[Archived]

*IF* they have installed them on other air brake coaches, they should be able to do it on yours. There is not much difference in the systems. Just make sure they follow the instructions, and if they are not sure, call SMI. They have a very good help line.

Also make sure that they protect the air lines running to the back, and don’t just let them hang. Secure them on the way to the back. This is where we mounted the tank and valve on my 2006 chassis XLII. You can put it any place where it fits, but this was easy and made checking it’s condition simple.

[jack]

Mark,

Thanks for the input…makes me feel a little better. Did you run a line to the front of the coach for the monitor?

[Dean]

No. SMI did my install in my 2010 Tahoe. They put in an air switch in the Tahoe that triggered a small LED they stuck on the back of the rear view mirror with velcro. I could easily see it in the backup camera. The Tahoe does not have power to the brake lights when off, so they couldn’t tap into that circuit to power the LED. They just used a small, cheap air switch and wired it up to the Tahoe’s battery with the brake-away and it worked great. I don’t know why anyone would run wiring all the way to the front of the bus for that little LED. You need to have power for the brake-away anyway, so it was much easier, and one less connection to the bus. When I moved the system to my 2012 Tahoe, I put the LED on top of the dash. It was just as easy to see, and no wire dangling from the mirror.

I don’t have that vehicle any longer, and am not currently using the AF-1, but I still have it on the bus if I ever get another toad I want to install the AF-1 on.

[John]

John,

Take a look at M & G also, they work great.

M & G

[Larry & Diane]

We have the M&G and love it… big advantage too was they are located 80 miles from us and really awesome people to work with… they do it all Base plates… Blueox.. whatever you need and VERY reasonable !!

[Archived]

There are other much simplier braking systems you could use. I installed a BrakeMaster in the Jeep Wrangler. The advantage of the BrakeMaster is that it can be moved easily to other vehicles and if you already have an air chuck on the bus, its a very simple installation. If not, installing an air chuck is pretty easy. I did not install the indicator light that comes with the kit. BTW: the kit is very complete.

Depending on the vehicle you will tow, there are brackets available that mount to the seat track so no holes have to be drilled to mount the supplied standard bracket.

[Archived]

To add to Grizz’s comments, M&G and Air Force One are both excellent, but are not easily moved from car to car. If you want the flexibility to tow a couple of cars the Brakemaster is a good option.

But one thing that everyone should note is that some vehicles are using hydraulic boost from the power steering pump instead of vacuum, and the result is neither of the two mentioned systems are going to work with that type of brake boost.

I tow a H2 Hummer, Ram 2500, and a 50 Ford. I switch the Brakemaster to all the vehicles easily and the first two have hydraulic boost, the Ford has vacuum boost.

[Archived]

Yup! One of the advantages with Brakemaster is it uses the coach air brake pressure to apply the brakes in the towed vehicle porportionaly with the coach brakes. In fact, one must bleed the vacuum by pumping the brake pedal several times before driving away. Otherwise, the air brake pressure added to the vacuum assist would over-brake the towed vehicle the first few times the coach brakes were applied.

FYI: If installing in a late model Wrangler, there is a split rubber gromet next to the brake booster (fender side) all ready to pass the air hose through the firewall. No drilling required!