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Get safe, smooth braking for your towed car with this truly proportional braking system. Installs permanently so you can just plug and go. Low-profile design keeps it out of sight and out of the way. Includes convenient wireless braking monitor.
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Specs:
"This is the top system I recommend if you have air 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 Air Force One 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 air jumper and the power cord at the front of your vehicle, the system automatically turns on. 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.
The Demco Air Force One offers truly proportional braking for the safest and most comfortable flat towing experience. Proportional braking means that when you apply the brakes in your RV, the braking system will engage the brakes of your toad (towed vehicle) at the same time and intensity. Whether it's a gradual slow down to a red light or a sudden stop in an emergency, your toad and RV will brake together.
To achieve this, the Air Force One ties directly into your motorhome's air brakes and uses the same air pressure that results from you pressing the brake pedal in your coach to pull down the brake pedal in your toad. The result is uniform, real-time braking that exactly mirrors your RV.
This is a huge advantage over inertia-based systems, where the braking is triggered by sensing the forward momentum of your toad. While often effective, this method creates the potential for false braking, where something as simple as rough terrain can activate the system when it's not needed. Not only does this make for a rough ride, but it can also prematurely wear down your toad's brakes over time. The Air Force One will only turn on when you need it, so you can avoid any false braking.
To deliver the pressurized air needed to activate your toad's brakes, the coach air connection assembly taps directly into your RV's air brake lines.
A pressure protection valve collects air from your RV's supply air line and stores it in an air reservoir tank so that it's ready to use when you need it. This 1-way check valve ensures that your RV's air lines maintain consistent pressure so that the motorhome's brakes will not be affected by the Air Force One. It meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) guidelines requiring that supplemental braking systems use a separate air supply and activation relay valve.
On the other side of the air tank, the service relay valve taps into the coach's metered air line. When you press the brake pedal in your RV, the same pressure that's sent to the brakes is sent to the air connection assembly through the service relay valve. The delivery relay valve then sends the pressurized air to the operating unit via the coiled jumper hose connecting the motorhome and toad.
The main operating unit, mounted under the hood of the toad, receives the air from the coach and sends it to the actuating cylinder that attaches to your vehicle's brake pedal. The cylinder will pull the pedal down and apply the brakes.
With this system, the brakes are applied in the toad at the same time, with the same amount of pressure as in the motorhome. This is what makes it truly proportional.
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 to brake the toad.
The Air Force One, on the other hand, reactivates your car's vacuum-assist function by tying into its vacuum line and using the air pressure from the RV to create the needed vacuum. This way your car will brake evenly and naturally as it's being towed, so there's less risk of damage.
"In my experience, this has the most user-friendly installation of all the permanent braking systems. The RV side of the install can be tricky though! It's a little intimidating to cut into the air lines."
The Air Force One comes in 3 main pieces: the coach air connection assembly, the operating unit, and the actuating cylinder.
The coach air connection assembly mounts on the underside of your motorhome, wherever you can find an open, secure place for it. You'll connect it to the supply air line and the metered air line on your RV using the included tees. You'll then route an air hose to the quick-connector on the back of your motorhome.
Quick Tip: The coach air connection assembly needs to be mounted in a location where the air lines will not be exposed to direct heat sources or moving parts; in front of the rear axle is often a good location.
The coiled air hose, also called a jumper, runs between the RV and the toad and connects the coach air assembly to the operating unit. You'll plug it into the quick-connects at the same time as you hook up your tow bar.
The operating unit will typically install under your car's hood. It's designed with a low profile so you can easily find somewhere to put it. Once the unit's mounted, you'll connect the air lines and splice the wires to the breakaway switch, which you'll need to install on the front of your toad.
The final piece is the actuating cylinder, the part that actually presses the brake pedal down in your towed car. It will mount permanently to the arm of the brake pedal and anchor to the firewall. Though it is permanent, it will not interfere with everyday driving. In most vehicles, it is tucked up where you can't even see it.
It connects to the operating unit via an air hose you'll need to run through the firewall. In most cases, you can cut a slit in the hood release cable grommet to pass it through. Either way, you shouldn't have to do any drilling to get the air line hooked up.
There are a lot of steps to installing the Air Force One, but the truth is that there is no "easy" braking system. It's just a question of what kind is best for you. The advantage of the Air Force One is that, once it's installed, you shouldn't have to touch it again. You don't have to find a place to store it between trips or set it up each time you tow. You just connect your electrical cord and jumper hose and you'll be ready to go.
Included in this kit is the wireless Coachlink for safety and peace of mind. This monitor, sitting on the dashboard of the RV, will light up and beep whenever your toad is actively braking. This will give you a simple and convenient 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 be continuously depressed when it shouldn't be, but you won't know it until the damage is already done. This monitor, however, connects directly to a reed switch on the actuator so it only lights up when the pedal is depressed.
The Air Force One also comes with a breakaway system. The breakaway system ensures that your car will come safely to a stop if it accidentally detaches from the RV while you are towing. A switch mounts to the front of the towed vehicle. This switch - which wires to the operating unit - includes a pin that connects to your RV's hitch receiver with a breakaway cable. If the car separates, the cable pulls the pin from the switch, triggering the system. A reserve air supply stored in the operating unit will apply your towed car's brakes. This system also has total coach protection built in: if there is a separation, the motorhome's air supply gets sealed off, so its brakes will continue to function as normal.
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.
Alternate Instructions
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (359 Customer Reviews)
Get safe, smooth braking for your towed car with this truly proportional braking system. Installs permanently so you can just plug and go. Low-profile design keeps it out of sight and out of the way. Includes convenient wireless braking monitor.Overall a great system, there are some intricacies to the install as it pertains to old instructions with LED light in the TOAD vs. CoachLink Wireless and also the 3 wire reed switch vs. the newer 2 wire one. But using the provided written instructions along with YouTube videos you can figure it out. My other challenge was my Jeep is a 392 model and thus the battery and fuse box are in swapped locations, as well as a different VAC line layout, but again you can figure it out…just takes some time to study and trace the routing. My only real complaint was ordering, I was quoted the wrong system for my RV (Stay and Play) vs. AF1 since I DO have air brakes. etrailer was helpful in getting the return process but wants to charge me the shipping and possibly restock fee, I am working with them on this and hope to get a good resolution.
The Air Force One Braking system just arrived. I opened the box and looked it all over. No damage to anything thanks to good packing. A friend of mine has this same braking system and he loves it. Can't give a product review because it's not installed yet but I can honestly say Dianna A in customer service helped me get my order correct.
This has been a good system. As a new Class A driver worries about many things abound but this system takes the stress of the tow vehicle braking off that list.
Nice knowing your toad is applying brakes when you do in the coach
Outstanding job. Easy ordering and quick shipping. Thanks for the updates on receiving the order, processing the order, and shipping the order. I will continue ordering from Etrailer.com
Great product! Install was much easier than I had anticipated and Demco has some great videos available of actual installs.
Installed the AF1with Coachlink on my 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid and Winnebago Forza 34T. Couldn’t be happier & works like a charm. The included install instructions were accurate and complete.
Order seems correct and Lauren was very knowledgeable and courteous.
Makes hooking up the tow vehicle braking system very easy. In addition the system can be tested by depressing the rig’s break and observing the toad’s pedal.
Richard
3/31/2023
I’m very satisfied with it. Unlike Brake Buddy you can see it’s working without it moving.
We have put over 10k miles on this system. Everything has worked perfectly. A job very well done by Etrailer. Thank you!!
YouTube videos are very helpful. Customer service people are knowledgeable about the product.
Very helpful and knowledgeable. Excellent service.
The order arrived as scheduled this morning. Thank you for the attention to detail.
Air Force One braking system is the best brake system! Installation instructions were well written that anyone that’s mechanically inclined is able to install the system properly.
We’ve used the AF1 braking system for over a year. Flat towing nearly 20,000 miles and dozens of connects and disconnects pulling a Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Connection is simple. The proportional Brake function is reliable and consistent. Glad we went this route.
Great product and works great! Thanks e trailer
Extremely satisfied with the entire process and product!
I tow an H2 Hummer so self breaking is important. I can actually feel it breaking.
Thank you for changing my braking system on the day of my arrival. This system worked flawlessly while towing my F150.
Excellent product information on their website. Shipping was extremely fast, and product was well packaged.
This kit is absolutely complete.
As always. It is a pleasure to do business with etrailer.com
Morley
11/14/2022
This braking system has worked flawlessly. No fuss startup. Plug in airline, snap on breakaway cable, and your good to go. Did 8000 miles without any issues.
The product seems alright. I have everything hooked up on the Jeep but not the coach because of the weather. Even though I am a retired Automotive ASE certified tech I had trouble understanding some of the directions. With the help of several of your video tech's I was able to do the installation of the jeep.
Great company,excellent service, nice to be able to talk to someone. If you need rv parts E trailer is the place to shop at. Nice to be able to watch videos of most of there products. Everyone is friendly and helpful.
Right now I am giving this 4 stars instead of 5 because we are in the process of installing it and because the pre-shipping part is really slow. Once it was gathered the product shipped really quickly so I can't blame the shipping company for the slow ship. However once we got the box everything was there and the instructions were there, as well as the videos. So far it is going toghether really nicely and everything works well. It isn't that difficult, however my husband is installing it and had his own mechanic's shop in the past and knows a great deal about that kind of work. It might be difficult for a "newby", however as long as you follow the instructions you are good to go. We are satisified and would purchase this again.
Shirley
5/4/2022
We installed it on our 2021 Jeep Gladiator. Looks good. We are happy campers.
Very nice breaking system!
Fit my truck and motorcoach like a glove. Product is of excellent quality and the wireless link works as advertised. Highly recommend this product of anyone with air brakes. Also wanted to add how much I apricate the entire etrailer staff.
This breaking system is great! Quick and easy hookup to get you on the road! Nothing to but on the floorboard of your tow vehicle! Small wireless receiver in the rv next to you so you know when the breaks are being applied provide assurance everything is working as expected!
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Pj A.
5/17/2024
The AF1 system has been great, only one instance where the micro switch on the brake pedal got out of alignment a hair and was showing my brakes on when then were not! My other frustration is the Demco Tow bar vertical pivot, even though I torque the bolts to spec it always moves. Starting out level it always moves. I have replaced the washers, torqued a few lbs more, and it still moves! Contacting Demco for help as this is not safe or acceptable!