Product Specs:
Tow Bar Braking Systems
Brake Systems
Proportional System
Hydraulic Brakes
Power Assist Brake Compatible
One Time Set-Up
Fixed System
Demco
Get automatic, proportional braking with a system that never has to be removed, replaced, or reset. The DUO activates when your RV's brake lights go on and an inertia sensor in the towed car detects deceleration. No false braking.
Video of Demco SBS Stay-IN-Play DUO Supplemental Braking System - Proportional
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (402 Customer Reviews)
Get automatic, proportional braking with a system that never has to be removed, replaced, or reset. The DUO activates when your RV's brake lights go on and an inertia sensor in the towed car detects deceleration. No false braking.Haven't actually had the chance to tow behind yet so this is just for the install. It took me quite a long time to install but, that's not the products fault. Everything you need to do the job is included.
I only give it 4 stars because the system uses the towed vehicles battery to activate the vacuum/compressor pump, so it would be possible to run the battery down as there is no charge circuit from the towing vehicle. I did choose to add one though. Other than that I'm sure it'll work fine. It was installed on a 1983 Vanagon.
David - 10/21/2021
One year and oner12k miles the DemcoStay-In-Play has worked flawlessly in our 2020 Ford Edge ST. This includes a trip to Colorado and PA. Highly recommend and etrailer is great to do business with.
had to make a bracket for under driver seat because the e brake would not allow the g-force controller to be place on the side panel.
the wires had to be extended to reach up to the controller in the engine compartment. Used a piece of aluminum plate to make a bracket mounted on strut frame that can easily be moved for other maintenance
Installation was challenging. If you're not comfortable with working on vehicles, I would recommend you let a pro handle it. We installed on a Fiat 500, and the biggest issue was that there was very little room to work with. They include plenty of wire, hose, and connectors, but it would be better if they included shrinkable butt connectors since a lot of the wiring takes place in the engine compartment. Breakaway switch mounts horizontally, so you may need a 90-degree angle bracket to adapt from your base plate. For a Fiat, we needed to purchase a separate brake light switch because it isn't practical to wire into the car's switch. I also wish that the kit included a charging cable because the braking system runs off of battery power, and it will likely drain on long trips.
Once installed, this is an elegant solution. Just turn on the switch, hook up, and go. Tons of up-front work for an easy breezy payoff over time.
After watching the excellent installation video I had very little trouble installing this product. I like the fact that it is a stay-in-play system that literally requires only the flip of a switch to activate. The major components are all installed out of the way, yet are still easily accessible. As for the braking system itself, I find it operationally excellent and believe this product choice was a great one.
Thanks to installation videos provided by etrailer, I felt confident that I could do the install myself. I had never pulled off moldings and panels in a car before, but with your videos as guidance , it was a breeze. This system was going into a 2016 Ford Edge 3.5L AWD and your (and SMI's) instructions call for installation of 2 check valves. After calling SMI to clarify the install points, it got even easier, as only one valve is required, and is ridiculously simple to install it. No cutting of original car hoses required (see photo). After everything was installed, the whole setup just simply worked, no troubleshooting required. That was fun and it is totally doable, even for the average guy like myself.
Herbert M - 07/13/2018I purchased my first Demco stay-in-play braking system about five years ago and installed it on a 2017 Chevy Colorado. I removed it when I purchased my new 2021 Chevy Colorado and installed it on it. That Demco braking system is still working great. I recommended the Demco braking system to my son in-law for his 2021 Jeep Gladiator ( which I installed for him ) and he is real happy with it. I just purchased my Second Demco braking system and I installed it on a 2018 Jeep Wrangler and it is working great. If you watch the videos and follow the instructions and have a variety of tools you can install it yourself. Of course my third install was the easiest. All three tow bars and Demco braking was purchased at etrailer. After the first order I placed with etrailer went so smoothly, I will not call anyone else for RV parts. There employees have been fantastic to work with.
I feel that service is the most important, I received my order when told I would get it and pricing is great.
Thanks for the Great Service etrailer. J Rinaldi
I chose to go with this unit because I didn't like the idea of the other types that mash the brake pedal without any vacuum assist & the fact that you have to remove, then reinstall them each time you want to use the car.
This ended up TOUGH install. Not because of the unit, but rather the lack of ANY room under the hood on my 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon to mount the operating unit. The only place I could find that would be out of the way was under the driver's seat of all places! Luckily there was JUST enough hose with the unit to reach all the way to the brake booster. I had to cut the carpeting so the seat would clear the operating unit during movement without any chance of contact. There was no hole in the firewall large enough to accommodate the hose so I had to drill a hole for that although I was able to route the wiring through a small rubber grommet. Routing the hose to the firewall was a real challenge! I ended up running it through the heater duct under the driver's floor mat to the left side kick panel, then up over the pedals keeping clear of any moving parts. WHEW!!
The brake pedal actuator went on without much fuss, although with my large feet I have noticed I'll catch the actuator with my toe on occasion. I may mark the location it's in now & merely raise it up a tab in between trips.
The wiring was pretty much straight forward, there was plenty of included wire & I had JUST enough room tho mount the G-Force Controller on the left kick panel covering without interfering with my feet.
The breakaway switch I fastened to the body in front & below the radiator.
I read where everyone was saying you need to have a battery cut-off device to keep the braking system from draining the battery over time, but I had power from the RV keeping the battery fresh so I didn't worry about that & saved myself the $180 for the cost of an automatic battery disconnect.
After installation, I sat in the car while we towed it around the neighborhood to see how it worked & made the necessary adjustments to the G-Force Controller. Now THAT was weird! What with the car steering itself & braking too.
We just got back from a 4,000+ mile trip & everything worked fine. On occasion I forgot to flip the switch to turn the system off, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference.
All in all a great system!
Love it, Love it, Love it! Everything is hidden away, and even under hard braking, my 1/2 pick-up brakes come on as needed and there is no forward push on my motorhome.
Works great! I would buy it again. Tow a 2021 Jeep Wrangler, 5400 lb., And glad to have the braking help, especially in the mountains. Low maintenance, no complicated wiring between motorhome and Jeep.
2013 Jeep Wrangler Sport. No surprises. Some cramped work at brakes pedal. Fit the operating box over the battery with foam on the bottom and screwed to plastic bracket. No rattles. Wiring and hoses were not complicated, but take care and time. Fired on first pull. Take time with the wiring. Routing is important for a clean installation. Took about 4 hours, but i was not in a hurry.
Michael - 03/31/2022 I installed this in a 2012 mini Cooper S. With the turbo charger there is no room in the engine compartment for the system unit, so I mounted it under the passenger seat. I had to remove the seat, cut out the carpet, mount the unit, and then buy longer seat attachment bolts. I used half inch thick spacers between the seat track in the floorboard. Made a long run for the vacuum hose to get up to the engine compartment through the firewall. By removing the cowling on the driver side, it exposes a huge Gromit where the main wiring harness passes through the firewall. It actually had two nipples ready to be cut off to run the vacuum hose and the wires through — so that part was pretty easy.
I haven’t towed it behind the motorhome yet, but it passed all the start up tests the first time!
After doing much research and reading many reviews and watching a lot of your instructional videos I chose the Stay-in-Play Duo. It came complete with instructions and extra parts for any application. I like the fact that after everything is installed it is just a matter of flipping a switch and checking it out and drive off. I mounted it in a 2018 Jeep wrangler, not very much room for the operating unit, but I I went off of one of your videos on a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and mounted it underneath above the cross frame below and behind the radiator but still protected from the elements. Not a lot of room under the dash either, but everything is in and looks great and ready for the 1st trip.
It wasn't easy to get everything installed in a way that looked neat and professional but in the end the ease with which you can hook up the car and start towing makes it worth it. I bought a replacement factory vacuum pump line so that I didn't have to worry about ruining the original one and as a result the installation looks that much better. Literally all I have to do is flip a switch once the car is connected and I'm ready to go. Given a second opportunity to do the installation I would mount the LED light strip vertically on the backside of the rear view mirror to make it a bit more visible but other than that, I'm happy with how it turned out and the system works great.
1950's technology that sort of works. Really no way to fine tune the braking pressure in spite of the sliding screw "adjustment". I tow a Jeep Wrangler 4 door. I have towed it with and without this system. There is some difference but not at all like having electric trailer brakes that you can test and modulate from the cab.
Jenny N - 03/14/2022I personally installed this on my 2020 Jeep Wrangler and have towed it using this braking system over 4K miles and have had zero issues. Would definitely recommend! The installation instructions were well written and included an easy to read wiring diagram making is easy to install and the very knowledgeable etrailer support was a bonus too!
SMI Stay in Play Duo installation in 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited –
Packaging was great with everything needed included plus extra items for various installation methods of you’re choosing. Upon initial investigation and survey, everything except the CD Information pack was accounted for.
No big deal, as I had previously watched 2 different Youtube installations found on the internet. In fact, the internet videos were what I used as my step by step installation process, and the written instructions were only used for concerns where the video may not have been as clear as I had hoped for.
Understanding that everyone has their own style and methods for doing this project, I purposely was not in a hurry to rush through it. All in all, I took @ 8 hours to install the Adapter 4 to 6 pole #30637, the EZMount Tow lights Kit, and the Stay in Play Duo Braking System.
I choose the EZMount because I didn’t want to mess around with the OEM taillights and wiring. Magnetic lights don’t work so well on composite tops and I didn’t want to stick them to the sides of te Jeep, so I modified the EZ mount to wrap around the thickness of the rear glass hatch on both sides. I added a 2”x 4” pc of Velcro on the inside of the glass hatch and the mating surface of the plastic light housing - to hold the lamps in place until the rear gate was closed.
I ran the wire harness on the inside under the trim all the way up to the front and through the grommet in the firewall. The flat 4 wire was routed and secured up to the Adapter 4 pole to 6 pole that I had fastened to the Blue Ox base plate.
The actual installation of the SMI unit and assorted parts went rather smoothly. Most difficult issue was the lack of working space in front of the driver’s seat area. Installing the screw that holds the G force controller on the front (the side towards the front of the car) was difficult as it was almost a blind installation due to lack of room. The nut and fender washer used through the fire wall for attaching the air cylinder cable bracket was a challenge to reach - tight fit with not much room for one's hand and arm.
Other than that, no big surprises – just a lot of tedious steps to do when you want to be sure that it is being installed properly – take your time and don’t be in a hurry.
Once everything was installed – it all worked when I checked the system out. The only thing that may seem a bit odd is that when setting the G force initially, the compressor will shut off while adjusting per instructions. To do this initial adjustment, the wife stepped on the brake in the Motorhome, with the switch “On”. The compressor starts, and the brake is pushed down by the Air Cylinder, at which time I slowly adjusted the G force until the compressor shuts off. I secured the adjusting bolt and I told the wife to take her foot off the brake and then re-apply them. The compressor did not start again and the air cylinder did not apply the brakes in the Jeep. After setting the G force per instructions, the unit didn't turn on when the brakes in the Motorhome were applied - but since we were not moving - all I can assume is that the brake system will function while slowing down once the accelerometer setting (the sensitivity setting on the G force box) has been met. I assume that the sensitivity setting method includes a way to ensure the Jeep brakes are not engaged too frequently and only until needed.
This is the only step that is a tad bit confusing without an explanation as to what to expect once the G force sensitivity is set.
Lastly, I checked the brake away switch and it turned the compressor on and applied the brakes as expected.
Overall - the installation went rather smoothly. Can't wait to see how the product works once we hit the road. I'll check back and provide an update later.
Mike A - 10/23/2018Install is a project. Had a couple of questions during installation. etrailer folks are very knowledgeable and helpful. There was one question they could not answer, and the tech gave me Demco's number, and Demco cleared up my issue quickly. I had hard time deciding on placement of Stay-n-play operating box(not much room in engine compartment on 2021 Jeep Wrangler). Choose to install on top of fuse box. Worked well.
I selected this item as an alternative to braking systems that sit in front of the driver seat and must be put in and taken out each time it is used. I like the fact that it is nearly undetectable once installed and works seamlessly. On installation the most difficult part was drilling the holes to screw the unit under the driver seat. The carpet being the primary problem in my experience, as it bound up around the drill bit.
Outstanding product and even better customer service! Two backyard mechanics installed baseplate and braking system with just one call to confirm proper wire connection. Total package works great.
It won’t work on our car because once the brake is engaged, it kicks the transmission out of tow mode. Not sure what to do now.
Jenny N - 03/16/2023Very happy with the way this turned out. Video was very helpful. Only thing I didn't really care for was the red LED that was to be mounted on mirror. Purchased a red LED light at parts store and mounted in grill, see picture, using alternate connection. Much easier to connect and much easier to see in RV camera.
This braking system has worked very well and is effortless to enable and disable. One thing I would encourage users to do is to determine all accessories that will be needed for the install (I.e. brake light relay, indicator light on coach dash, wiring kit, etc). Pulling all of the needed wires thru the firewall at one time is much easier. Don’t ask how I know this LOL
I would recommend this product
I have not actually tried it on the road, but it activates as advertised. Thus only 4 stars. It replaced an old Cumbersome Brake Buddy. Working under the dash was the most difficult part. The LED notification lite does not work the wire is very flimsy. Will update when I get on the road.
We’re rookie RV ers. I called etrailer on Monday and worked with Melissa T. To put together a order for the parts and wiring needed to flat tow a vehicle behind our RV. I thought we need 3 items but Melissa was very knowledgeable and walked me through what we would need. She explained what everything was and suggested alternatives. I felt comfortable working with Melissa and would recommend her to others! On Thursday I received my order confirmation via email and about 15 minutes later, UPS delivered my order. Placed order on Monday and had it in my hands on Thursday. Not bad!
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Product Specs:
Tow Bar Braking Systems
Brake Systems
Pre-Set System
Hydraulic Brakes
Air Brakes
Power Assist Brake Compatible
One Time Set-Up
Fixed System
Roadmaster
Get automatic, real-time braking in your towed vehicle with the InvisiBrake. Actuator box installs permanently so that you never have to remove, adjust or reactivate. System connects to RV and engages car brakes when the RV brake lights illuminate.
Video of Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (179 Customer Reviews)
Get automatic, real-time braking in your towed vehicle with the InvisiBrake. Actuator box installs permanently so that you never have to remove, adjust or reactivate. System connects to RV and engages car brakes when the RV brake lights illuminate.The installation went as planned. All parts fit and worked the first time.
Purchased this braking system and installed on 2005 Jeep Wrangler and towed for over 3000 miles with no issue. Uninstalled and reinstalled on a 2016 Jeep Wrangler this fall. By far, the best supplemental braking system we’ve ever used.
2021 Ford Ranger. The installation is not really technically challenging, but there are a lot of steps and you need to twist yourself under the dash for quite a bit of it. The main installation comment I would have is assume you are going to drill a hole in the firewall for the wires/air hose. Using the existing grommets is more work/risk than it is worth. There were several videos, but none specifically for my vehicle and I would have liked the specific detail on the air connection. We have about 800 miles towing with it so far and it definitely it helps with stopping, plus the break-away safety is good peace of mind.
Happy so far. I wouldn’t say installation is difficult but it did take me some time. Unit just barely fits under the drivers seat of my ‘03 TJ so it is out of the way. Does take away leg room from the rear passenger but who rides in the back of a TJ right? I did have to fab up some spacers for the clip that holds the brake cable due to the fact that the firewall of my TJ has a ridge right where it needed to be mounted.
The ordering process was easy and convenient. The free shipping was awesome, and the product was delivered in less than a week. I am sure the product is great but am in the process of installing the base plates and tow bar. The Invisibrake and wiring will come later. Great job Etrailer!
Good quality materials.
Fast delivery
Good price.
Complicated install. 16 hours labor for me to install toad portion, including bulb kit. 8 hours to install indicator light/warning beeper in RV. Worth the one time effort for me to not have to set and remove floor mounted brake system each time I want to drive the toad.
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee with electric drivers seat. Controller would not fit under drivers seat, installed in cargo area behind rear seat. Good instructions for install.
Kit included everything I needed. Due to controller placement, the controller power leads were not long enough. Air line to air cylinder connection was difficult to get right. Was not as "sure" as air line to controller. Took 3 attempts to get it to not leak.
Overall a good product, I expect it will last a long time and be very reliable.
Works great after I finally got it installed (see review on wiring harness)
I would highly NOT recommend the Invisibrake system if you are installing it yourself unless you are young and have a minimum of a Masters Degree in Automotive Engineering.
Permanent installation looks and works great. Simply connect to the tow vehicle and ready to go…every time! The only issue I see is the Jeeps brakes seem to lose vacuum as the brake pedal is “hard” to push after sitting overnight.
The unit does make noise when you get on the brakes while driving the tow vehicle.you get used to it after a while.
Works well and installation went well but if not familiar with electrical wiring and general vehicle knowledge I would suggest having someone install for you.
A little more difficult than others to install but definitely worth the money. The only thing I noticed is every couple of hookup’s you need to pump the brakes once to activate the system
The product arrived within a reasonable amount of time. Instruction for installation was pretty good between both what came with the kit and the video etrailer web site. For the most part the installation went well but there are a few things I would like to comment on, and they are:
1) The self tapping screws to install the control unit to the floor of my towed vehicle were too short to get through the carpeting and into the sheet metal with enough bite to hold. Instead I used longer 1/4 - 20 bolts.
2) The vacuum check valve came apart while I was pushing it into the brake vacuum line. I was able to not lose the rubber membrane inside and used super glue to put it back together. I tested it and is working fine but I did order another check valve to the tune of [a few extra] more dollars.
3) It would have been nice to have the etrailer video show something on where to hook up the "Monitor System" from the towed vehicle. It took some doing but I was able to locate the brake switch and tap into the cold side for the signal.
Although I haven't put any miles on this system yet my test of it went well.
Rachael H - 09/01/2017 Ken K - 09/01/2018I have not used it yet but the mechanic who installed said it is the best system avaible.
Great product. Only used for small sub-50 mile trips so far, but working as advertised.
Take the installation slowly, watch the video for your car several times. The hardest parts for me were running the wires through my Subaru's firewall and into the engine compartment (I used the firewall on the side that comes out inside the driver's wheel well), and screwing the pulley pivot point to my car because of the tight space.
Do yourself a HUGE favor and guy purchase some good lath self-drilling screws 3/4" and 1" should be long enough. The wimpy dinky screws that came with the package weren't good enough to driving into my Subaru's flooring. Spent several frustrating hours trying to get them in, before giving up and purchasing these other screws and being done in minutes.
Installed in a 2014 CRV. Worst part was getting all the wiring and under the door sill trim panel and routed up through the firewall into the engine compartment, and getting the cable and pulley installed up to the brake pedal. Pretty crowded under the dash in a CRV (my ribs are still sore)! had to use a different clamp on the vacuum cylinder because I had to move it forward of where the video showed in order for the cable to reach the mounting location under the dash. Had to clamp it around the larger end of the cylinder and the supplied clamp would not fit around the larger diameter end. Maybe Roadmaster has shortened the cable? Haven't tested yet but have high hopes! I used the videos extensively, and couldn't have done it myself without them! Not bad for a 72 year old!
G.D. - 08/23/2016Nice product and simple to install should be easy to use. I installed under the seat of my 99 jeep wrangler
good product.no problems
Works great! Just the wireless extra piece separate from this had to be reset.
This review is more for eTrailer than the product RM-8700, which is a great product as well. I will be submitting further reviews as I install the device.
If you want to work with a knowledgeable staff, one that actually listens to your needs and not a company that simply sells a product just to get numbers. Deal with eTrailer.
If your RV has any need these guys know or will find out (as long as its in their area of expertise) and get back to you. They carry great products, they ship as promised and they stand behind what they sell. I highly recommend eTrailer.
Guy L - 08/10/2020It was not too difficult to install if you have basic mechanical and electrical knowledge. After a year owning it and using, I can while heartedly say this is an EXCELLENT PRODUCT. I never had a breakaway to really test it, thank God, but the peace of mind knowing it’s there is tremendous!
Doug S - 04/21/2020Install was fairly reasonable and the videos were spot on. After 1 year, it is still going strong and the system sits under the seat and out of the way. Hook the car up to the RV and it works without worry.
Very quick order response.
David - 10/20/2022This was part of many Roadmaster components I ordered from etrailer.com to set up my 2014 Honda CRV as a toad. Etrailer's website is excellent and their review videos and installation videos are very helpful. Their tech service department is excellent as well.
Regarding the Roadmaster Invisibrake, I chose this unit because I did not want anything visible nor any connections to make when setting up to tow or disconnecting. The control unit is hidden under the driver's seat and hardware under the door trim panels. I varied slightly from the etrailer's video in where I mounted the locking clamp and pulley (I did not put the clamp on the raised emergency brake bracket because it was slightly out of line to the pulley that was mounted flush on the floor). Because I choose to route the separate lighting kit wiring on the inside of the vehicle... along the same trim panels and rear trim panels, this made a very convenient place to splice into the wiring next to the Invisibrake control box...nice and protected. The alternative locations of splicing into the lighting wiring harness is under the vehicle....not an ideal place because of road salt, grime and pinch points. I also used the lighting kit with separate bulbs to not interfere with the already installed trailer harness kit for the Honda trailer hitch, nor having to deal with diodes.
The Invisibrake works well. I used the extra blue wire in the connecting tow bar wiring harness (7 pin to 6 pin), and the unused brake controller wire in the motorhome that runs to the dash of the motorhome, to operate the signal light. Works great and looks neat.
I would recommend that Roadmaster provide some sort of adjustment of the cable at the air cylinder in future generations of this product if possible. This would help on shortening the distance between the mounting clamp and pulley in cases where there is not much room (like in this Honda). Because the only way of taking up the slack now is the combination of the clamp and pulley locations, it somewhat restricts the options on mounting locations and may make some extra work. Regardless of this suggestion, I like the design and initial quality of the Invisibrake and would recommend this unit to anyone wishing to install a supplemental braking system. This does take some pretty good mechanical skills and body contortions to install but if you have that ability...I recommend this unit to the serious do it yourselfer. Otherwise, have a pro install it.
I do virtually all my own maintenance on all 7 of my vehicles. This installation is not conceptually difficult, but working under the dash of a Jeep Wrangler is literally painful. The hardest part is figuring out where to mount the controller and route the brake cable. My Jeep is not the same as the video and I needed to install it a little differently. Take your time here and get it right the first time.
I made several modifications to the standard installation - including hooking all the signals (including the Monitor) from my truck camper to my towed Jeep through a 7-Pin RV connector and hooking the power to the Invisibrake through a switch to the battery so I don't have to run my Parking Lights to power the controller. I had a couple questions that the folks at Roadmaster answered cheerfully and professionally.
BTW Etrailer is a pleasure to do business with.
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