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Is this right for you? Product Expert Mike S says:
Get intense, emergency braking or steady, smooth braking in a single portable system. Easily switch between proportional or full braking. One-touch Auto Start makes setup fast and easy. Remote lets you change settings from your RV.
Features:
Specs:
The Brake Buddy Select 3 is a proportional braking system that applies your towed car's brakes with an intensity that matches your RV's braking action. The built-in inertia sensor detects when and how your rig slows down, and it then engages the actuator arm to press your car's brake pedal with an intensity that matches that slowing action.
The main unit of the Brake Buddy Select 3 is designed to activate only when deceleration is actually taking place. It is built with advanced terrain-sensing technology that keeps the unit from activating when you go over bumps in the road. As a result, your towed car's brakes won't engage unless you intend for them to engage.
You can also select the full-braking mode. When in this mode, the Brake Buddy will activate your towed car's brakes at the maximum preset intensity, regardless of how intensely your RV is decelerating. The full-braking setting is ideal for when you're towing a heavy truck or SUV, or if you're towing your car down a steep incline. By setting the power to a higher level, you can ensure that the momentum of your towed car won't cause it to push against your RV.
The braking power settings determine how intensely the Brake Buddy Select 3 applies your towed car's brakes. When you're first setting up the Brake Buddy, choose a braking power based on your vehicle type. Begin with a pressure that falls into the recommended range for your towed car, as seen on the chart below.
| Vehicle Type | Recommended Braking Power |
|---|---|
| Hybrids | 10 - 20 psi |
| Cars and Compact SUVs | 25 - 45 psi |
| Small Crossovers | 25 - 45 psi |
| Crossovers and Small SUVs | 35 - 65 psi |
| Mid-Size Pickups | 35 - 65 psi |
| Large SUVs and Pickups | 45 - 75 psi |
After selecting an initial setting, press the plus or minus buttons on the actuator unit's control panel to fine-tune the power setting. The setting should be enough to cause your towed car to give a slight tug at your RV during a braking event. Braking power doesn't normally need to be reset unless you're changing to a different towed car.
Once the overall braking power is set, you can customize the sensitivity on the Brake Buddy. The sensitivity setting determines how aggressively you need to brake in the RV for the Brake Buddy to activate your towed car's brakes. If you set the sensitivity high, then your car's brakes will activate with just a light tap of your RV's brakes. Setting the sensitivity low ensures that your car's brakes will only activate when you hit the brakes in your RV with a fair amount of intensity.
The included remote control allows you to monitor or change settings for the Brake Buddy Select 3 from the comfort of your RV's cab. You can easily switch from proportional braking to full braking and vice versa with the push of a button. You can also change the Brake Buddy's sensitivity settings, which makes it easy to fine-tune the braking as you drive so that you can adjust based on feel. Finally, the remote will illuminate to alert you of any errors with the Brake Buddy system, including a breakaway event.
Instead of connecting to a 12V accessory outlet, the Brake Buddy Select 3 draws power directly from your towed car's battery. To do this, the included wiring harness connects to your car's battery. Install the harness by routing the wire end through your car's firewall and into your engine compartment. Connect the harness to your battery with the included battery wire and ring terminal.
Mount the connector that's on the opposite end of the harness in a convenient, out-of-the-way location beneath your car's dash.
To connect the actuator unit to this connector, use the included Easy-Pull harness. This harness plugs into the connector below your dash, then into the braking system. When connected, the harness carries both power and breakaway functions in a single cord. And the large grip ring and wide handle make it easy to hold while connecting and disconnecting the actuator, all without ripping connectors or pulling on wires.
If you're concerned about your car's battery going dead as you tow, don't worry. The Brake Buddy Select 3 includes a 15-amp charger that pulls power from your RV to keep your car's battery charged while the Brake Buddy is connected.
Not every car is built the same. Some have brake pedals with unusual shapes. Some have uneven floorboards or mats. These differences can make it difficult to set up a portable braking system in your towed car. But the Brake Buddy Select 3 is able to fit in almost any car on the market.
The Brake Buddy's actuator arm comes with an adjustable Quick-Lock clevis, which securely wraps around your towed car's brake pedal, regardless of the pedal's size or shape.
The clevis also comes with a quick-locking lever. Once you adjust the jaws of the clevis to fit your brake pedal, turn the lever to tighten the clevis in place. And when you're done towing, disconnecting the clevis is a snap. Just turn the lever to release the clevis jaws, and remove the clevis from your brake pedal. It's that simple.
Uneven floorboards can cause a portable braking system to sit at an angle in your towed car. This affects the leverage of the actuating arm, which can result in ineffective braking. Each of the TruFit risers on the Brake Buddy Select 3 actuator unit can be individually adjusted, raising or lowering each corner of the actuator unit, so that the system sits level in your car. As a result, the actuator arm is able to press straight against the brake pedal to ensure that your brakes are properly depressed every time.
To adjust the height of the risers, twist them counterclockwise, either by hand or with the included riser wrench. Pull each riser out to match the height you need, then twist the riser clockwise to secure it at that height.
The Brake Buddy Select 3 will automatically check your brakes every time you start it up to confirm that your vehicle is ready to tow. After setting up the unit in your towed car, press the Auto Start button on the unit's control panel. The arm of the unit will push and release the brake pedal several times, removing vacuum pressure from the brakes to prevent overbraking. The unit will also check for any connection errors.
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Average Customer Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars (50 Customer Reviews)
Get intense, emergency braking or steady, smooth braking in a single portable system. Easily switch between proportional or full braking. One-touch Auto Start makes setup fast and easy. Remote lets you change settings from your RV.Hi Miranda, here are the pictures of the bracket and Brake Buddy installed in my Jeep. Works very well. I tried to move the seat forward a bit but when the Brake Buddy activated it pushed the seat adjuster and moved the seat all the way back. Thank you for the bracket.
I received the order quickly. The instructions and videos on the etrailer site allowed me to have some of the pre-wiring finished before the brake buddy arrived. Wiring and initial setup was straightforward and easy. I have used the brake buddy three times. Once as a test run then to and from a short camping trip. The third time setting up the unit was super easy and fast. With the blue ox system and the brake buddy I can hook up in just under five minutes. I tow a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox and had no problems with the battery draining because the system includes a battery charger.
I use the brake buddy when flat towing my Jeep. I just wish the proportional mode could brake lightly when my trucks brakes lightly and brake hard when my truck brakes hard. I found the settings difficult to dial in and took me many test runs braking down empty roads to find a compromise. For me, this system works better as an emergency brake so I set it up so my truck does all the braking unless I brake harder then my Jeep brakes hard also. There are a lot of settings to experiment with. If you set it wrong you could toast the brakes on your towed vehicle. It's nice i can change some settings from inside my truck so if I'm on the highway I can make it more sensitive than when in the city.
Considering the fact that the most-towed vehicle is the Jeep Wrangler, this product barely fits and the leg adjusters are nearly useless on our 2016 Jeep Wrangler. I had to remove the pedal extender that my wife uses because she is not even 5’ tall but did not have to that when we used our old classic Brake Buddy. Other than that, the unit works as advertised and no other major complaints so far after 2 days and over 1,000 miles.
Lightweight and easy to use. Instructions were straightforward but installing the wiring into the towed vehicle is not a trivial task. Failed once but was quickly replaced by etrailer. This happened close to home but could be a real nuisance on a long trip.
We use this in our Jeep JKUR (4-door wrangler) on every trip. The quick connect plug is much better than the previous power (cigarette lighter style) plug. The remote works flawless even though it is about 50' from the unit. This is our 2nd unit and still plenty of smiles per mile for us!
Disappointed. I bought this to replace my 8-yr old Brake Buddy Vantage on which the compressor died. Shipping was prompt. My plan was just to replace the main unit. Imagine my surprise to find out they have changed all the connections, so now I have to rewire my vehicle!!! The previous version plugged into a normal 12-volt outlet, and the emergency break away has its own connection. Now they have an all in one plug, so now need connections. Sure would have been handy to have a convertor for the old connections. Come on man!!! Also, the adjustable clevis for the brake is missing a lock nut, so the bottom just spins and you have to set it every time. I can't even add one, as the threaded shaft is welded to the top. Guess I will have to call them and get some parts. Hard to do since we are on the road and need to have the system.
Excellent product, install instructions a little vague, after call to tech support was able to install with no problem.
I sent a question asking " Does a 2021 Canyon need a battery cut of switch" The answer I got was you guys didn't know. You should have known the answer to that question.
The bake unit works well & is relatively easy to install. The included remote monitors brake activity and allows you to configure the braking modes and change system sensitivity. I use the brake Buddy on a 2019 F-150 that won't let you turn the ignition key to the off position, so I added a coupe etrailer kits that included wires, breakers & fuses to keep the truck battery charged.
Great products easy to install haven’t used it yet waiting on warmer weather etrailer always has items in stock and great customer service
Shipping was very quick. Etrailer provides very good installation videos. Good people to deal with.
Ordered and received in one week. Checked contents and all was there and damage free. Haven’t done the install yet but instructions are straight forward and simple enough for anyone with some ability. Will follow up with review after install and use of products.
Ordered at sale price, etrailer confirmed order, gave tracking and delivered one day before estimated date
The actual unit seems to work well, but the remote does not. The power button is cheap and is hard to get it to stay on, to the point of we gave up using it. thought about sending it back to be replaced but we have not been traveling much during covid so kinda forgot about it.
All went as promised. Completely satisf ied.
I bought the Select 3 version of the Brake Buddy to replace an original unit, which was 10+ years old--at least 3 RV's and 3 Towed's. The most recent is a real upgrade. We like the battery charger, and the ability to change the setting as we need to. The unit is far more user friendly, and easier to hookup.
I have used a Brake Buddy for 19 years. The first BB was recommended by a local RV / Camping supply dealer. The new "Select 3" that I just purchased has many improvements to make the BB easier to use and to fit the towed car. Brake Buddy's system is complete, nothing more to buy, brake away, remote, and battery charger are all included. The 5 year warranty is a bonus. Most RV dealers and suppliers still recommend Brake Buddy.
What a amazing piece of equipment. this should make braking and descending on large hills easier.
Quick delivery, less than a week. I haven’t hooked it up yet but looking at the video it shouldn’t be any problem
Great product a little more difficult to install but with a little time and patience anyone can do.
Just received product. Have not install ed.
Brake buddy works very well and sets up quite easily.
Very satisfied
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