Is Additional Stoplight Switch Required When Installing Hopkins Brake Buddy

Updated 04/23/2019 | Published 04/22/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Roadmaster Stop Light Switch Kit - GM Pickups/SUVs w/Adjustable Pedals

(626)

$48.10

Brake Buddy Stealth Supplemental Braking System - Proportional

(98)

$1077.23

Roadmaster Universal Braking Monitor for Flat Tow Brake Systems

(19)

$205.17

Question:

I was wanting to install this kit in conjunction with my Brake Buddy by Hopkins to insure that my tow vehicle 2008 Suburban brakes were not inadvertently being applied by mispositioning of the brake buddy or other problems, hopefully avoiding ruining my brakes if they were to be lightly applied while towing unbeknownst to me. Can one somehow connect the wire that is energized by depressing the brakes to the brake buddy thus sending a signal to the receiver in the motorhome or must one run a wire the length of the motorhome to carry the signal to an indicator lamp installed in the dash? If I understand it correctly the brake buddy transmits a signal wirelessly to the motorhome receiver regarding the application of the brakes when triggered by deceleration of the vehicles but not if the brakes were inadvertently applied for some reason. Thanks for your help!

asked by: Lance

Expert Reply:

The Hopkins Brake Buddy systems like the Stealth part # HM39530 that we carry come with a stoplight switch for the activation of the system. The brakes of the tow vehicle will have to apply for the system to activate and start activating the brakes of the towed vehicle. There would be no need to also install an additional stoplight switch.

If you wanted a monitor to allow you to know when the brakes are being applied you'd then want the part # RM-9530 which gives you a monitor you can mount in the interior of you tow vehicle.

expert reply by: Jameson C