Demco Air Force One Supplemental Braking System for Freightliner Chassis Motorhomes with BrakeSync

Demco Tow Bar Braking Systems - DM23MV

This truly proportional braking system uses the air pressure from your RV's brakes to apply the brakes in your towed car in the same manner. Low-profile system installs out of the way and is always at the ready. Wireless braking monitor included.

Features:

• Supplemental braking system applies towed vehicle's brakes in proportion to braking action of RV
  • Towed car's brakes are activated at the same time and with the same intensity as those in your motorhome
• Truly proportional system uses the air pressure from your RV's brakes to apply the brake pedal in your car
  • Coiled air hose connects air assembly in RV to operating unit in towed car
• No false braking
  • Coach air brakes must be activated for system to apply towed car's brakes
• One-time setup - no need to remove or to activate each time you tow
  • Operating unit and actuating cylinder stay hidden so everything is out of your way when you are driving
    • Low-profile design of operating unit allows for more room in the engine compartment of towed car
    • System automatically functions when towed vehicle is connected to RV
• Wireless braking monitor mounts in your RV and alerts you when the brakes are being applied in the towed car
  • Transmitter connects to reed switch on brake of towed car to ensure proper reading
  • LED lights blink and are easily visible while you are driving
  • Audio tone provides a secondary, audible alert
• Vacuum-assisted function of towed car is activated with air from the coach brakes
  • Less force is needed to move the brake pedal in the car, resulting in more natural braking and less risk of damage
  • Compatible with vehicles that have continuous-power-assist brakes
• Breakaway included
• System meets FMVSS safety guidelines for motorhomes that use air brakes
• Necessary installation components and an instructional CD included
• Made in the USA

Specs:

• Application: 2021 and newer Freightliner chassis motorhomes with BrakeSync
• Coiled air hose length when fully stretched: 7'
• Breakaway cable length when fully stretched: 7'
• 5-Year warranty

A supplemental braking system is a must when towing a car or truck behind your RV. Without it, the weight of the towed car can create a safety hazard, strain your RV's brakes, or affect your RV's warranty. Most states require a supplemental braking system.

Automatic, Truly Proportional Braking

Air Force One is a proportional braking system. When you apply the brakes in your motorhome, the system will engage your towed car's brakes at the same time and with the same pressure as those in your motorhome, creating synchronized braking.

To achieve this proportional braking, Air Force One ties into your coach's air brakes. The patent-pending process uses air pressure from your coach's brakes to depress the brake pedal in your towed car. The result is uniform, real-time braking that mirrors the slowing or stopping action of your coach. Whether you lightly tap the brakes in your RV or apply them hard in a panic situation, your towed car's brake pedal will be applied in the same manner.

Many other proportional systems activate the towed car's brakes based solely on inertia. With this kind of setup, any activity that affects the forward momentum of your towed car - from the coach actually braking, to driving over a pothole - can activate the supplemental braking system and apply your towed car's brakes. This potential for false braking, which can occur simply from driving over uneven terrain, can create a rough ride for you in the RV and can also wear out your towed car's brakes over time. Air Force One is different, though. Because it is tied into your coach's brakes and is not dependent on inertia, this system activates only when you apply the brakes in your RV, so there is no false braking.

Permanent Installation with Concealed Components

Once you install the Air Force One system, it stays concealed and out of your way - both in the RV and in the towed car. Unlike systems that require you to keep the actuating box under the seat or in the trunk of your towed car, Air Force One does not take up valuable storage space inside of your car. And the components that install on your RV all remain hidden beneath the vehicle so that no room is taken up in its interior either. Because the entire system installs permanently, there is no need to constantly set up and remove this system. You never have to worry about where to store a bulky actuator box when you're not towing. And while most of the components do remain on your vehicle and RV at all times, none of them will interfere with normal driving or braking.

Coach Air Connection Assembly

Because Air Force One uses air to activate, it is a natural choice for diesel motorhomes that have air brakes. The coach air connection assembly taps into your RV's air brakes and delivers the air necessary to activate the towed car's brakes through the included coiled air hose. The valves on the coach air connection assembly ensure precise airflow.

A 1-way check valve collects air from your RV's brake lines so that it can power your towed car's brakes. This pressure protection valve also ensures that your RV's air lines maintain the same amount of pressure so that the braking in your RV is not affected.

Metered air from the coach's brakes connects to a service relay valve. This relay valve collects air from your RV's brake lines so that it can power your towed car's brakes. When you activate the brakes in your RV, the delivery relay valve releases the appropriate amount of air to the operating unit in your towed car.

The coach air connection assembly is best mounted in a location on the RV where the air lines will not be near direct heat sources or moving parts, such as in front of the rear axle.

Note: Air Force One is designed for motorhomes that have air brakes, but it will also work with RVs that have air-over-hydraulic brakes. Additional parts (not included) may be required for installation on RVs with air-over-hydraulic brakes.

Operating Unit

The operating unit, which mounts in your towed car, receives air from the coach air connection assembly. The unit then diverts a matching amount of air through a hose to the actuating cylinder that mounts on your towed car's brake pedal. That air activates the cylinder so that it applies proportionate braking pressure.

The unit goes under the hood of your towed car, so it is out of your way and always ready. Because this system is a universal fit, you can remove it from your towed car and reinstall it in a different car or truck if needed.

Actuating Cylinder

The actuating cylinder depresses your towed car's brake pedal upon receiving the air that is delivered from the operating unit. This small cylinder stays mounted on the arm of your towed car's brake pedal at all times and will not interfere with braking while driving.

Mount this cylinder so that it is perpendicular to the firewall when you depress the brake pedal. A clamp anchors the actuator to the firewall.

To connect the actuating cylinder to the operating unit, you will need to run the included air hose through your towed car's firewall. You can usually create the necessary, small opening without drilling. In most instances, you can cut a slit in the hood release cable grommet. Simply cut the end of the air line at an angle to poke it through the slit.

Coiled Air Hose Connection

The coiled air hose, also called a jumper, connects your towed car to your RV by connecting the operating unit to the coach air assembly. When you are ready to hitch up your car and tow it, simply hook up the coiled air hose at the same time as you hook up your tow bar.

Vacuum Pressure Creates Smooth Braking

Normally, when you activate the brakes in your vehicle, a vacuum multiplies the pressure you apply to your brake pedal, creating the force necessary to stop the full weight of the moving car. On most cars and trucks, this vacuum-assist function does not work when the engine is off. As a result, many supplemental braking systems on the market have to use an excessive amount of pressure to effectively depress the towed car's brake pedal.

Air Force One reactivates the vacuum-assist function of your car's brakes when it's being towed, even though the towed car's engine is not running. As a result, the actuating cylinder does not need to apply extreme force to the brake pedal to achieve proper braking. The operating unit ties into your towed car's vacuum line with a tee so that it can use the air pressure from your RV to create the vacuum your car needs to brake gently. As a result, no additional vacuum pump is required to create the vacuum-assist function for your towed car's brake pedal. Air Force One will replenish your towed car's vacuum after each braking event so that you will get smooth, even braking every time.

Built-In Safety Features

Included is the wireless Coachlink for safety and peace of mind. This monitor, mounted on the dashboard of the RV, will light up whenever your toad is actively braking and give off a short audible alert. With the monitor right in view, it's 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 where the system is activating without the toad braking, or even that the brakes are staying on continuously 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 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 is wired into 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, causing a signal to be sent to the operating unit. A reserve air supply will then apply your towed car's brakes. This system also has "total coach protection" built in. If there is separation, the RV's air supply is sealed off, so its brakes will continue to function as normal.

Air Force One meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) guidelines requiring that supplemental braking systems use a separate air supply and activation relay valve.

9599020 Demco SBS - (Formerly SMI) Air Force One Supplemental Proportional Braking System for Freightliner Chassis Motorhomes with Brake Sync

Installation Details