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  1. Tow Bar Braking Systems
  2. Ford
  3. Flex
  4. 2018
  5. Roadmaster
FITS 2018 Ford Flex
Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System

Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System

Item # RM-8700
Retail:$1,315.00
Our Price: $1,002.44
You Save: $312.56
Tow Bar Braking Systems
Confirmed to Fit
2018 Ford Flex

All models using RM-751485

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Shipping Weight: 16 lbs
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Product Expert Mike S

Is this right for you? Product Expert Mike S says:

Yes, if you:

  • Don’t have time to waste setting up a portable system before every trip
  • Want to know when your towed vehicle’s brakes are being applied
  • Want complete control over when your towed vehicle’s brakes activate

No, if you:

  • Are typically a DIYer, but don't want to have to deal with a more complicated install
The best technical support and full tow bar braking systems installation instructions. Great price Flex tow bar braking systems and expert service. Ford Flex, 2018 tow bar braking systems by Roadmaster are available from etrailer.com. For expert service call 1-800-940-8924 to order your Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System part number RM-8700, or order online at etrailer.com.
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  • Reviews (180)
  • Q & A (0)
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  • Why etrailer?

2018 Ford Flex - Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System

  • Brake Systems
  • Hydraulic Brakes
  • Air Brakes
  • Pre-Set System
  • Fixed System
  • Roadmaster
  • Power Assist Brake Compatible

Get automatic, real-time braking in your towed Ford Flex 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.


Features:

  • Braking system activates brakes on towed vehicle when you engage the brakes in your RV
    • Cable pulley tugs towed car's brake pedal gently, gradually and with balanced pressure when brakes are applied in RV
  • Permanent installation - nothing to remove or disconnect
    • Actuator box mounts out of the way - typically beneath the driver's seat
  • One-time setup - no need to readjust or continuously activate
    • System automatically functions when connected to RV
    • Braking pressure does not have to be readjusted after initial setup
  • Compatible with hybrids and other continuous-power-assist automobiles
    • Braking pressure can be adjusted from 5 psi to 80 psi so that an appropriate amount is applied
  • No false braking - activates only when RV brake lights are illuminated
  • Integrated battery protection
    • Bypasses 12V outlet - connects directly to towed car's battery and constantly charges battery when you are towing
    • Provides a trickle charge to the vehicle battery if the running lights are on on the tow vehicle
  • 2-Stage motor home monitor has audible and visual warnings
    • LED monitor illuminates when towed car's brakes are activated
    • Audible alert lets you know if brakes have been activated for too long (approximately 20 seconds)
      • System automatically begins to release pressure after 15 seconds of continuous braking
  • Emergency breakaway device included
  • Made in the USA


Specs:

  • Controller box dimensions: 8-3/4" long x 8-3/4" wide x 2-3/4" tall
  • Power draw: 6 mA - 10.8 amps
  • Maximum braking pressure: 80 psi
  • Limited lifetime warranty


Note: This product does not work on vehicles with a non-electric hydroboost braking system.


When using TrailerMate wiring with the InvisiBrake, it will be necessary to purchase an additonal two diodes, (RM-792 - sold separately), to prevent the towed vehicle's brake signal from back-feeding into the InvisiBrake system and activating it when attempting to drive the vehicle.


Fully Automatic Braking Action

Wire the InvisiBrake into your vehicle, connecting it to the battery and electrical harness, and you never have to remove it. When you're ready to tow your car, just connect the it to your RV via the included electrical cable, and the system is ready to go.


The InvisiBrake is designed to activate the brakes in your towed car upon receiving a signal from your RV that the motor home's brakes have been applied. This signal is sent via the wiring harness whenever the RV's brake lights are illuminated. This way, you get real-time braking action, ensuring that your towed car brakes at the same time and for the same duration as the brakes in your RV. In addition, there will be no false braking when you hit bumps or potholes.


Adjustable Pressure Settings

The braking pressure of the InvisiBrake can be adjusted from 5 psi to 80 psi depending on your individual application and preferences. Typically, a braking system has to apply an extreme amount of force to activate the towed car's brakes because the vacuum-assist function of the brakes is not active when the ignition is off. This excessive pressure would cause damage to your car if it had "active" brakes. Because this system lets you adjust the braking pressure to a comparatively minimal amount, you can use it on automobiles that have continuous-power-assist brakes, such as Hummers and hybrids, without having to worry about any potential damage.


The pressure setting needs to be adjusted only once, during the initial installation, at which point you can test the system at different settings to determine which feels best. Once the setting is determined, it does not have to be readjusted, so your system is always ready to go.


Permanent, Out-of-the-Way Installation

Most often, the InvisiBrake actuator box installs beneath the front seat of your towed car, neatly tucked away so that you won't see it and it won't take up any storage space in your vehicle. You can, however, install it anywhere in your towed car that is convenient for you, as long as you can still access the adjustment knob.


A bracket and cable pulley will install on the arm of your vehicle's brake pedal. This will not interfere with normal braking function and does not have to be adjusted, removed or activated. The entire system can stay in your car year 'round, waiting for those times when you need to tow. And once you do hook up your car to your RV in preparation for towing, the system will function automatically.



8700 Road Master Invisi-Brake Tow Bar Braking System

Installation Details RM-8700 Installation instructions

Customer Satisfaction Score:


Customer Reviews

Roadmaster InvisiBrake Supplemental Braking System - RM-8700

Average Customer Rating:  4.8 out of 5 stars   (180 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.

by:

The installation went as planned. All parts fit and worked the first time.




by:

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.




by:

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.




by:

etrailer is awesome to deal with, very knowledgeable and helpful. We would highly recommend this company for sales and installation.




by:

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.




by:

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!




by:
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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.




by:

Works great after I finally got it installed (see review on wiring harness)




by:
2009 Subaru Forester

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.




by:
Jeep Grand Cherokee

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.




by:

The unit does make noise when you get on the brakes while driving the tow vehicle.you get used to it after a while.




by:

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.




by:

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




by:
2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

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.


Comments
Thanks for the feedback and review Ken. I wanted to let you know that I have included a link to one of our installation videos and at about the 15 minute mark there are some details about installing the monitoring system in the RV.
-- Etrailer Expert Rachael H - 09/01/2017
A year later and Im still in love with the Roadmaster tow bar & base plate and InvisiBrake braking system. We just got back from a road trip that started around Seattle down to Bryce canyon and back. The tow bar and brake system worked flawlessly, I could not be more pleased. Also, recently I traded in the first Jeep that I installed this system on for a newer Jeep. Knowing that I would be towing the new Jeep as well, I wanted to uninstall the base plate and brake system from my old Jeep and reinstall them on the new. The process went very well, actually faster than the first time I installed it. So, bottom line is that Im very pleased with this set up and would recommend it highly.
Ken K - 09/01/2018


by:
2016 Jeep Wrangler

I have not used it yet but the mechanic who installed said it is the best system avaible.




by:
2014 Honda CR-V

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!


Comments
Excellent! Have used it towing my CRV on two 2,ooo mile trips since installation. Works very well
G.D. - 08/23/2016


by:
2013 Subaru Forester

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.




by:
Jeep

Nice product and simple to install should be easy to use. I installed under the seat of my 99 jeep wrangler




by:

Works great! Just the wireless extra piece separate from this had to be reset.




by:

good product.no problems




by:

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.


Comments
Most excellent products and customer service. I had purchased a few different items from eTrailer and found that there were a couple of missing items. Without question or hesitation, they were in shipping and satisfying my problem. After I got into the project, I found the missing items and notified eTrailer of my error. I cannot say enough good things which describes the excellent customer service, product knowledge and assistance they offer their customers and potential customers.
Guy L - 08/10/2020


by:
2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

It 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!


Comments
Perfect operation still to this day!
Doug S - 04/21/2020


by:

Install 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.




by:
2014 Honda CR-V

This 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.




by:
2022 Ford Maverick

Very quick order response.


Comments
Still works great
David - 10/20/2022

25
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