Towbar Wiring and Supplemental Braking and Monitoring System for 2016 Chevy Colorado

Question:

I have a 2016 Chevy Colorado, which requires the battery to be disconnected when being towed four down. I have your Roadmaster RM-766 wiring system for the brake lights in the toad. Since the power for the brake light on the toad is coming from the motorhome and the toad brake light switch should not have power due to the battery being disconnected, how would I be able to install an indicator light on the dash of the motorhome which tells me when the toad brake pedal is being depressed??? I have the Ready Brute Elite II Tow Bar.

asked by: Don M

Expert Reply:

Thanks for your business; I see that you purchased the # RM-766 Automatic Battery Disconnect and # RM-156-25 Battery Charge Line Kit along with a few other accessories.

The # RM-751000, which you were looking at, actually isn't needed on your 2016 Chevy Colorado. A supplemental braking system like the Roadmaster Even Brake # RM-9400 is what's required to actuate the Colorado's brake pedal in order to activate the brakes. The Included with the system is also an emergency breakaway kit and a wireless LCD brake monitoring system. The monitor displays braking activity or changes in status or battery power, like you asked. The unit plugs into the 12-volt accessory outlet in your towed car. So, to power the unit, you will need a 12 V Outlet Kit # RM-9332 as well, which connects directly to the battery.

The purpose of the # RM-766 is just to make it easier to disconnect your battery for flat towing, without having to pop your hood to manually unhook the cables. This, along with the # RM-156-25, provides a maintenance charge to your battery as well to prevent it from draining.

To actually power the lights on your Chevy Colorado, you need a tow bar wiring kit like the Tow Ready Tail Light Isolating Diode System # TR118821.

I have included a couple helpful review/installation videos for you at the bottom of the page as well as an article that goes over the 5 main components required to flat tow a vehicle.