# 1
Brake Buddy Select 3 Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional
Lasted 1 year and started to intermittently stop working. We thought it was the power cord so we replaced it. Now, 2 years after more significant use, it doesn’t work. Actually had our tow vehicle crash into our rig breaking our etrailer tow bars, put a hole in our radiator, ruined the grill and fiberglass damage. If not for the upgraded chains we use replacing the cheap cables etrailer tow bars come with, our suv would have crashed into another car or worse rolled off the George Washington bridge! We were in heave NY traffic! Thankfully we got to the shoulder without damage to anyone else around us, BY drivers are not as mean as people say! Do NOT but etrailer tow bars or this brake buddy! Not worth the risk and look at the cost! I could see if we chose some cheap knockoff product, but this is significant money spent!! RV is a 2021 Tiffin Phaeton and etrailer tow bars are a year old.
Plug keeps getting loose on unit. I drilled a hole in the case and installed a tie wrap attaching wire to case no more movement of plug works great otherwise
# 2
Roadmaster Even Brake Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional
Very touchy on where it is sitting on the floor in front of the seat. Must be lined up almost perfectly. Heavy and clumsy to get in and out and connected to brake pedal. Need to add an on/off switch to the power line on the controller otherwise it is transmitting a signal on Jeep brands all the time that interferes with the remote key lock. Quite disappointed with hit and miss braking operation while in use and sending braking signal to driver when it is not braking.
I bought a complete flat tow parts fir a jeep wrangler. I decided I could install myself. Your installation videos made it nearly a piece of cake. From a quote I got from a RV service business, I saved several thousand dollars installing myself. etrailer is the place to for your RV needs!
# 3
Brake Buddy Stealth Supplemental Braking System - Proportional
The Brake Buddy has been working great. I just wish they had made the plug a more standard mount. It doesn't fit the standard mount point on my Roadmaster baseplate. I had to make a little bracket to adapt it.
I choose the Brake Buddy Stealth for my 2021 Jeep Wrangler because I wanted a “stay in place” brake system and felt it would be a clean looking installation. I finished the toad side of the installation today and thought I’d leave some notes on what turned out to be a bigger project than I’d anticipated. Again, this is my experience on the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 2-door. Your experience on other vehicles may vary. I started this install after installing a Demco Tabless Base Plate. Right out of the blocks, there’s really no convenient location to mount the cable connector to the Demco baseplate. I chose to mount it to under side of the bumper on the driver’s side. To provide clearance and a route for the wires, I had to cut a notch into the plastic air dam. I used one of the already screw screw holes and used self tapping screws in the other three locations. For added strength I epoxied the connector to the bumper as well. Since the bumper would be unremovable if the connector were hardwired, I added a waterproof connector. The kit is stingy with wire lengths, so I substituted my own wire. The Stealth unit itself i mounted beneath the driver’s seat. Don’t be fooled into believing there is clearance when testing with the driver’s seat positioned for rear seat access. Once the seat is returned to normal operation it lowers a bit and the box keeps the seat from being move forehand aft. I solved the problem by installing 5/8” thick nylon washers under the rear end of the seat slides. I also cut away a bit of the carpet under the front, inboard corner of the box. You will need to remove the driver’s seat in order to attach the front screws of the box. Be sure to disconnect and isolate the neutral battery terminals to prevent inadvertent air bag discharge. After removing the interior trim from the A-pillar, the door sill, and the driver side foot well, The wiring and cable tucked nicely away along with the OEM wiring and wiring for my taillights. I mounted the pulley horizontally behind the brake pedal. Installing the vacuum pump was my biggest worry and challenge. Instructions are to zip tie it “somewhere”. That seemed pretty casual for a safety system. I chose, instead, to fabricate an aluminum bracket that attaches to the lip of the engine compartment and to the wheel well (this latter attachment point is necessary to keep the pump from vibrating). Finally, the kit comes with 3/8” fittings to tap into the brake booster vacuum lines. The Jeep, however, uses 8mm nylon tubing. Brake Buddy, via etrailer.com, stated that the tubing would stretch and all would be good. Again, this felt casual for a safety system. Instead, I purchased an 8mm check valve and a 8-6-8mm barbed tee through Another online retailer to do the job right. I had to heat the Jeep tubing to fit even the 8mm tee, so the is no way the larger 3/8” fittings would have worked. See photo of my finished vacuum line installation. Bottom line, it was a POA install, but looks great. Hopefully it will stop the Jeep when towing. I’ll find out soon. :D
# 4
Demco Stay-IN-Play Duo Braking System for RVs w/ Hydraulic Brakes - Wireless Monitor - Proportional
Upgraded from RVi3 system which was a portable unit and operated solely on inertia which in my experience only worked on moderate to hard braking. This system being a dual system works even with mild braking. I'm very happy with it. Installation took me several partial days (60+ yr old, moderate mechanical skills). The videos are very helpful and had one for my exact 2020 Jeep Wrangler. Installation is easy but access under the dash to install the air cylinder and a roadmaster brake switch is awkward and difficult. My biggest fear was the access there and cutting the vacuum line. The vacuum line turned out to be very easy. I had to adjust my brake light switch after installation when I tested the system. Everything is adjusted properly now and works as I hoped.
Take the time to really study the videos from etrailer and you’ll have no problems. Kit came well packaged with everything I needed. Hardest part was working under the dash…not a lot of room to work in a 2013 Honda CRV.
# 5
Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional
Andy was a great help to get my flat tow started on my Ford Ranger. I will go to my local auto electric buddy for the lights installation. Thanks Andy for your help.
I installed a battery charge line on my towed vehicle and had to leave the auxiliary switch on to get power to the Blue Ox I got 20 miles away and the battery was already below 10amps so has to disconnect the Blue Ox.
What our customers are saying:
"Excellent service and communication. Expect part to be excellent too!"