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Plug in and go: this permanent system gets you smooth, reliable braking with a one-and-done installation. Low-profile components designed to stay out of sight.
Features:
Specs:
"This is the top system I recommend if you have hydraulic brakes. Quality, reliable, tried-and-true. It just always works."
A braking system is a must when towing a vehicle behind your motorhome. Without it, the weight of the towed car can create a safety hazard, strain your RV's brakes, and affect the warranty of both your car and motorhome. Most states legally require a supplemental braking system, so if you don't use one and you end up in an accident (which is more likely since your RV takes longer to come to a full stop), your insurance and liability headache just doubled. You also won't have any breakaway system; if there's an accidental disconnect, there's nothing to bring your car to a stop.
The Stay-IN-Play Duo is a permanent braking system, which means that it's a one-and-done. Once it's installed, there's no more setup that you have to do. When you plug in the power cord at the front of your vehicle, the system automatically turns on. Flip the on switch for the G-Force controller and just like that, you're ready to flat tow.
While the components are installed permanently in your RV and toad, they remain concealed and inconspicuous. None of them will interfere with normal driving, and most of the time they are invisible. And you don't have to find a place to store them between trips.
The Stay-IN-Play Duo is unique in that it uses both an inertia sensor and your motorhome's brake light signal to activate. Having this double-check ensures that the system will only activate when it's truly needed.
First, the Duo monitors your motorhome's brake light signal so that it knows when you're intentionally hitting the brakes. This ensures there's no false braking.
Second, the inertia sensor in the Duo senses the change in momentum of your toad (towed vehicle) as your setup slows down. It precisely measures this change so it can activate your toad's brakes to match the rate of the RV's deceleration; this is what makes it proportional. When you apply the brakes in your motorhome, the braking system will engage the brakes of the toad at the same time with the same amount of force. This keeps the RV and the toad in sync with each other, so whether it's a gradual slow down to a red light or a hard stop in an emergency, the toad and the RV will brake together.
It starts with the G-Force controller. The G-Force controller contains the inertia sensor that senses the change in your RV's momentum. You'll install it in the cab of your toad, underneath the dashboard. This keeps it out of the way but easy to reach so you can flip the toggle and adjust the knob.
Note: The G-Force controller must be pointed in the direction of travel - with the toggle switch facing the driver's seat - for the internal sensor to function properly.
The controller lets you adjust the sensitivity of the inertia sensor to determine how drastic the change in momentum must be for the system to trigger. Set the sensitivity low and the Duo will only engage when you forcibly step on your motorhome's brake pedal. Set it high and a mere tap on the brakes will get a reaction. It's totally up to you how sensitive you want it to be; a heavier vehicle will probably need more sensitivity, while a lighter one doesn't need to brake so hard. The knob on the face of the controller lets you easily program your setting.
When the G-Force controller detects a change in inertia, it checks that there's a brake light signal from the RV to confirm that it is indeed braking. It then sends a signal to the main operating unit to activate; the main unit delivers pressurized air through an air line to the actuating cylinder that attaches to your toad's brake pedal. The cylinder will pull the pedal down, applying your brakes almost instantaneously.
The actuating cylinder attaches permanently to the arm of your toad's brake pedal. Though it is permanent, it should not interfere with your everyday driving. In most vehicles, it is tucked up where you can't even see it.
When you're driving, your vehicle uses vacuum pressure to create the force needed to bring the car to a stop. On most vehicles, this vacuum-assist function does not work when the engine is off. As a result, a lot of supplemental braking systems have to use an excessive amount of pressure while braking the toad.
The Duo, on the other hand, reactivates the vacuum-assist function by tying into your car's vacuum line. Your car will brake evenly and naturally as it's being towed, so there's less risk of damage.
Included with the Duo is an LED indicator light for safety and peace of mind. This LED, mounted in the toad (on the dash or on the back of the rearview mirror) and visible in your RV's backup camera, will light up whenever your toad is actively braking. It's a simple way to keep tabs on whether the system is working properly or if something is going wrong.
Most supplemental braking systems have a method of letting you know you when they activate, but not all of them are checking if the toad is actually braking. There could be an error that causes the system to activate without actually applying the toad's brakes. Or your brake pedal might actually be continuously depressed when it shouldn't be. But unless you have a system that's monitoring your vehicle, you won't know it until the damage is already done.
This braking monitor connects directly to your toad's brake light switch so it only lights up when the pedal is depressed and a signal is sent to the brake lights.
If there's a strong glare on your toad's windshield, the LED light strip might be hard to see. The wireless Coachlink system (SM99945 - sold separately) is a great solution to this problem; the monitor mounts right on your motorhome's dashboard so it's directly in view. This is a great add-on for convenience and peace of mind.
The Duo also comes with a breakaway switch, an absolute must for safe flat towing. If there's ever an emergency situation where your toad becomes detached from the motorhome, the breakaway switch will immediately activate the brakes and bring the vehicle to a stop.
This switch mounts to the front of your toad and wires into the Duo's operating unit. It includes a pin that connects to your RV's hitch receiver with a breakaway cable. If the toad and RV become disconnected, the cable will pull the pin out of the switch and trigger the braking system. A reserve air supply in the operating unit will then apply the brakes in the car.
Flat towing can be a much more convenient way to take your car RVing with you than using a trailer or a tow dolly. It'll save you storage space both at home and at the campsite, and it takes less time and hassle to hook up.
To flat tow your vehicle, there are 5 basic components you're going to need: a tow bar, a base plate kit, a safety cable set, tow bar wiring, and a flat tow braking system.
| For the RV | Between the RV and Towed Car | For the Towed Car |
|---|---|---|
| Hitch | Tow bar | Base plate |
| Wiring plug | Safety cables | Braking system |
| Wiring adapter cord | Wiring kit/diodes |
The custom-fit base plate installs on the frame of your toad so you can connect the car to your RV with a tow bar. Hook up safety cables between the vehicles to ensure that the toad does not separate from the motorhome if the tow bar becomes detached. Tow bar wiring syncs your vehicle's signal lights with your motorhome's tail lights, as required by law in most states. Finally, the flat tow braking system - also required in most states - activates the brakes in the toad when you hit the brakes in the RV, making for smoother, safer braking, and preventing wear on your motorhome.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (615 Customer Reviews)
Plug in and go: this permanent system gets you smooth, reliable braking with a one-and-done installation. Low-profile components designed to stay out of sight.I mounted this in a 2014 Chevy Spark. Finding a spot for the main control unit was interesting, but I found a video for a 2017 Spark that I could use. I did have to drill an extra hole in the mounting flange and car. I haven't taken it on a trip as of this time, but a tow around the block indicated it was working. One note, watch about placing the LED indicator behind the tinted part of the toad window. It makes it harder to see from the camper camera.
I installed the Stay n play on a 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. I pull it with a Diesel Sprinter, and braking control is very important to me. Previously I used a Brake Buddy. The Demco system is a world of difference. The proportional braking, simplicity of design, ease of engagement/disengagement, and reliability have provided an improved sense of confidence and security when flat towing. Installation was a challenge but is well described in instructions and videos.
It seems to be working just fine, as advertised. I don't have anything to compare it to, but it's slowing the dinghy when I apply the motorhome brakes. I was glad I had it installed by one of etrailer's authorized installers, because it looked pretty complicated to me. As I understand, they phoned e-trailer for help and were pleased with the that service. They took a week total, installing all five items I purchased from etrailer. The pieces are nicely "hidden" from view. I also received quick service from etrailer when I asked about competing brands, and Jameson suggested this one.
I'm very pleased with this Stay-in-Play /DUO Braking System which I installed on my 2005 Jeep Liberty. I debated wheather I dared install it myself, but with the video instructions I decided that I could. I watched the video a couple of times, then followed it step by step during the installation, and it went pretty smoothly. One issue I had is that they changed the instalation of the LED indecator light, since the making of the video, so the parts did not come as described on the video. I do prefer the new method, as described in the installation manual, but it does require a toggle switch to turn it off. I installed one just below the Control Unit inside the car (see photo). I was also very impressed since, right after ordering the system, I found it for less on another web site. I emailed eTrailer about my disappointing discovery, and they credited me back the difference. GREAT COMPANY!
Robert P.
12/9/2019
One year later, the system is still working great. Still very pleased.
Thanks to installation videos provided by etrailer, I felt confident that I could do the install myself. I had never pulled off moldings and panels in a car before, but with your videos as guidance , it was a breeze. This system was going into a 2016 Ford Edge 3.5L AWD and your (and SMI's) instructions call for installation of 2 check valves. After calling SMI to clarify the install points, it got even easier, as only one valve is required, and is ridiculously simple to install it. No cutting of original car hoses required (see photo). After everything was installed, the whole setup just simply worked, no troubleshooting required. That was fun and it is totally doable, even for the average guy like myself.
Herbert M.
7/13/2018
The rear-view camera display in my RV is not good enough to show the operation of the brake notification LED which is applied to the rear-view mirror in the towed car. I installed a small light in the RV dash and ran wiring all the way back to the toad, with a disconnect plug at the hitch, of course. Now it is easy to see when the car brakes come on. Else, the system works great.
Haven't actually had the chance to tow behind yet so this is just for the install. It took me quite a long time to install but, that's not the products fault. Everything you need to do the job is included.
I only give it 4 stars because the system uses the towed vehicles battery to activate the vacuum/compressor pump, so it would be possible to run the battery down as there is no charge circuit from the towing vehicle. I did choose to add one though. Other than that I'm sure it'll work fine. It was installed on a 1983 Vanagon.
David
10/21/2021
Im not in the car when it works, but the indicator light comes on so I assume they work. Honestly, my motorhome is so big I cant tell if there working or not, mostly I stalled to be legal and safe. I like it.
I chose to go with this unit because I didn't like the idea of the other types that mash the brake pedal without any vacuum assist & the fact that you have to remove, then reinstall them each time you want to use the car.
This ended up TOUGH install. Not because of the unit, but rather the lack of ANY room under the hood on my 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon to mount the operating unit. The only place I could find that would be out of the way was under the driver's seat of all places! Luckily there was JUST enough hose with the unit to reach all the way to the brake booster. I had to cut the carpeting so the seat would clear the operating unit during movement without any chance of contact. There was no hole in the firewall large enough to accommodate the hose so I had to drill a hole for that although I was able to route the wiring through a small rubber grommet. Routing the hose to the firewall was a real challenge! I ended up running it through the heater duct under the driver's floor mat to the left side kick panel, then up over the pedals keeping clear of any moving parts. WHEW!!
The brake pedal actuator went on without much fuss, although with my large feet I have noticed I'll catch the actuator with my toe on occasion. I may mark the location it's in now & merely raise it up a tab in between trips.
The wiring was pretty much straight forward, there was plenty of included wire & I had JUST enough room tho mount the G-Force Controller on the left kick panel covering without interfering with my feet.
The breakaway switch I fastened to the body in front & below the radiator.
I read where everyone was saying you need to have a battery cut-off device to keep the braking system from draining the battery over time, but I had power from the RV keeping the battery fresh so I didn't worry about that & saved myself the $180 for the cost of an automatic battery disconnect.
After installation, I sat in the car while we towed it around the neighborhood to see how it worked & made the necessary adjustments to the G-Force Controller. Now THAT was weird! What with the car steering itself & braking too.
We just got back from a 4,000+ mile trip & everything worked fine. On occasion I forgot to flip the switch to turn the system off, but it didn't seem to make much of a difference.
All in all a great system!
It wasn't easy to get everything installed in a way that looked neat and professional but in the end the ease with which you can hook up the car and start towing makes it worth it. I bought a replacement factory vacuum pump line so that I didn't have to worry about ruining the original one and as a result the installation looks that much better. Literally all I have to do is flip a switch once the car is connected and I'm ready to go. Given a second opportunity to do the installation I would mount the LED light strip vertically on the backside of the rear view mirror to make it a bit more visible but other than that, I'm happy with how it turned out and the system works great.
This was a pain to install at a shop I had to actually assist the shop with the install since I was small enough to climb into the drivers side footwear to run the air lines. Couldn't wait for the 2 months trailer wanted to set appointment
Works good, though verifying braking operation during driving is a mystery (I can't see the LED strip at all). Every so often, someone (me) gets in the car and we check that the brakes are being depressed when the brake lights come on, but I'm a bit nervous that I can't tell how to adjust the braking strength.
Very good instructions and lots of extra parts if needed. Worked as advertised when complete--seems like a great system. We'll see when we get on the road.
Rick
7/12/2024
I have no issues after using the Brake System for a year. I check it every time I hook up and and it just works seamlessly.
I had my local Cadillac dealer install the braking system in my Mini and it was done perfectly. Now I just flip a switch and the braking system is activated. I did have them hook up an extra wire on the RV harness. They ran the center 12 volt source to the Mini battery. That way, the system doesn't drain the battery on long hauls. An interesting side note: the system takes an extra half second to release the brake pressure to the car after my RV brake pedal is released. Therefore, if the pressure is set too high, you feel the car putting significant drag on the RV. This really helped to setup the system initially and is a daily reminder that the system is working as a little bit of drag for a half second is normal.
Installing on 2020 Jeep Trailhawk :
Pic #0557 : Roadmaster Base Plate Kit , Demco Supplemental Braking System , Diode Wiring Kit , Demco Battery Charge Wire Kit
Pic # 0548 ,0551 , 0559 Had to adjust the bracket plate to line up with the upper bolt holes
Pic #6028 finished install , mounted the operating unit to the top fuse box cover using automotive Velcro . Air cylinder , controller and LED light installed . Aside from the base plate bracket not lining up with the upper bolt holes I would give it 4 stars . My son in law is a master at solving mechanical issues .
I personally installed this on my 2020 Jeep Wrangler and have towed it using this braking system over 4K miles and have had zero issues. Would definitely recommend! The installation instructions were well written and included an easy to read wiring diagram making is easy to install and the very knowledgeable etrailer support was a bonus too!
The Demco stay-n-play braking system has worked flawlessly for a full season of towing! The one time installation went smoothly and all components fit and functioned perfectly.
Very easy to use, connect to tow vehicle, flip a switch, and it's ready to tow. Disconnect from tow vehicle, flip a switch, it's ready for normal driving.
Would highly recommend this setup over other braking systems.
Product rec'd on time. Very good quality and works fine. Installation instructions were great.
Diana G.
4/27/2024
The Demco braking system has been working flawlessly on our little Smart car. Very satisfied.
After watching the excellent installation video I had very little trouble installing this product. I like the fact that it is a stay-in-play system that literally requires only the flip of a switch to activate. The major components are all installed out of the way, yet are still easily accessible. As for the braking system itself, I find it operationally excellent and believe this product choice was a great one.
After doing much research and reading many reviews and watching a lot of your instructional videos I chose the Stay-in-Play Duo. It came complete with instructions and extra parts for any application. I like the fact that after everything is installed it is just a matter of flipping a switch and checking it out and drive off. I mounted it in a 2018 Jeep wrangler, not very much room for the operating unit, but I I went off of one of your videos on a 2017 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and mounted it underneath above the cross frame below and behind the radiator but still protected from the elements. Not a lot of room under the dash either, but everything is in and looks great and ready for the 1st trip.
Installed on a 2013 Nissan Frontier. Works great but I had a hard time finding someone to install it. I tried my regular mechanic and an two others. They did not not want the liability? The Demco site lead me to an RV service shop that did a great job. They hide the wire from the brake indicator mounted on the rear view mirror by routing it through the trim so it just stays plugged in (one less thing to do when hooking up). They also added a battery charging line from the motor home to keep the Frontier's battery from getting too low from exercising the brake on long trips.
SMI Stay in Play Duo installation in 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited –
Packaging was great with everything needed included plus extra items for various installation methods of you’re choosing. Upon initial investigation and survey, everything except the CD Information pack was accounted for.
No big deal, as I had previously watched 2 different Youtube installations found on the internet. In fact, the internet videos were what I used as my step by step installation process, and the written instructions were only used for concerns where the video may not have been as clear as I had hoped for.
Understanding that everyone has their own style and methods for doing this project, I purposely was not in a hurry to rush through it. All in all, I took @ 8 hours to install the Adapter 4 to 6 pole #30637, the EZMount Tow lights Kit, and the Stay in Play Duo Braking System.
I choose the EZMount because I didn’t want to mess around with the OEM taillights and wiring. Magnetic lights don’t work so well on composite tops and I didn’t want to stick them to the sides of te Jeep, so I modified the EZ mount to wrap around the thickness of the rear glass hatch on both sides. I added a 2”x 4” pc of Velcro on the inside of the glass hatch and the mating surface of the plastic light housing - to hold the lamps in place until the rear gate was closed.
I ran the wire harness on the inside under the trim all the way up to the front and through the grommet in the firewall. The flat 4 wire was routed and secured up to the Adapter 4 pole to 6 pole that I had fastened to the Blue Ox base plate.
The actual installation of the SMI unit and assorted parts went rather smoothly. Most difficult issue was the lack of working space in front of the driver’s seat area. Installing the screw that holds the G force controller on the front (the side towards the front of the car) was difficult as it was almost a blind installation due to lack of room. The nut and fender washer used through the fire wall for attaching the air cylinder cable bracket was a challenge to reach - tight fit with not much room for one's hand and arm.
Other than that, no big surprises – just a lot of tedious steps to do when you want to be sure that it is being installed properly – take your time and don’t be in a hurry.
Once everything was installed – it all worked when I checked the system out. The only thing that may seem a bit odd is that when setting the G force initially, the compressor will shut off while adjusting per instructions. To do this initial adjustment, the wife stepped on the brake in the Motorhome, with the switch “On”. The compressor starts, and the brake is pushed down by the Air Cylinder, at which time I slowly adjusted the G force until the compressor shuts off. I secured the adjusting bolt and I told the wife to take her foot off the brake and then re-apply them. The compressor did not start again and the air cylinder did not apply the brakes in the Jeep. After setting the G force per instructions, the unit didn't turn on when the brakes in the Motorhome were applied - but since we were not moving - all I can assume is that the brake system will function while slowing down once the accelerometer setting (the sensitivity setting on the G force box) has been met. I assume that the sensitivity setting method includes a way to ensure the Jeep brakes are not engaged too frequently and only until needed.
This is the only step that is a tad bit confusing without an explanation as to what to expect once the G force sensitivity is set.
Lastly, I checked the brake away switch and it turned the compressor on and applied the brakes as expected.
Overall - the installation went rather smoothly. Can't wait to see how the product works once we hit the road. I'll check back and provide an update later.
Mike A.
10/23/2018
Still working as expected, trouble free and no problems since the install.
I selected this item as an alternative to braking systems that sit in front of the driver seat and must be put in and taken out each time it is used. I like the fact that it is nearly undetectable once installed and works seamlessly. On installation the most difficult part was drilling the holes to screw the unit under the driver seat. The carpet being the primary problem in my experience, as it bound up around the drill bit.
The install was not easy. You need to follow the instructions in the videos. The product works very well and I would recommend it to anyone in need of a very good braking system.
I have not actually tried it on the road, but it activates as advertised. Thus only 4 stars. It replaced an old Cumbersome Brake Buddy. Working under the dash was the most difficult part. The LED notification lite does not work the wire is very flimsy. Will update when I get on the road.
Very happy with the way this turned out. Video was very helpful. Only thing I didn't really care for was the red LED that was to be mounted on mirror. Purchased a red LED light at parts store and mounted in grill, see picture, using alternate connection. Much easier to connect and much easier to see in RV camera.
It took more time initially to install than some other products. However, every time I use it, the ease of use makes the time it took to install it well worth it. Take some extra time once; or take some extra time every time.
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Dale
4/17/2024
We are very pleased with this system. We hauled the Spark on a 5,000+ mile trip out west and the brake system did its job. I did tweak the setting a couple of times to get it as I liked it. As noted in my initial post, I still have trouble seeing the LED indicator behind the tint if the windshield, especially in bright sunlight.