Complete the factory prep package on your 2021 or newer Freightliner chassis motorhome so you can flat tow your vehicle with the Air Force One supplemental braking system. Includes all needed components and the convenient wireless Coachlink monitor.
Features:
Specs:
The Demco Air Force One offers truly proportional braking for the safest and most comfortable flat towing experience. Proportional braking means that when you apply the brakes in your RV, the braking system will engage the brakes of your toad (towed vehicle) at the same time and with the same intensity. Whether it's a gradual slow down to a red light or a sudden stop in an emergency, your toad and RV will brake together.
To achieve this, the Air Force One ties directly into your motorhome's air brakes and uses the same air pressure that results from you pressing the brake pedal in your coach to pull down the brake pedal in your toad. The result is uniform, real-time braking that exactly mirrors your RV.
To deliver the pressurized air needed to activate your toad's brakes, the coach air connection assembly taps directly into your RV's air brake lines.
A pressure protection valve collects air from your RV's supply air line and stores it in an air reservoir tank so that it's ready to use when you need it. This 1-way check valve ensures that your RV's air lines maintain consistent pressure so that your motorhome's brakes will not be affected by the Air Force One. It meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) guidelines requiring that supplemental braking systems use a separate air supply and activation relay valve.
On the other side of the air tank, the service relay valve taps into the coach's metered air line and the delivery relay valve connects to the quick-disconnect air valve on the back of the motorhome. All of the above components will come factory-installed on your 2021 and newer Freightliner coach with BrakeSync.
When you press the brake pedal in your RV, the same pressure that is sent to the brakes is sent to the air connection assembly through the service relay valve. The delivery relay valve then sends the pressurized air to the operating unit via the coiled jumper hose connecting the RV and toad. The main operating unit, mounted under the hood of the toad, receives the air from the coach and sends it to the actuating cylinder that attaches to your vehicle's brake pedal. The cylinder will pull the pedal down and apply the brakes.
With this system, the brakes are applied in the toad at the same time, with the same amount of pressure as in the motorhome. This is what makes it truly proportional.
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 to brake the toad.
The Air Force One, on the other hand, reactivates your car's vacuum-assist function by tying into its vacuum line and using the air pressure from the RV to create the needed vacuum. This way your car will brake evenly and naturally as it's being towed, so there's less risk of damage.
The Air Force One comes in 3 main pieces: the coach air connection assembly, the operating unit, and the actuating cylinder. Your 2021 or newer Freightliner chassis motorhome with BrakeSync comes with the coach air connection assembly pre-installed, so half of your installation is already taken care of.
The operating unit will typically install under your car's hood. It's designed with a low profile so you can easily find somewhere to put it. Once the unit's mounted, you'll connect the air lines and splice the wires to the breakaway switch, which you'll need to install on the front of your toad. The unit connects to the coach air assembly using a coiled air hose, also called a jumper; you'll plug it into the quick-connects at the same time as you hook up your tow bar. The jumper included in this kit is Brake Sync-specific.
The final piece is the actuating cylinder, the part that actually presses the brake pedal down. It will mount permanently to the arm of the brake pedal and anchor to the firewall. Though it is permanent, it will not interfere with everyday driving. In most vehicles, it is tucked up where you can't even see it.
It connects to the operating unit via an air hose you'll need to run through the firewall. In most cases, you can cut a slit in the hood release cable grommet to pass it through. Either way, you shouldn't have to do any drilling to get the air line hooked up.
Included in this kit is the wireless Coachlink for safety and peace of mind. This monitor, sitting on the dashboard of the RV, will light up and beep whenever your toad is actively braking. This will give you a simple and convenient way to keep tabs on when the system is working properly or if something goes 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 be continuously depressed when they shouldn't be, but you won't know it until the damage is already done. This monitor, however, connects directly to a reed switch on the actuator so it only lights up when the pedal is depressed.
The Air Force One also comes with a breakaway system. The breakaway system ensures that your car will come safely to a stop if it accidentally detaches from the RV while you are towing. A switch mounts to the front of the towed vehicle. This switch - which wires to the operating unit - includes a pin that connects to your RV's hitch receiver with a breakaway cable. If the car separates, the cable pulls the pin from the switch, triggering the system. A reserve air supply stored in the operating unit will apply your towed car's brakes. This system also has total coach protection built in: if there is separation, the motorhome's air supply gets sealed off, so its brakes will continue to function as normal.
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.
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