 2022 Jeep Gladiator but since your motorhome has air brakes that vehicle will need to have the Air Force One part # SM99243 installed on it which will not work with your truck that has hydraulic brakes. So this is a frustrating situation so what I would recommend is a removable braking system like the Blue Ox Patriot part # BLU37TR. There isn't a permanent install option that will work on both tow vehicles.

The Nighthawk part # RM-676 is still a great option though. For a lighting diode kit you'd then need the part # RM-9284-2 which does come with a few bonus things like a hitch lock and storage cover and then for a charge line kit part # RM-156-25.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Larry

7/24/2024

Hello James, Thank you for the prompt reply, and I know you are trying to match up the best system for the application. With that said I agree it would be optimal to utilize the air force one part # SM99243, however is going with an air brake system the only choice? Can't the Demco Stay in Play Duo Braking System with wireless monitor work on my motorhome with airbrakes in the same manner as motorhomes without airbrakes by reading the brake light signal to activate the brakes when you actually hit the brakes? The Demco Stay in Play Duo controller senses the rate of my RV's deceleration and triggers my Jeeps brakes to slow down at the same rate. Respectfully Sent Larry

Jameson C.

7/24/2024

@Larry You are absolutely correct the Stay N Play part # SM99251 will work for you since it uses the brake light circuit and an inertia sensor for activation. Long story short I "knew" this but a coworker recently tried to convince me otherwise and I didn't bother to follow up and verify as I too for the longest time thought the DUO can install on hydraulic and air brake setups. So again you are right and I apologize for the confusion! Follow up question though...does your motorhome with air brakes have an exhaust brake?

Larry

7/24/2024

@JamesonC Great question - Yes..... my 05 Dutch Star motorhome has a single stage exhaust brake and I don't think the brake lights come on when the exhaust brake is engaged... Is that going to cause an issue? I was thinking that the inertia sensor would pick up that the motorhome is slowing down and activate braking on the Jeep...

Jameson C.

7/24/2024

@Larry So I sent this to Demco and here's what they sent in return: Demco doesn’t recommend the Stay N Play for use with an Air Brake Coach. Can it be, yes, but we to don’t recommend it and here’s why. The Stay N Play uses two signals before braking. 1. Coach brake lights. 2. Forward inertia from the G-force controller. When it gets both signals the brakes are applied. In most situations the Stay N Play will function with the air brake coach. HOWEVER, we find users going down a steep grade throw the engine brake on the entire way down a steep grade. The engine brake initiates the brake light on the coach sending signal #1. The Stay N Play G-Force Controller is sensing forward inertia going down the grade. Both conditions are met, so the Stay N Play puts brakes on the towed vehicle. The brakes of the towed will stay applied the entire way down the grade. The towed is slowing the coach and towed down the grade. The user gets to the end of the grade and the brakes are burned up on the towed. For those reasons, we don’t recommend the Stay N Play for an air brake coach. The Air Force One is a much better option. The AFO doesn’t depend on coach brake lights. It is completely air controlled from the coach air brake system. The braking is fully proportional with the coach, softer braking done in the coach is duplicated in the towed and harder braking down in the coach is duplicated in the towed. I asked him in response if the sensitivity could be pulled back on hills but havent' heard back.