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Plug in and go: this permanent system gets you smooth, reliable braking with a one-and-done installation. Low-profile components designed to stay out of sight.
Features:
Specs:
"This is the top system I recommend if you have hydraulic brakes. Quality, reliable, tried-and-true. It just always works."
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.
The Stay-IN-Play Duo is a permanent braking system, which means that it's a one-and-done. Once it's installed, there's no more setup that you have to do. When you plug in the power cord at the front of your vehicle, the system automatically turns on. Flip the on switch for the G-Force controller and just like that, you're ready to flat tow.
While the components are installed permanently in your RV and toad, they remain concealed and inconspicuous. None of them will interfere with normal driving, and most of the time they are invisible. And you don't have to find a place to store them between trips.
The Stay-IN-Play Duo is unique in that it uses both an inertia sensor and your motorhome's brake light signal to activate. Having this double-check ensures that the system will only activate when it's truly needed.
First, the Duo monitors your motorhome's brake light signal so that it knows when you're intentionally hitting the brakes. This ensures there's no false braking.
Second, the inertia sensor in the Duo senses the change in momentum of your toad (towed vehicle) as your setup slows down. It precisely measures this change so it can activate your toad's brakes to match the rate of the RV's deceleration; this is what makes it proportional. When you apply the brakes in your motorhome, the braking system will engage the brakes of the toad at the same time with the same amount of force. This keeps the RV and the toad in sync with each other, so whether it's a gradual slow down to a red light or a hard stop in an emergency, the toad and the RV will brake together.
It starts with the G-Force controller. The G-Force controller contains the inertia sensor that senses the change in your RV's momentum. You'll install it in the cab of your toad, underneath the dashboard. This keeps it out of the way but easy to reach so you can flip the toggle and adjust the knob.
Note: The G-Force controller must be pointed in the direction of travel - with the toggle switch facing the driver's seat - for the internal sensor to function properly.
The controller lets you adjust the sensitivity of the inertia sensor to determine how drastic the change in momentum must be for the system to trigger. Set the sensitivity low and the Duo will only engage when you forcibly step on your motorhome's brake pedal. Set it high and a mere tap on the brakes will get a reaction. It's totally up to you how sensitive you want it to be; a heavier vehicle will probably need more sensitivity, while a lighter one doesn't need to brake so hard. The knob on the face of the controller lets you easily program your setting.
When the G-Force controller detects a change in inertia, it checks that there's a brake light signal from the RV to confirm that it is indeed braking. It then sends a signal to the main operating unit to activate; the main unit delivers pressurized air through an air line to the actuating cylinder that attaches to your toad's brake pedal. The cylinder will pull the pedal down, applying your brakes almost instantaneously.
The actuating cylinder attaches permanently to the arm of your toad's brake pedal. Though it is permanent, it should not interfere with your everyday driving. In most vehicles, it is tucked up where you can't even see it.
When you're driving, your vehicle uses vacuum pressure to create the force needed to bring the car to a stop. On most vehicles, this vacuum-assist function does not work when the engine is off. As a result, a lot of supplemental braking systems have to use an excessive amount of pressure while braking the toad.
The Duo, on the other hand, reactivates the vacuum-assist function by tying into your car's vacuum line. Your car will brake evenly and naturally as it's being towed, so there's less risk of damage.
Included with the Duo is an LED indicator light for safety and peace of mind. This LED, mounted in the toad (on the dash or on the back of the rearview mirror) and visible in your RV's backup camera, will light up whenever your toad is actively braking. It's a simple way to keep tabs on whether the system is working properly or if something is going wrong.
Most supplemental braking systems have a method of letting you know you when they activate, but not all of them are checking if the toad is actually braking. There could be an error that causes the system to activate without actually applying the toad's brakes. Or your brake pedal might actually be continuously depressed when it shouldn't be. But unless you have a system that's monitoring your vehicle, you won't know it until the damage is already done.
This braking monitor connects directly to your toad's brake light switch so it only lights up when the pedal is depressed and a signal is sent to the brake lights.
If there's a strong glare on your toad's windshield, the LED light strip might be hard to see. The wireless Coachlink system (SM99945 - sold separately) is a great solution to this problem; the monitor mounts right on your motorhome's dashboard so it's directly in view. This is a great add-on for convenience and peace of mind.
The Duo 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 the vehicle to a stop.
This switch mounts to the front of your toad and wires into the Duo's operating 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.
Flat towing can be a much more convenient way to take your car RVing with you than using a trailer or a tow dolly. It'll save you storage space both at home and at the campsite, and it takes less time and hassle to hook up.
To flat tow your vehicle, there are 5 basic components you're going to need: a tow bar, a base plate kit, a safety cable set, tow bar wiring, and a flat tow braking system.
| For the RV | Between the RV and Towed Car | For the Towed Car |
|---|---|---|
| Hitch | Tow bar | Base plate |
| Wiring plug | Safety cables | Braking system |
| Wiring adapter cord | Wiring kit/diodes |
The custom-fit base plate installs on the frame of your toad so you can connect the car to your RV with a tow bar. Hook up safety cables between the vehicles to ensure that the toad does not separate from the motorhome if the tow bar becomes detached. Tow bar wiring syncs your vehicle's signal lights with your motorhome's tail lights, as required by law in most states. Finally, the flat tow braking system - also required in most states - activates the brakes in the toad when you hit the brakes in the RV, making for smoother, safer braking, and preventing wear on your motorhome.
California residents: click here
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