[Unknown Member]

Does anyone else feel that most of these fires are caused by dragging towed brakes and a bus drive train that can easily overcome it? This one definately looks like it started at the suv. I never hear any follow ups on the cause.

I Cant imagine the heartache and hope everyone is ok as well.

[Jon]

Ouch is an understatement.

Assuming cause was toad brakes would a TPMS with temperature monitoring have caught this? On sharp turns I try to watch toad wheels to confirm they are rolling as expected. Also when hooking up wife & I do a roll test to confirm the toad is rolling and brake lights work.

Cases like this make me wonder if toad breaks for a small less than 5,000 pound load are really needed.

[Jim/Chris]

It’s been determined that it was a 2007 American Carriage XLII bunk coach. There’s a June 30th FB video of it leaving Legacy Coach towing a 4 door Jeep.

[Archived]

I am not a fan of Toad Brakes myself. I have towed all kinds of vehicles and never really felt the need. With my bus the way I look at it is most toads are 10-15% of the Bus weight. I also never pick a huge toad like a suburban. Currently i tow a 2021 Ford Ranger 4×4, and i really can’t tell it is behind me.

[Art]

Mike, I`ve toad fullsized suburbans for years with no brakes. Never had an issue.

With near 600HP and robust prevost brakes, these buses dont know it`s towing anything.

[Roscoeapproved]

I don’t think with, let say the M&G air brake set up,the brake’s I don’t think they could stay on with out brake air??

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Jeff and Lindsay

91 Marathon XL

[Jon]

I guess dragging brakes was not a proper term. I assume brakes are designed with the starting point that braking will slow the vehicle down thus limiting the amount of time and intensity that the system sees. Putting a small passenger braking system partnered with a 50k lb. Commercial vehicle defeats that limiting factor. I imagine that the bus just pulls right through whatever braking the towed applies.

I have never had a brake system on my towed. If i were to the only kind i would be comfortable with would be a surge type system. The towed vehicle only brakes with forward pressure on the hitch. I am not sure if this type is avallable.

[Ronald]

I have a light on the dash of my coach that lets me know when the toad brakes are applied. It was easy to do. 1 87a relay and one wire to the dash.

[Liam]

A temperature sensing TPMS will reveal a dragging brake, but not a locked brake.

The bus is completely insensitive to the extra load imposed by a toad with locked brakes. I pulled a 6700 pound H2 Hummer with the parking brake engaged 1/4 mile before the smoke and squealing of tires tipped me off something was wrong.

It went up through the gears as if there was nothing behind it.

But as to remarks supplemental braking is not required even when towing a heavy vehicle think again. Our brakes suck and adding to the lousy brakes is allowing a heavy vehicle with no braking to push the bus as it tries to stop. That provides a plaintiff’s attorney loads of ammunition to extract large dollars from you if you ever rear end a car.

[Paul]

Since most States require towed braking systems, I would hate to be in an accident with something like this that most folks would assume is being driven by a very wealthy person. Even if you are not at fault the failure to follow the law will make your life unnecessarily painful. I have had braking systems on all of our toads. For a short period I had to tow before I could have the braking system installed and there was a noticeable “push” when stopping compared to a towed with brakes.

I like M&G as it applies proportional braking using the coaches air brakes so little chance of anything locking up. It also adds an emergency breakaway brake that will lock up the brakes should the towed become disconnected.

[Dan]

I am going to give my 2 cents on this subject for free about towed anything and not being able to stop said vehicle. I don’t care if I get hurt but let my whatever get away and meet your loved one coming the opposite direction and you would certainly want some type of brakes. Whole different ball game then .

[David]

Paul, I like that statement about family, I think the same can be said for almost everything regarding owning/driving a Bus. Tires, Brakes, how long should we drive tired etc. etc.

[Darrell]

While agreeing about the power of our Prevost’s engine and braking systems…does anyone really want the weight of a large truck/SUV continuously pushing against your Blue Ox or M&G tow arms – without benefit of a tow vehicle braking system, too? How much stress can these arms take, over how many bus braking instances before the steel is compromised/fails?

Personally, love our Coach for the adventures and places it takes us. But, 1st consideration is always for safety – ours and everyone else with whom we share the road!

We are Thankful for the Blue Ox base plate, tow arms and Air Force One braking system which Olympia Luxury Motorcoach installed on our Lincoln MKX (w/battery cutoff switch) nearly two years ago.

That said, this is the 2nd year we’ve had Prevost (Nashville and now, Winter Garden, FL) go over our wheel seals, brake calipers/discs, Front Independent Suspension, new upper A-arms & bushings, Ride height, etc. We travel up and down several mountain ranges traveling between Naples, FL, Nashville and Indio, CA to leave anything to chance. Also, replacing 21-year old engine air compressor and dryer; Level III service and resolved all air leaks…at least for now! 🙂

Expensive? Yes, but SO worth it!

Safe travels everyone!

[Greg]

Curious, what are M & G tow arms? I’ve used their braking system before and it was a great product.

[Jerry]

Sorry, Tom. I wasn’t familiar with M&G? Thought maybe it was a system similar to Blue Ox? Or, is it a separate braking system (like Air Force One) that is used in conjunction with Blue Ox? Just meant whatever tow arms are connecting the toad and bus will experience a lot of added twisting and compression without some sort of toad braking system assistance. Wouldn’t it?