Recommended Supplemental Braking System for a Towed Vehicle that is Reliable and Easy to Install

Updated 04/05/2016 | Published 04/02/2016

Question:

I just purchased from you the roadmaster towbar, base plate and hopkins brake light wiring harness. All that went well and I installed it myself. Now I need to decide regarding a braking system for the towed vehicle a 2015 Jeep Wrangler. I am 70 years old and money is important but so is safety. The invisibrake system was recommended to me and I can see its merits. However, after installing the base plate and other items mentioned above, I just dont think I can do the work required and my trusted local RV center wants $1000 labor to install it. I shy away from the in ahead of the seat models primarily because of the wireless aspect. I am a Ham Radio operator and know well the limitations of the power and frequencies used for these wireless systems, My questions are: 1 Do the in models work reliably? 2 If I went with the invisibrake unit, can I put the indicator light on the dash of the Jeep so that I can see it in the rearview camera instead of running a wire all the way to the dash of the motorhome. Lastly, given the above which system do you recommend??

asked by: Don A

Helpful Expert Reply:

For ease of install and reliability the Blue Ox Patriot part # BLU37TR is the one I recommend. You should note that the only thing wireless about this system is the signal that gets sent back to the tow vehicle to let you know it's operating and if you want to tweak the gain of the unit. Blue Ox states that you don't have to install the wireless remote if you don't want to and it will still work fine. So basically you wouldn't be leaving the operation of your towed vehicles brakes up to a wireless signal. The unit in the towed vehicle does all of the activation by itself. I attached a picture I grabbed from the install instructions for you to check out that details this.

The Invisibrake is a fantastic system, but the install is quite involved. Based on what you mentioned I don't think this would be the route to go with.

I also attached an install video that shows this getting installed in a similar 2014 Wrangler for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C