Towing with an SMI Duo "Stay-in-Play" supplemental braking system

[McGarrett50]

Hi -

 

I just had the SMI Duo "Stay-in-Play" supplemental braking system added to my 2014 FFH SE, pulling behind my Jayco Class A (on a Ford drivetrain), and wondering if anyone else has the DUO installed and we can compare notes?

 

Thank you,

 

McGarrett

[GrySql]

Just watched an install video on a C-Max, interesting.

http://www.etrailer.com/Tow-Bar-Braking-Systems/SMI/SM99251.html

[Evringham]

Can't help with the "Stay-In-Play" ... But I did install the Invisibrake system in my 2014 FFH and it has worked just fine. Towed over 9,000 miles over the past year. Great car to tow.

[McGarrett50]

Evringham - Thanks for post. Do you leave the FFH key in the ACC position when towing?

[RTimothy]

Evringham - Thanks for post. Do you leave the FFH key in the ACC position when towing?

 

Did you get a reply to ACC or OFF position?

[garymkrieg]

The key should be in the OFF position.

 

Gary

Edited August 26, 2015 by garymkrieg

[RTimothy]

The key should be in the OFF position.

 

Gary

Thanks Gary,

Learned today that our FFH "goes to sleep" after awhile and the 12v power outlet shuts off. Got to run a direct battery feed from the blankity blank trunk. Not sure how I'll do that yet. Did you have to do that on your FFH?

[hybridbear]

Thanks Gary,

Learned today that our FFH "goes to sleep" after awhile and the 12v power outlet shuts off. Got to run a direct battery feed from the blankity blank trunk. Not sure how I'll do that yet. Did you have to do that on your FFH?

The posts for charging the 12V battery are under the hood. Ford says that nothing should be hooked directly to the 12V battery in the trunk because it can interfere with the battery sensor. Check out this thread starting at this post.

[garymkrieg]

Tim, I'm not sure what you are trying to power with the 12 volt line. Since the car is towed in the OFF position I have not need to keep the 12 volt battery charged. Have towed it 3-4 days in a row without disconnecting and never had a battery problem, so no need for 12 volts there. We use a Blue Ox Patriot brake system, it requires a 12 volt supply to operate. I put a car jump starter with a battery that I put on the passenger floor and plug the Patriot into that for power.

 

Gary

[RTimothy]

The posts for charging the 12V battery are under the hood. Ford says that nothing should be hooked directly to the 12V battery in the trunk because it can interfere with the battery sensor. Check out this thread starting at this post.

Hi hybridbear,

I'm not clear on your reply. Here's my situation..2013 FFH se. I had the blue ox baseplate installed at a RV dealer with a Ford dealer in the group. Because an aux brake system is necessary and requires 12v they recommended that the install wiring include a charging capability for the FFH battery. So that prevents possible discharging of the FFH battery. So far so good - - except there is no fulltime 12v power outlet in the FFH to run the aux brake. The power outlets in the car shut off when the FFH hybernates. The aux brake company does not recommend using 12v from the RV. The reason being if the car broke away from the rv there would be no 12v power for the aux brake to apply the brakes. So, I need a fulltime 12v source but cannot connect directly to the battery.

Do you know of any members of this group that tow the FFH?

[RTimothy]

Tim, I'm not sure what you are trying to power with the 12 volt line. Since the car is towed in the OFF position I have not need to keep the 12 volt battery charged. Have towed it 3-4 days in a row without disconnecting and never had a battery problem, so no need for 12 volts there. We use a Blue Ox Patriot brake system, it requires a 12 volt supply to operate. I put a car jump starter with a battery that I put on the passenger floor and plug the Patriot into that for power.

 

Gary

Gary, I have the RVi2. I started with the BB stealth but it couldn't be installed according to BB requirements. I sent it back. We also tow a 2006 Ranger and use the BB Vantage select. The company clearly told me not to use the Vantage Select on the FFH and the stealth installs "permanently in the hybrid.

I narrowed down the the Patriot and the RVi2. I chose the RVi2 because it supposedly had true proportional braking. RVi2 suggested their direct battery connect gizmo that connects to the battery. Apparently that will not be good for the FFH.

So that's where I am... Wow, getting the FFH tow ready is turning out to be quite a project. Is a car jump starter with a battery what tow trucks carry around for road service? How is that charged?

[murphy]

Do not connect directly to the battery in the trunk. Connect to the battery terminals that are located in the engine compartment. It's safer and the car can monitor the state of the battery.

[garymkrieg]

We use this one http://www.amazon.com/PowerStation-PSX-3-Jumpstarter-Compressor-Outlet/product-reviews/B00GNG9N30, it's charged from 120 volt plug. We have used it 3-4 days of towing without having to charge it up. We got it a lot cheaper at Costco. As a side note, right or wrong, I have a different philosophy for how to set the Patriot up. My thought is that the only time I want the car brakes to come on is when I am in a panic stop situation. With the size of brakes in these motorhomes I do not see the need to wear out the car brakes during a normal stop. Also in my case with the engine brake on the diesel motor I usually only use the brakes the last 10 mph or so. So proportional breaking was not important to me when we bought the Patriot.

 

Gary

Edited August 27, 2015 by garymkrieg

[RTimothy]

We use this one http://www.amazon.com/PowerStation-PSX-3-Jumpstarter-Compressor-Outlet/product-reviews/B00GNG9N30, it's charged from 120 volt plug. We have used it 3-4 days of towing without having to charge it up. We got it a lot cheaper at Costco. As a side note, right or wrong, I have a different philosophy for how to set the Patriot up. My thought is that the only time I want the car brakes to come on is when I am in a panic stop situation. With the size of brakes in these motorhomes I do not see the need to wear out the car brakes during a normal stop. Also in my case with the engine brake on the diesel motor I usually only use the brakes the last 10 mph or so. So proportional breaking was not important to me when we bought the Patriot.

 

Gary

Thanks. I've been looking at the jump start units. I was surprised how many did not have a 12v female outlet. If I go that route, I'll probably seek one with a high ampere hour rating. Right now I'm looking for a path for the breakaway switch wire. I now know that there is a fulltime 12v source under the hood. Hopefully, I can use the same route for the breakaway switch and 12v source.

[garymkrieg]

Tim, I would not attach anything to the car's 12 volt system for any reason. That battery is very small and does not have a lot of capacity. Your brake system could easily discharge that battery depending on how ofter the brake system engages. Since you bought a proportional system my assumption is that the system will engage at also every stop. You will kill the battery if that is the case.

 

Gary

[RTimothy]

Tim, I would not attach anything to the car's 12 volt system for any reason. That battery is very small and does not have a lot of capacity. Your brake system could easily discharge that battery depending on how ofter the brake system engages. Since you bought a proportional system my assumption is that the system will engage at also every stop. You will kill the battery if that is the case.

 

Gary

Gary,

Yes, u r right about not connecting directly to the FFH battery. I've gotten mixed up between two topics that r related to what I'm doing I think I'm good to go on seeking the 12v full time power source. Either the jump start unit or going through the firewall. Now, I'm making the breakaway switch my main priority. I've gone too many years without one and now is the time to do it right. However, I wish the breakaway kit didn't have the plug connected to the wire. It requires a much bigger hole in the firewall. I think I'm going to cut it off and reconnect it after I snake it through a hole.

BTW: isn't the Patriot a proportional system too??

 

Finally, when I get the email notices about replies, I can't reply there. They r returned. After awhile I find them here and I can reply.

[garymkrieg]

I don't think that it is proportional. For me as I said earlier proportional is of no value to me because when I want the brake system to engage I'm in a panic and I need everything it can give.

 

If you want communicate off-forum here is my email address: garymkrieg@yahoo.com

 

Gary