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Small, light, and precise, this portable unit gets you smooth braking with basically no installation. Plugs directly into 12V outlet. Easy to swap between multiple cars. Control and monitor the system remotely from your motorhome with LCD display.
Features:
Specs:
A braking system is a must when towing a vehicle behind your motorhome. Without it, the weight of the towed car can create a safety hazard, strain your RV's brakes, and affect the warranty of both your car and motorhome. Most states legally require a supplemental braking system, so if you don't use one and you end up in an accident (which is more likely since your RV takes longer to come to a full stop), your insurance and liability headache just doubled. You also won't have any breakaway system; if there's an accidental disconnect, there's nothing to bring your car to a stop.
First, this system is great for DIYers, because there's basically no installation. You'll run a cable from the breakaway switch on the front of the car into the cab so you can plug it into the unit, which might require a little bit of drilling into the firewall to either widen an existing hole or make a new one. But the unit itself will simply plug into your car's 12V outlet. That's it.
Second, it offers you a lot of flexibility. It's easy to move from one toad (towed vehicle) to another. As long as you have a second vehicle breakaway kit (BRK2505 - sold separately) installed, the Patriot can be easily set up in another car, giving you the freedom to switch up which vehicle comes with you on your next camping trip. Or, if you think you'll get a new toad down the road, it will be a piece of cake to get that car set up to use this unit.
"If you're going with a portable system, the Blue Ox Patriot is your best option. It's compact and lightweight, and offers smooth and precise braking most portable systems can't match."
The Patriot uses a built-in inertia sensor to detect when your flat tow setup begins to slow down as you apply the brakes in your motorhome. The moment the system recognizes the change in momentum, the actuator will press down the brake pedal of your toad proportionally: at the same time, with the same intensity.
If you're towing a hybrid or any car with continuous-power-assist brakes, all you have to do to be able to use the Patriot is turn on Hybrid mode.
You'll be setting up this portable unit in your toad every time you flat tow, so it's designed to be easy to do. And with it's compact size, it fits in almost any vehicle on the market.
Slide the driver's seat all the way back and set the Patriot on the floor. If your car's floorboard is uneven, you can add the included feet to the bottom of the unit to make sure it sits as level as possible.
Push down on the tab at the top of the clamp to widen the jaws. Get them around the brake pedal, then release.
Plug the Patriot into your car's 12-volt outlet and push the power button. The indicator lights will blink blue and green as the unit calibrates and the actuator will briefly adjust itself.
Note: If the lights turn solid red and blue, the Patriot is putting too much pressure on the brake pedal. Pull the unit away from the pedal until the lights switch back to blinking blue and green again.
Now move the driver's seat forward until it is just touching the back of the unit, called the push pad. You can move the push pad up or down to get it in just the right place to brace against the seat. If there's too much pressure on the push pad, the lights will turn solid red and blue. Edge the seat back until the lights return to a blinking blue and green.
Your final step is to push the setup button. The Patriot will test the brake once and check for any errors. When the power light turns a solid green, the Patriot is ready to go.
It's important to monitor your toad's braking to make sure that everything's working the way it should. With the included remote, you can also control the Patriot from the cab of your RV! It's just like having a brake controller in your motorhome.
From the monitor, you can adjust both the braking force and sensitivity, which will determine how aggressively the Patriot brakes your toad. A larger vehicle will need a higher setting for smooth braking, while a smaller car can do with a lower one. Either way, you can set it to your preference; as long as the toad is not pushing the motorhome forward when you're braking, you know your setting is high enough.
The controller also has a manual override button that will activate the towed car's brakes when you press it. This is great for applying the brakes in an emergency situation and for correcting sway.
The controller will also let you know whether your braking system is working, or if something is going wrong. As with any portable braking system, if the unit shifts position while you're on the road, it could stop working properly or even apply too much pressure to the pedal. The monitor will let you know right away, before any damage is done. Likewise, if your vehicle ever breaks away from the motorhome, the display will immediately turn red.
The Patriot's LCD display plugs right into your motorhome's 12V outlet. You can mount it on the RV dashboard with the included stand or the hook-and-loop strip. This keeps it right in sight and in easy reach.
The Patriot also comes with a breakaway switch, an absolute must for safe flat towing. If there's ever an emergency situation where your toad becomes detached from the motorhome, the breakaway switch will immediately activate the brakes and bring your vehicle to a stop.
This switch mounts to the front of your toad and plugs directly into the unit. It includes a pin that connects to your RV's hitch receiver with a breakaway cable. If the toad and RV become disconnected, the cable will pull the pin out of the switch and trigger the braking system. A reserve air supply in the operating unit will then apply the brakes in the car. Even if, for any reason, the car's battery is dead and no longer sending power to the Patriot, it will trigger and bring the car to a stop.
Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (146 Customer Reviews)
Small, light, and precise, this portable unit gets you smooth braking with basically no installation. Plugs directly into 12V outlet. Easy to swap between multiple cars. Control and monitor the system remotely from your motorhome with LCD display.
This works very well and the only issue is that sometimes the remote display will lose connectivity with the brake controller. Per the manual, it isn't required to use and I have about 50' of distance.
Arrived on time. Installed it myself after watching some UTube videos. Fits abs functions great on 2014 Tiffin Red with 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Best decision I ever made since purchasing my motorhome. Easy, convenient to connect and disconnect. Everyone I communicated with at etrailer was so knowledgeable and patient and friendly. If you are thinking of towing a vehicle behind your RV, do not purchase a towing package before you contact etrailer.
Compared to my previous Blue Ox Patriot 2010, I like that it is half the weight and sets up easily. The Patriot 2010 would sometimes refuse to set up. I do not like the remote control for the new Patriot. The one for the Patriot 2010 had a knob for setting the braking force and I could quickly turn it to zero to deactivate it if it had been activated by a rough road, or if it was braking continuously on a long downhill. With the new remote, I have to press several buttons to get to the force setting, then press the button several times to change the setting. Also, the warning beep is not loud enough to hear in the noisy Class C cabin.
Don’t waste your money. The product takes forever to setup. It’s was supposed to be simple but never works. To bad my warranty was up or it would have been traded in. Buy something else.
Worth every penny. You can't even feel the towed vehicle and that is exactly the point.
Tom F.
9/13/2024
After a year of flat towing my only complaint is that the unit is so lightweight it is prone to bouncing around and losing position. That said, it doesnt happen that often and depends on how smooth your tow vehicle rides. Jeeps are bouncy and Interstate 95 stinks.
I'm excited to try the new smaller brake controller. Patriot has a the best claw in the industry
Quick and easy to install and remove
At first it was a little cranky but go used to it’s needed placement
Still learning a bit !
This unit will come in play if there is a hitch failure
Not used for additional braking
Car is only 2200 lbs and don’t want the brakes locking
Emergency cable to emergency switch originate at a new installed frame mount in case of total hitch failure
DOT was impressed
Like the unit made fulfillment of required braking very simple
Thank you etrailer for your guidance
Works very well for my 2023 gladiator.
Instructions were easy to follow, simple set-up, and works. We have been using this for about a year now to tow our mini Cooper behind our motorhome.
After reviewing the instructions I am sure that installation will go easily. If not I will update this rating
Always great to purchase from etrailer
Getting ready to install the brake system. Looks easy to do. Looking forward to putting it to good use.
Easy to install. Run breakaway cord under hood from front bumper area. Close it in door. Forget running it through grommet in firewall. Then you can just wrap it up when not in use.
I bought the Patriot 3 braking system after getting a lot of good information from Will S. He is very knowledgeable and helpful. Thanks, Will!
We like the easy set up and operation!
Excellent. One button push. Unit cycles one time and setup is complete.
Just got it and have not had the time to use it yet but I did read the instructions and manual and it looks like it will be a simple install.
Brittany... is the best!!!!~!!
Excellent customer service! We will be an etrailer customer for life.
Ordered it over the phone and got it in less than three days. The individuals I talk to were very helpful and I’m glad I made the right choice based on their knowledge.
I just received it have not installed it yet but going on a road trip this weekend
well see how it works. I appreciate the fast delivery because it was ordered on such short notice. Wow great customer service thank you
Light weight easy and fast to install no brainer!
very easy to hook up and use
I should have not had to pay for overnight shipment since the original order was sent to the wrong address which was input wrong by your employee. I was refunded the cost of the two day shipment I originally paid for but when the items I ordered did not arrive in time, again not my fault, the only choice I had was to ask for next day.
Brooke M.
3/12/2024
I agree with you. I am going to send your information to a customer service team lead to review this for you. Be on the look out for an email or phone call!
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Earl
4/25/2024
After a year of use this product continues to perform. You get a high pitched audible alarm from the remote unit in the RV if the unit gets jostled lose from bumps or loses contact wirelessly with the remote unit. I’ve than happen 2 or 3 times. Simply stop when safe and repositionreset the unit in the TOAD.