Even Brake -- Your Best Choice in a Supplemental Braking System

By Mark J. Polk

I received an email, from a fellow RVer, questioning the need for a supplemental brake system on the vehicle they tow behind their RV. I responded to the email by stating that in most cases it's the law that requires brakes on the towed vehicle or trailer, but the most important reason is for your safety and the safety of others.
Most U.S. states and Canadian provinces have their own laws on the requirement for brakes on a towed trailer. The word trailer also applies to a vehicle being towed behind a motor home. These laws are normally based on the amount of weight being towed. One problem is that it might be legal to tow a 2,000 pound vehicle with no brakes in the state where you live, but as soon as you cross the state line of a bordering state it is illegal to tow the same vehicle without brakes. Add to this your insurance company may not cover you in the event of an accident involving a vehicle with no braking system. Again, the most important reason is for your safety and the safety of others.

Most people assume that because of the size of the motor home there is no need for a supplemental brake system on the towed vehicle. The brakes on a motor home are designed by the vehicle manufacturer to stop the weight of that particular vehicle, not the additional weight being towed behind it. This additional weight adds a substantial increase to the distance required to stop safely. Some motor home chassis warranties are voided if you tow amounts over 1,000 pounds without a supplemental braking system.

Another thing that surprises RVers is how much the vehicle they're towing actually weighs. Take your towed vehicle to a set of scales and have it weighed. Make sure it is fully loaded with everything that will be in it when you are towing it. After you weigh it double check to make sure the receiver on the motor home is rated to tow that amount of weight and that you aren't exceeding any of the motor home weight ratings, like the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). The GCWR is the maximum permissible weight of the fully loaded motor home and the fully loaded towed vehicle combined. Most RV chassis manufacturers base their GCWR on the assumption that a supplemental brake system is being used.

There are many different types of supplemental braking systems available on the market today. These types include surge, hydraulic, air and vacuum. Some are simple and some are more complex. After researching all of my options I chose the Even Brake by Roadmaster Inc., available through Camping World. I decided on the Even Brake for several reasons.

1) It's portable and it works on almost any towed vehicle with power brakes.
2) It doesn't require any modifications to the existing brake system.
3) It brakes your towed vehicle proportionally and simultaneously to the motor home braking.
4) It is easy to install and use.

The Even Brake is an inertia-activated, truly proportional braking system. It senses the motor home's rate of deceleration and applies the same amount of braking pressure to the towed vehicle brakes. In other words, the towed vehicle slows down at the same rate as the motor home, the more you brake, the more it will brake.

The Even Brake constantly monitors itself and provides you with system status information, through LED indicator, LCD text message and a built-in audio alert. This continuous self-diagnostic testing recognizes any braking system or function problems, and alerts you immediately. From the driver's seat, you know exactly what is going on for maximum towing safety.

The Even Brake also comes with an emergency breakaway system designed to bring your towed vehicle to a safe, controlled stop in the event that it accidentally separates from the motor home. If you don't feel comfortable performing the initial set-up and installation of the Even Brake it can be done at any Camping World Super Center nationwide.

Being able to stop completely, in less time and a shorter distance, gives me an added sense of safety whenever I am towing a vehicle. Keep in mind the many other reasons to use a supplemental braking system on your towed vehicle.

1) It's the law.
2) It can void your vehicle warranty.
3) It can void your insurance.
4) It will reduce wear and tear on motor home brakes and other components.
5) Liability in the event of an accident.

But, most importantly it SAFELY reduces the stopping distance and helps to protect you, your loved ones and the safety of others.

Happy Camping!
Mark J. Polk


Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101.
www.rveducation101.com
He also hosts the RV Savvy segments for RVTV, which airs on the Outdoor Channel. RV Education 101 is a North Carolina-based company that produces professional training videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV so all of your RV experiences are safe, fun and stress-free.
Mark's videos and DVDs are now available at any Camping World Supercenters and at CampingWorld.com.
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