Best Breakaway System?

[DennisT]

Having seen baseplates that failed etc we would not run without a braking system. A lot has to happen to come completely disconnected but it can happen.

That said we like the Demco braking system. We have the Stay and Play Duo in our current toad. Same system as our old one had.

Could have gone with their Air Force One since we have air brakes now but stayed with the old setup. Would have had to install the extra lines and connections for the air hookup. Nothing to hookup this way, just turn them on.

Has worked great over the years in both toads and set so they are more for breakaway now since the coach doesn’t need help stopping the extra weight.

 

[Rich W.]

Having seen baseplates that failed etc we would not run without a braking system. A lot has to happen to come completely disconnected but it can happen.

That said we like the Demco braking system. We have the Stay and Play Duo in our current toad. Same system as our old one had.

Could have gone with their Air Force One since we have air brakes now but stayed with the old setup. Would have had to install the extra lines and connections for the air hookup. Nothing to hookup this way, just turn them on.

Has worked great over the years in both toads and set so they are more for breakaway now since the coach doesn’t need help stopping the extra weight.

I have to agree - I’ve never liked conventional base plates. The connections just seem so small, even minimal to me. That’s why I built my own mounts and bolted them through the bumper and into the front cross member of the jeep frame. If I were using a typical base plate I would have probably opted for the break away braking system too. They just don’t look stout enough to me. This is also why I used a receiver extension with a 6” rise to keep everything level. I also used them to mount my rock screen to stop the damage to the jeep.

Through bolted mounts

Receiver extension with 6” rise to make everything level. Not a great pic of it but you can see it there. Also used hitch tighteners to keep the receiver extension from bouncing around in the hitch.

 

[DennisT]

I have to agree - I’ve never liked conventional base plates. The connections just seem so small, even minimal to me. That’s why I built my own mounts and bolted them through the bumper and into the front cross member of the jeep frame. If I were using a typical base plate I would have probably opted for the break away braking system too. They just don’t look stout enough to me. This is also why I used a receiver extension with a 6” rise to keep everything level.

It was interesting meeting a couple in the site next to us from Canada.

They had a breaking / breakaway system installed and mentioned that it was the law in Canada that you have to have one. Not sure how that translates coming from the States across the border and don’t want to move the thread in another direction though

I think the baseplates depend on the vehicle and the installer. Current ones on the Cherokee bolt up where the front tow hooks were located so they should handle quite a bit.

Don’t want the liability “just in case” so, personally, will never tow a vehicle without the braking / break away system.

 

[Neal]

My recent baseplate failure, as you may recall:

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

My recent baseplate failure, as you may recall:

I must have missed that! That could have put you in a bad spot for sure.

 

[Neal]

Alert - PSA: Check your baseplates (and tow bars)

Disaster averted!!! I left Newmar service and at my next stop after disconnecting the TOAD I noticed something caught my eye, movement that shouldn't be! Holy $h*! batman! Okay, probably just a loose baseplate, I have not had it checked since install in Feb 2017, nothing led me to believe...

rvforums.com

 

[CaptainGizmo]

I had M&G and they have a nice break away system but I never got it. I used two very stout safety cables, securely attached to both the jeep and coach, so there was simply no physical way the jeep could get loose.

The only thing that could happen is that if the tow bar failed, the jeep would probably rear end the coach when I stopped, but I always used a good well maintained tow bar too. So after thinking it through and analyzing all the possibilities, I decided not to bother with a break-away system.

(Sorry…I just saw the above responses after I posted mine!)

Rich, and any others…

I’d be remiss if I didn’t let you know of how many failures I’ve been made aware of over the past years in which the BASEPLATES failed. And, if those are safety strapped to the frame…well…bye bye whole assemble and the TOAD is running wild.

So, take every measure to insure that the baseplates are intact, tightened, and if possible…strapped to the frame.

 

[Neal]

As @redbaron said, he wouldn't be able to live with himself. Well, he/you wouldn't, you'd have close company and great new friendships. And your wealth would be on tap by the lawyers. Don't take chances like this.

 

[Rich W.]

I’d say the key points are 1) Make sure your equipment is up to the task, 2) know it inside and out and maintain it properly, and 3) If for any reason you don’t think you can make these judgements with absolute certainty get professional help.

I never liked the standard/typical baseplate mounts (they seem too wimpy to me) so I made my own and built a system that can’t fail (you could hang the jeep from it). That said, if there was ever any doubt at all, I’d use a break-away system and I’d never recommend that anyone forego all safety measures available. There’s just too much at risk here. I may have seemed to indicate otherwise, but that was not my intention.

If I were using a conventional baseplate (I still have one new, unused in my garage) I’d have a break-away braking system because those things look to me like they are designed to fail. For anyone in doubt, these are the conventional connectors to which I’m referring:

 

[team bradfield]

If I understand you, you think these are designed to fail? Please explain, I have 30k miles on mine