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Is this right For you? Product Expert Mike S says:
Get automatic, real-time braking in your towed vehicle with the InvisiBrake. Actuator box installs permanently so that you never have to remove, adjust or reactivate. System connects to RV and engages car brakes when the RV brake lights illuminate.
Features:
Specs:
Note: This product does not work on vehicles with a non-electric hydroboost braking system.
Wire the InvisiBrake into your vehicle, connecting it to the battery and electrical harness, and you never have to remove it. When you're ready to tow your car, just connect the it to your RV via the included electrical cable, and the system is ready to go.
The InvisiBrake is designed to activate the brakes in your towed car upon receiving a signal from your RV that the motor home's brakes have been applied. This signal is sent via the wiring harness whenever the RV's brake lights are illuminated. This way, you get real-time braking action, ensuring that your towed car brakes at the same time and for the same duration as the brakes in your RV. In addition, there will be no false braking when you hit bumps or potholes.
Adjustable Pressure Settings
The braking pressure of the InvisiBrake can be adjusted from 5 psi to 80 psi depending on your individual application and preferences. Typically, a braking system has to apply an extreme amount of force to activate the towed car's brakes because the vacuum-assist function of the brakes is not active when the ignition is off. This excessive pressure would cause damage to your car if it had "active" brakes. Because this system lets you adjust the braking pressure to a comparatively minimal amount, you can use it on automobiles that have continuous-power-assist brakes, such as Hummers and hybrids, without having to worry about any potential damage.
The pressure setting needs to be adjusted only once, during the initial installation, at which point you can test the system at different settings to determine which feels best. Once the setting is determined, it does not have to be readjusted, so your system is always ready to go.
Permanent, Out-of-the-Way Installation
Most often, the InvisiBrake actuator box installs beneath the front seat of your towed car, neatly tucked away so that you won't see it and it won't take up any storage space in your vehicle. You can, however, install it anywhere in your towed car that is convenient for you, as long as you can still access the adjustment knob.
A bracket and cable pulley will install on the arm of your vehicle's brake pedal. This will not interfere with normal braking function and does not have to be adjusted, removed or activated. The entire system can stay in your car year 'round, waiting for those times when you need to tow. And once you do hook up your car to your RV in preparation for towing, the system will function automatically.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (129 Customer Reviews)
Get automatic, real-time braking in your towed vehicle with the InvisiBrake. Actuator box installs permanently so that you never have to remove, adjust or reactivate. System connects to RV and engages car brakes when the RV brake lights illuminate.
A little more difficult than others to install but definitely worth the money. The only thing I noticed is every couple of hookup’s you need to pump the brakes once to activate the system
Good quality materials.
Fast delivery
Good price.
Complicated install. 16 hours labor for me to install toad portion, including bulb kit. 8 hours to install indicator light/warning beeper in RV. Worth the one time effort for me to not have to set and remove floor mounted brake system each time I want to drive the toad.
2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee with electric drivers seat. Controller would not fit under drivers seat, installed in cargo area behind rear seat. Good instructions for install.
Kit included everything I needed. Due to controller placement, the controller power leads were not long enough. Air line to air cylinder connection was difficult to get right. Was not as "sure" as air line to controller. Took 3 attempts to get it to not leak.
Overall a good product, I expect it will last a long time and be very reliable.
Great product. Only used for small sub-50 mile trips so far, but working as advertised.
Take the installation slowly, watch the video for your car several times. The hardest parts for me were running the wires through my Subaru's firewall and into the engine compartment (I used the firewall on the side that comes out inside the driver's wheel well), and screwing the pulley pivot point to my car because of the tight space.
Do yourself a HUGE favor and guy purchase some good lath self-drilling screws 3/4" and 1" should be long enough. The wimpy dinky screws that came with the package weren't good enough to driving into my Subaru's flooring. Spent several frustrating hours trying to get them in, before giving up and purchasing these other screws and being done in minutes.
Install was fairly reasonable and the videos were spot on. After 1 year, it is still going strong and the system sits under the seat and out of the way. Hook the car up to the RV and it works without worry.
Not for pure amateur DYI’rs but anyone with good mechanical skills can install this unit. Once installed it worked great but would strongly recommend installing a battery charging unit along with it to insure your vehicle will start after a long tow.
Have not Installed yet, but I order all of my supplies and parts from etrailer, good knowledgable people, prompt deliveries, and answers all questions.
Really like this system. Once installed you don’t know it’s there. Nothing to remove or store. Better thank brake buddy type. Recommend.
The adjustable settings on the Invisibrake offer great control for a variety of tow vehicles
Challenging install but performs well. Installed under the front seat (not perfect), but is hidden well.
Very pleased with this product works perfectly on my 2014 jeep wrangler...
The product arrived within a reasonable amount of time. Instruction for installation was pretty good between both what came with the kit and the video etrailer web site. For the most part the installation went well but there are a few things I would like to comment on, and they are:
1) The self tapping screws to install the control unit to the floor of my towed vehicle were too short to get through the carpeting and into the sheet metal with enough bite to hold. Instead I used longer 1/4 - 20 bolts.
2) The vacuum check valve came apart while I was pushing it into the brake vacuum line. I was able to not lose the rubber membrane inside and used super glue to put it back together. I tested it and is working fine but I did order another check valve to the tune of [a few extra] more dollars.
3) It would have been nice to have the etrailer video show something on where to hook up the "Monitor System" from the towed vehicle. It took some doing but I was able to locate the brake switch and tap into the cold side for the signal.
Although I haven't put any miles on this system yet my test of it went well.
Rachael H - 09/01/2017
Ken K - 09/01/2018Installed in a 2014 CRV. Worst part was getting all the wiring and under the door sill trim panel and routed up through the firewall into the engine compartment, and getting the cable and pulley installed up to the brake pedal. Pretty crowded under the dash in a CRV (my ribs are still sore)! had to use a different clamp on the vacuum cylinder because I had to move it forward of where the video showed in order for the cable to reach the mounting location under the dash. Had to clamp it around the larger end of the cylinder and the supplied clamp would not fit around the larger diameter end. Maybe Roadmaster has shortened the cable? Haven't tested yet but have high hopes! I used the videos extensively, and couldn't have done it myself without them! Not bad for a 72 year old!
G.D. - 08/23/2016Nice product and simple to install should be easy to use. I installed under the seat of my 99 jeep wrangler
This review is more for eTrailer than the product RM-8700, which is a great product as well. I will be submitting further reviews as I install the device.
If you want to work with a knowledgeable staff, one that actually listens to your needs and not a company that simply sells a product just to get numbers. Deal with eTrailer.
If your RV has any need these guys know or will find out (as long as its in their area of expertise) and get back to you. They carry great products, they ship as promised and they stand behind what they sell. I highly recommend eTrailer.
Guy L - 08/10/2020Great product but incredibly difficult to install on compact vehicle.
Usage: Very simple with no hassle.
Installation on 2006 Honda CR-V Manual Transmission:
- I have pretty extensive in car stereos, engine work, and body mods
- Electrical was pretty easy, expect to cut and solder some wires if you want a clean installation.
- Mechanical installation of the pully & cable in the cramped footwell of the CR-V was a major pain. No path up (steering column & stuff). No path to the left (clutch pedal). No path to right (gas pedal). I ended up building a small tunnel and going down.
Setup Note: The vacuum saved in the brake booster after engine turn-off may be give a extra push on the first couple brake applications. I set my pressure to my desired travel, then after a couple of brake applications it would barely move at all.
This takes a bit to hook up but overall like the system.
This breaking system works well. Kind of a pain getting under dash and hooking up the cable. But other than that no complaints. If I was 30 years younger it would have been easier.
Excellent product. Installed just like the instructions said it would.
Had it installed by my local RV guy on my 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Has been in use for 1 year. No issues, love the ease of use. Just plug in and and go no unit to move or adjust. If you are looking at a braking system I would recommend this one.
Installed my self, works fine.
This was part of many Roadmaster components I ordered from etrailer.com to set up my 2014 Honda CRV as a toad. Etrailer's website is excellent and their review videos and installation videos are very helpful. Their tech service department is excellent as well.
Regarding the Roadmaster Invisibrake, I chose this unit because I did not want anything visible nor any connections to make when setting up to tow or disconnecting. The control unit is hidden under the driver's seat and hardware under the door trim panels. I varied slightly from the etrailer's video in where I mounted the locking clamp and pulley (I did not put the clamp on the raised emergency brake bracket because it was slightly out of line to the pulley that was mounted flush on the floor). Because I choose to route the separate lighting kit wiring on the inside of the vehicle... along the same trim panels and rear trim panels, this made a very convenient place to splice into the wiring next to the Invisibrake control box...nice and protected. The alternative locations of splicing into the lighting wiring harness is under the vehicle....not an ideal place because of road salt, grime and pinch points. I also used the lighting kit with separate bulbs to not interfere with the already installed trailer harness kit for the Honda trailer hitch, nor having to deal with diodes.
The Invisibrake works well. I used the extra blue wire in the connecting tow bar wiring harness (7 pin to 6 pin), and the unused brake controller wire in the motorhome that runs to the dash of the motorhome, to operate the signal light. Works great and looks neat.
I would recommend that Roadmaster provide some sort of adjustment of the cable at the air cylinder in future generations of this product if possible. This would help on shortening the distance between the mounting clamp and pulley in cases where there is not much room (like in this Honda). Because the only way of taking up the slack now is the combination of the clamp and pulley locations, it somewhat restricts the options on mounting locations and may make some extra work. Regardless of this suggestion, I like the design and initial quality of the Invisibrake and would recommend this unit to anyone wishing to install a supplemental braking system. This does take some pretty good mechanical skills and body contortions to install but if you have that ability...I recommend this unit to the serious do it yourselfer. Otherwise, have a pro install it.
I do virtually all my own maintenance on all 7 of my vehicles. This installation is not conceptually difficult, but working under the dash of a Jeep Wrangler is literally painful. The hardest part is figuring out where to mount the controller and route the brake cable. My Jeep is not the same as the video and I needed to install it a little differently. Take your time here and get it right the first time.
I made several modifications to the standard installation - including hooking all the signals (including the Monitor) from my truck camper to my towed Jeep through a 7-Pin RV connector and hooking the power to the Invisibrake through a switch to the battery so I don't have to run my Parking Lights to power the controller. I had a couple questions that the folks at Roadmaster answered cheerfully and professionally.
BTW Etrailer is a pleasure to do business with.
Stacey A did an amazing job with all the questions and took great care of the order!!
Just received it, and have not begun to assemble and install. I will have a few questions. The shipping was VERY FAST. The unit looks to be in good shape. ( no damage that I can see) etrailer is a very good place to purchase stuff, and spend money. BECAUSE........You get the best value for your money, and they can answer questions. Tom
Thomas - 12/07/2018I'am in the process of setting up my 2017 Equinox to tow behind our motorhome. I've placed 4-orders with etrailer. So far I've installed the base plate, the wiring from the rear tail lights to the front end.I also received my Tow bar and the quick release parts. my next project is to install the invisi brake system. I want to send Kudos to Cathy T for her help and her great customer service. I'am also thanking James A for his quick response to a question about the wiring harness. I'am extremely happy with the quality of everything I ordered at etrailer. Thanks
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