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Is this right for you? Product Expert Mike S says:
Get reliable braking with this lightweight, portable system. Actuator unit applies towed car's brakes after receiving signal via internal inertia sensor. Braking power settings let you adjust brake intensity based on your towed car's weight.
Features:
Specs:
Note: Removing your vehicle's floor mat before installation is recommended.
The Brake Buddy Classic 3 has a built-in inertia sensor that detects when your rig slows down. Once the system recognizes that you're braking, it will engage the actuator arm to press your towed car's brake pedal with an intensity chosen by you.
The main unit of the Brake Buddy Classic 3 is designed to activate only when deceleration is actually taking place. It is built with advanced terrain-sensing technology that keeps the unit from activating when you go over bumps in the road. As a result, your towed car's brakes won't engage unless you intend for them to engage.
The braking power settings determine how intensely the Brake Buddy Classic 3 applies your towed car's brakes. When you're first setting up the Brake Buddy, choose the braking power setting that's recommended for your vehicle type, as seen on the chart below.
| Vehicle Type | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|
| Cars and Compact SUVs | Low |
| Mid-size Crossovers, Mid-size Pickups and Small SUVs | Med |
| Full-size SUVs and Pickups | Hi |
The setting should be enough to cause your towed car to give a slight tug at your RV during a braking event. Braking power doesn't normally need to be reset unless you're changing to a different towed car.
Note: For hybrids or other cars with power-assist brakes, switch the braking mode to Hybrid mode.
Included with the Brake Buddy Classic 3 is a wireless receiver that will alert you of braking activity from the Brake Buddy actuator unit. This receiver inserts into the 12-volt outlet in your RV's cab.
A separate transmitter plugs into the actuator box to send signals to the receiver.
When the Brake Buddy unit activates the towed car's brakes, the receiver will illuminate. If the towed car breaks away from your RV, the receiver will produce an audible signal.
Instead of connecting to a 12V accessory outlet, the Brake Buddy Classic 3 draws power directly from your towed car's battery. To do this, the included wiring harness connects to your car's battery. Install the harness by routing the wire end through your car's firewall and into your engine compartment. Connect the harness to your battery with the included battery wire and ring terminal.
Mount the connector that's on the opposite end of the harness in a convenient, out-of-the-way location beneath your car's dash.
To connect the actuator unit to this connector, use the included Easy-Pull harness. This harness plugs into the connector below your dash, then into the braking system. When connected, the harness carries both power and breakaway functions in a single cord. And the large grip ring and wide handle make it easy to hold while connecting and disconnecting the actuator, all without ripping connectors or pulling on wires.
If you're concerned about your car's battery going dead as you tow, don't worry. The Brake Buddy Classic 3 includes a 15-amp charger that pulls power from your RV to keep your car's battery charged while the Brake Buddy is connected.
Not every car is built the same. Some have brake pedals with unusual shapes. Some have uneven floorboards or mats. These differences can make it difficult to set up a portable braking system in your towed car. But the Brake Buddy Classic 3 is able to fit in almost any car on the market.
The Brake Buddy's actuator arm comes with an adjustable Quick-Lock clevis, which securely wraps around your towed car's brake pedal, regardless of the pedal's size or shape.
The clevis also comes with a quick-locking lever. Once you adjust the jaws of the clevis to fit your brake pedal, turn the lever to tighten the clevis in place. And when you're done towing, disconnecting the clevis is a snap. Just turn the lever to release the clevis jaws, and remove the clevis from your brake pedal. It's that simple.
Uneven floorboards can cause a portable braking system to sit at an angle in your towed car. This affects the leverage of the actuating arm, which can result in ineffective braking. Each of the TruFit risers on the Brake Buddy Classic 3 actuator unit can be individually adjusted, raising or lowering each corner of the actuator unit, so that the system sits level in your car. As a result, the actuator arm is able to press straight against the brake pedal to ensure that your brakes are properly depressed every time.
To adjust the height of the risers, twist them counterclockwise, either by hand or with the included riser wrench. Pull each riser out to match the height you need, then twist the riser clockwise to secure it at that height.
The Brake Buddy Classic 3 will automatically check your brakes every time you start it up to confirm that your vehicle is ready to tow. After setting up the unit in your towed car, press the Auto Start button on the unit's control panel. The arm of the unit will push and release the brake pedal several times, removing vacuum pressure from the brakes to prevent overbraking. The unit will also check for any connection errors.
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Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (139 Customer Reviews)
Get reliable braking with this lightweight, portable system. Actuator unit applies towed car's brakes after receiving signal via internal inertia sensor. Braking power settings let you adjust brake intensity based on your towed car's weight.
I purchased this BB Classic 3 in October 2020 after my old BB Classic that I purchased in 2008 failed to hold pressure for the piston. I bought this for my 2017 Jeep Wrangler but due to (1) the depth and unevenness of the driver's floor board, (2) the seat adjustment bar prevents BB Classic 3 from pushing against the seat and (3) the adjustable legs are not long enough to reach the seat and brake pedal properly, the BB Classic 3 fails the auto start test every time due to not being able to level. I talked to Hopkins MFG techs several times trying to resolve the issue (wiring checks, power cord checks, etc.) but to no avail. This situation makes the BB Classic 3 dangerous to have in service because not being level it will think something is wrong and keeps the brake applied (piston will not retract after applying the brake). So after talking to other Jeep Wrangler owners I determined that a platform was needed for the floor board on which the BB Classic 3 could rest. I constructed a platform that was approximately 3" off the floor board and rested on the floor board under the seat and on risers toward the brake pedal. This platform is level on the floor board both length-wise and width-wise. After placing the BB Classic 3 on the platform with clevis and power cord installed and legs in the lowest position, I tested the auto start and had 8 successful tests in a row!!! Also the brake away test was successful too. I still need to make a short drive test while in tow behind the motorhome. Hopkins really needs to advise customers that the Classic 3 will not work properly as is on a 2017 Jeep Wrangler due to the configuration of the driver's side floor board.
Jenny N - 10/21/2021Product seems to be good out of the box but haven't used it yet. A significant issue is that the installation instructions are incomplete and some connectors were not included in the packaging. Of particular note is that once you install the Dash Mount and drill a home in the firewall to put the wiring through, there are no instructions about how to connect them. I had to go to the eTrailer website where a found a video of an installation on a Jeep. The narrator did a good job of explaining the connections. Thank God for YouTube.
James D - 08/29/2022I have no idea if it works or not. The transmitter that is supposed to light up in our motorhome when it activates has never lighted up. Sooooo, I’m just guessing it works.
Jenny N - 12/07/2022I purchased the Brake Buddy from E-Trailer in the fall of 2021. I was not able to install it till late spring of this year(2022). It sat new and untouched in the factory box until that time. After unpacking, I reviewed all of the components and none were missing. I followed the installation instructions to the letter. Upon testing the system, The Brake Buddy did not show any power(12 volts DC) on the control display panel. After extensive testing and rechecking all connections, verifying 12 volts to the Brake Buddy control Panel, I decided to call Support.The support person asked for the serial# and purchase date(which I gave) and was told then that the Brake Buddy warranty period had expired.I had questions for Tech Support, in the event that I had overlooked something during the troubleshooting process. The support person on the phone wouldn't even transfer or refer me to one. I have made several purchases from etrailer in the last couple years and have been satisfied with the quality of the products. However, it ends here. I eventually found the problem with the Brake Buddy and will not disclose it here as it is your problem now and it's up to you to stretch for your customers for a change instead of piling up profits for overpriced,dysfunctional merchandise.
Overall a great product! Had some trouble initially with it not fitting my brake pedal and had to order another special piece for it. Sometimes gets "sticky" in the cold weather when performing the test brake prior to departing. Regardless, gets the job done and very happy with purchase!
Too much trouble hooking up. My old one was easy, just plug in to the 12v plug and it was ready to go.
Bobby - 10/29/2022The brake pedal clamp seems to need constant adjustment. One of the internal contacts for the sender unit broke. Somewhat flimsy quality in that respect. I had to improvise a connection repair with solder as I was leaving on a trip with motor home and towed. I sure wouldn't mind a new replacement. If that's possible please let me know.
David B - 09/26/2022 David B - 09/26/2022Just follow the instructions and it's an easy set-up. It does its job on the road. If there was anything negative, it would be where to store it when not in use. But, that has nothing to do with its performance. Thank you etrailer for making so many things available to us!
After watching a video on how to wire up the Brake Buddy, I had it done in less than 1 hour. I have a Jeep Wrangler and it was difficult to get the Brake Buddy properly positioned. I ended up extending the front legs all the way, the back legs just a little. I then had to put a 1" piece of plywood under front legs to get it level with the brake pedal. After that, it all worked great! I'm very happy with this product.
Not really it don't seem to help, maybe we have it set wrong. We just pull a jeep wrangler on med. Setting
Jenny N - 10/07/2022Great customer service from Vicki N. She was very patience and took extra time helping me get the right parts. Parts are 1st rate and video instructions are very helpful.I would definitely recommend etrailer to anyone.
The connection from the brake buddy to the car connection at first was great. Then, after a few times, it just got very sensitive and in some cases would not make the connection. Even when it had a good connection at first, the sensitivity was just not there. You had to literally jerk down on the brakes of the RV to get it to engage. It just never worked properly.
Sierra K - 10/28/2021Brake Buddy is easy to use, somewhat difficult to get down in the floorboard of the Jeep, thankfully we haven’t needed it
Gives you a sense of security.
I was required to return the brake buddy to manufacturer for repair recently because of failure to function. Shipping and repair were handled quickly. I have not tested the unit after repair yet.
Hard to tell if it was working or not. 40 foot motorhome. Really didn’t feel any difference on stopping.
Purchased a year ago.
The instructions were a little tricky to understand but we eventually got it worked out. Running the power through the firewall was difficult on the 2013 CRV.
The reason for a 4 instead of 5 is that the cable end that goes in to the Brake Buddy doesn't always keep a good connection (it has to be loosely connected to maintain power, rather than pushed all the way in) and so finding the sweet spot and hoping it will stay there while driving for hours is a little nerve wracking at times.
Works well. Easy wire and set up. 4 stars as it is a little cumbersome to set up every time I use it. Company has been easy to work with any questions. I would recommend.
The unit worked as it should. The original brake pedal clamp was an awful design and near impossible to clamp, after a complaint to the manufacturer they sent me the new design clamp and a new power cable. The unit seems big for what it does but funtions well.
Katrina B - 03/28/2022Great product, had a problem with it and brake buddy overnighted a new one, great service.
Donald - 02/26/2022i have bought two of these units since june and neither one wants to work while the vehicle is moving
Jenny N - 10/04/2022A bit tedious setting up the first time. But after that reinstalling is pretty easy. Gives my wife and I peace of mind while traveling.
I had an issue with the pedal attachment and product support staff sent me a new fixture; no charge that fixed the problem.
It's just great easy to install and easy to operate works great
I use the Brake Buddy quite often, is quite easy to hook up and gives me piece of mind that there is extra braking coming from my towed vehicle.
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