Attention dingy tow owners

[JimL]

I am working on installing wiring etc. for the Brake Buddy II and ran into an interesting problem. There is a large block area (in the Jeep floor/carpet) ahead of the driver's seat that does NOT leave enough room for the Brake Buddy (or similar) to sit on the floor. The available length is simply too short! The Brake Buddy must be raised 4.5" to clear the seat position release handle (otherwise it slides the seat back when it activates).

I had thought about installing an InvisiBrake, but it looks like there is no path to run the cable, due to whatever is now filling that space ahead of the seat base.

I will be able to make the new type Brake Buddy II work, with a mount base 4.5" high that allows the unit to fit behind the brake pedal, but it is a really close fit. Certainly not quick and easy like my old Tracker 4x4 was for the last 9 years.

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[bwilliam79]

I installed an InvisiBrake on our 2018 JLUR. I mounted the control unit under the rear driver's side seat and routed everything up the driver's side. Put the air cylinder between the driver's seat and the door frame. I can upload pics if you're still interested in the InvisiBrake.

 

[JimL]

I installed an InvisiBrake on our 2018 JLUR. I mounted the control unit under the rear driver's side seat and routed everything up the driver's side. Put the air cylinder between the driver's seat and the door frame. I can upload pics if you're still interested in the InvisiBrake.

Thanks....I did get it working nice today. I really wanted to save the underseat storage for several items, and it worked out fine. The new Brake Buddy II is pretty neat because it no longer uses the air compressor and also has automatic self-setup. It even comes with a mini battery charger to draw from the RV and keep the battery up during long runs.

 

[run100sdp]

I installed an InvisiBrake on our 2018 JLUR. I mounted the control unit under the rear driver's side seat and routed everything up the driver's side. Put the air cylinder between the driver's seat and the door frame. I can upload pics if you're still interested in the InvisiBrake.

I m getting ready to install invisibrake on my JL and some pictures of your install would be great. I finished the control tech wiring harness tonight and will begin brake install tomorrow thanks

 

[Broccoli2]

I would love to see picture of both set ups i am in the process of ordering parts to tow mine now... The issue that I am having is the base plate..... With the metal bumper and a winch I am not positive what will fit... it seams like the Demco might do the trick but I'm not sure... Any of you run the stock steel bumper with a winch?

 

[bwilliam79]

I would love to see picture of both set ups i am in the process of ordering parts to tow mine now... The issue that I am having is the base plate..... With the metal bumper and a winch I am not positive what will fit... it seams like the Demco might do the trick but I'm not sure... Any of you run the stock steel bumper with a winch?

Let me know what you want pictures of and I'll be happy to get them for you. We've got a Roadmaster tow bar and base plate, CoolTech wiring harness, and we use the Invisibrake from Roadmaster. We have the plastic bumpers on our JL and I just removed the lower skid plate vs cutting it up as Roadmaster suggested for the base plate.

 

[Luco]

I use the Blue Ox unit and it works fine in my JL. Actually works better than in my previous JK. I would be interested in the invisibrake install.

 

[bwilliam79]

I'll get some as soon as the wife is home. It's her Jeep.

 

[bwilliam79]

Here's how it looks in the footwell. Getting the pully in just the right place was the biggest pain of the whole thing. This picture is at a bad angle, so it looks like the pulley isn't in line with the brake pedal, but it is.

Mounted the air cylinder between the driver's seat and the door. Wasn't going to do anything else with that space.

I mounted the controller under the driver's side rear seat, but we don't keep it in there if we're not towing because the seat won't fold down all the way without hitting the controller and when we have the doors off, we don't want to have it exposed. I just plug the vacuum lines with a toothpick and a bolt. I also put one sheet metal bolt into the floor which one of the Invisibrake mounting tabs slides under so it stays in place when it's installed. Takes about 15 seconds to hook/unhook.

 

[Broccoli2]

Let me know what you want pictures of and I'll be happy to get them for you. We've got a Roadmaster tow bar and base plate, CoolTech wiring harness, and we use the Invisibrake from Roadmaster. We have the plastic bumpers on our JL and I just removed the lower skid plate vs cutting it up as Roadmaster suggested for the base plate.

Thanks for the pic's. I guess I'm looking for a base plate that works with a winch. I believe the roadster mounts in-between the frame and I need one that mounts on the outside of the frame---- I think

 

[bwilliam79]

Thanks for the pic's. I guess I'm looking for a base plate that works with a winch. I believe the roadster mounts in-between the frame and I need one that mounts on the outside of the frame---- I think

Ah. I didn’t get a pic of the plate for you, but if I recall correctly, it did mount between the frame. It was a little narrower than the frame, actually, which caused me some issues when I went to reattach the bumper. I had tightened everything down and the studs on the bumper didn’t line up with the frame mount points anymore. Had to loosen up the tow bracket, install the bumper, then crank everything down to spec.

I assume the issue is the winch plate mounts to the frame as well?

 

[Broccoli2]

Ah. I didn’t get a pic of the plate for you, but if I recall correctly, it did mount between the frame. It was a little narrower than the frame, actually, which caused me some issues when I went to reattach the bumper. I had tightened everything down and the studs on the bumper didn’t line up with the frame mount points anymore. Had to loosen up the tow bracket, install the bumper, then crank everything down to spec.

I assume the issue is the winch plate mounts to the frame as well?

Yep the Mopar winch plate mounts to the inside of the frame rail. I called Roadmaster yesterday and they confirmed that none of their Base plates will work.

Thanks

 

[JLU jax]

Here's how it looks in the footwell. Getting the pully in just the right place was the biggest pain of the whole thing. This picture is at a bad angle, so it looks like the pulley isn't in line with the brake pedal, but it is.

Mounted the air cylinder between the driver's seat and the door. Wasn't going to do anything else with that space.

I mounted the controller under the driver's side rear seat, but we don't keep it in there if we're not towing because the seat won't fold down all the way without hitting the controller and when we have the doors off, we don't want to have it exposed. I just plug the vacuum lines with a toothpick and a bolt. I also put one sheet metal bolt into the floor which one of the Invisibrake mounting tabs slides under so it stays in place when it's installed. Takes about 15 seconds to hook/unhook.

How did you set up the wire to the motorhome that indicates the JL brakes are activated? Did you wire to the brake pedal mopar switch or did you install another aftermarket momentary switch? The “how to” video on Etrailer shows them installing a aftermarket switch but they do not say why. I’m currently using a old brake buddy we have but hoping the invisibrake with the vacuum line will keep the brakes more pumped up.

 

[bwilliam79]

I don't recall having to install a brake switch, but the indicator light in the motorhome did light up when I stepped on the brakes. It has been almost a year since I did the install, but I'm almost certain I just wired everything up using only the CoolTech wiring harness for the JL and that was sufficient.

We ended up selling our motorhome last month (to my parents) and I helped them install an Invisibrake into a Ford Edge. For their car, we just tied directly into the OEM brake switch and it worked fine, but I don't recall having to do that with the CoolTech harness on the JL.

 

[run100sdp]

I have the pre wires under the passenger side dash. And this is where the Cool Tech wires were attached. I attached the Cool Tech messenger wire to my prewired always on. I also bought this Invisibrake monitor system that works great. I had to add a RVI battery charger due to we drive 10 to 12 hours and if you get any rain with auto lights it will run the battery down. Pictures to foLlow

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