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olley · Campsite DB Admin

hi Barry no further info on it, had second thoughts myself because of the connecting into your motorhome and cars braking system, if this isn't done right then your in big trouble.

The other area of concern was how do they balance the system? I presume they use the same valves for all vehicles so how do they adjust for the difference in weight, and also the difference in braking pressures due to different servo/cylinders etc.

It seems to me very likely that they will either come on to much and the car will try to slow the motorhome or to little. I think any system needs to work on the overrun principle, as there is then a direct correlation between the motorhome braking and the car.

Olley

falken

You're right, the braking effort isn't proportional. My Fiat doesn't have a servo so the harder the RV slows the harder the brakes come on the Fiat. The electric servo would make this work with any car fitted with one.
The idea is pretty good though and as described would allow the vehicle to reversed without the brakes coming on. Unfortunately the braking is all or nothing.
If overrun brakes are used then we need to find a way of stopping the brakes operating in reverse. How about a relay connected to the reversing light so the brakes don't come on while reversing? I think I'll get the meccano out tonight and tinker!

Regards
Doug

Crindle

Hi Olley......thanks for reply. When you think about it logically it's very difficult what they are trying to do, and always down to a price. Takes me back to automatic chokes in the carberetter era ; Ugh!
Having said all that, I'm not fully committed to the Brake Buddy (B/B). We ran with the mechanical over-run on a braked A-frame for many years until last year when I was persuaded up the B/B route. The only saving is a few pounds in weight on the A-frame as the B/B uses an un-braked type. Never feel as confident these days with the car in tow. The alert system which signals when the car brakes are operating has never been satisfactory. Even considered hard wiring an indicator light up front on the van dash wired in parallel with the car brake lights, as a more positive indication. There are also several other niggles with the device. All this despite many users proclaiming how marvelous B/B's are but that is not our opinion.......thanks again.......Barry Wright.

peedee

I have only had the briefest of looks at the B/B and my immediate reaction was it was far too expensive for what little if any advantage it gives over a braked A-Frame. Is more clutter in the car as well and if the overrun system it is good enough for a caravan weighing much more than my tow car which also brakes on all four wheels rather than two like most caravans then it good enough for me.

peedee

falken

As I said we tow a Fiat Seicento because is doesn't use a brake servo (or if it does it's so ineffective you can't tell). How do you get on towing a servo assisted car without the servo? When I've tried it (engine cut out on the M25) the braking effort was massive. I really wouldn't want to try and put that much leverage into the brake pedal.

Regards
Doug

peedee

I think you will find that the override system exerts far more force than any driver can impart. Put the A-frame hand brake on and then try moving the car! Not quite the same as the override doing the work but it certainly shows the brakes work.

peedee

DJP

olley · Campsite DB Admin

hi always been dubious about the overrun brakes on a "A" framed car, without a servo a lot of force is need to stop it and to make matters worse, when they connect the cable to brake pedal they seem to bolt it in halfway up losing a lot of its mechanical advantage.

My trailer has a much bigger brake cable than any of the "A" frames seem to have, leading me to suppose that it just doesn't apply a great deal of force.
I think it needs some way of keeping the servo working, somebody on here uses an electric vacuum pump he got from the states I believe.

Olley