How Does The Blue Ox Patriot Know When To Apply The Brakes On A 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Updated 10/06/2020 | Published 10/05/2020

Question:

I have a 2017 jeep Rubicon limited recon edition. I would like to no what signals the patriot to brake on the jeep when being towed.

asked by: Carl S

Expert Reply:

The Blue Ox Patriot Portable Braking System - Proportional Item # BLU37TR uses an inertia sensor inside the main unit. If you apply the brakes gently in the RV, your 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is naturally going to lean more onto the front wheels. The inertia sensor inside the unit recognizes that and applies the appropriate amount of braking to the towed vehicle. If you are in an emergency situation and had to stand on the brake pedal to stop or slow down quickly, the Jeep again is naturally going to lean more on the front wheels. The inertia sensor is going to recognize how fast or how much the vehicle is leaning and apply the brakes accordingly so the jeep can slow and stop itself. There are settings on the controller for brake pressure. If you set it higher, when the inertia sensor feels the vehicle leaning forward it could apply the brakes faster and with more pressure than needed and could actually pull on the RV. This will wear out your brakes on the jeep. On a jeep wrangler unlimited you would probably want to set the braking pressure around 4 and test it out. Make a few slow stops and a few quick stops. If you feel the jeep pulling on the RV lower the pressure. If you feel the RV is slowing and stopping both and it feels like the jeep is pushing the RV then increase the pressure. The ideal setting is not to feel the jeep behind you slowing down or stopping. Each vehicle should be able to slow and stop itself.

expert reply by: Shane H