Tips & Guides · Flat towing · 7 systems compared
Who Makes the Best Built-In Permanent Braking System For Flat Towing Your TOAD?
A built-in brake stays in your toad for good, so you plug in and go. We compared the seven permanent and semi-permanent systems RVers actually buy in 2026, from Demco’s Air Force One to CURT’s new Shadow 2, on price, install, braking feel and which coach each one fits.
Compared
7
Built-in & semi-permanent
Lowest price
$995
M&G, air-brake coach
Fastest install
<2 hrs
Shadow 2 install
Best maker
Demco
Air Force One & DUO
Prices and specs checked November 3, 2026 · By RV-Roundup
Photo: dave_7 from Canada on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Find yours
Which built-in braking system fits your rig?
The right system depends first on your motorhome’s brakes, then on how you want to install it. Answer three quick questions, or jump to our picks by rig.
Your best match
A starting point, not a sales pitch. Prices as listed online on November 3, 2026; confirm fit for your exact coach and car with the maker.
Picks by rig
Diesel pusher with air brakes
Demco Air Force One
Brakes the car with your coach’s own air pressure, so stops feel natural. Plan a full shop day to install.
Gas Class A or Class C
Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO
Two-signal proportional braking that never fires by mistake, with a path to Air Force One later.
Do-it-yourself installers
CURT RVibrake Shadow 2
Plug-in harness, under two hours to install and a wireless monitor in the box. Works with any coach.
Lowest price, nothing in the cab
M&G Brake System
Coach air works a cylinder under the hood, so the cab stays clear. $995 for air-brake coaches, breakaway included.
Switch toads often
Roadmaster BrakeMaster 9160
The coach side stays put and the pedal cylinder moves between cars in about a minute. About $1,010.
Buying a tow bar anyway
NSA ReadyBrute Elite II
Brake built into the bar, all mechanical. One purchase covers the bar and the brake.
The short answer
Demco makes the best built-in system for most RVers. If your motorhome has air brakes, get the Air Force One: it brakes the toad with the coach’s own air pressure for the smoothest stops. If your motorhome has hydraulic brakes, get the Stay-IN-Play DUO. If you want to install it yourself in an afternoon, CURT’s Shadow 2 is the easiest permanent system to fit.
Side by side
Built-in toad brake comparison chart
All 7 systems on what decides the purchase: which coach they work with, what tells them to brake, how they feel, and what they cost to buy and fit. Swipe sideways on a phone.
| System | Coach brakes | What triggers it | Braking style | Price | Install | Breakaway | Monitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demco Air Force One | Air brakes only | Air pressure from the coach’s brake system | Truly proportional | $1,329; $1,525 to $1,599 with wireless CoachLink | About 8 hours for a pro | Yes, and it seals off coach air | LED in toad; wireless CoachLink on some kits |
| M&G Brake System | Air brakes; hydraulic coaches with a costlier kit | Coach air into a cylinder under the toad’s hood | Truly proportional | $995 for air-brake coaches; $1,685 for hydraulic (M&G list) | Shop or self-install; check M&G’s fit list | Yes, kit included | Not standard |
| Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO | Hydraulic brakes (gas Class A, C and Super C) | Coach brake-light signal plus a G-force sensor | Proportional | $1,246; $1,349 to $1,425 with wireless CoachLink | Half a day to a weekend (owner reports) | Yes, reserve air in the unit | LED in toad; wireless CoachLink on some kits |
| CURT RVibrake Shadow 2 | Air, air-over-hydraulic or hydraulic | Inertia sensor in the toad | Proportional | $1,596 online | Under 2 hours, no splicing (CURT) | Yes, dedicated switch | Bullseye wireless monitor included |
| Roadmaster InvisiBrake | Air or hydraulic | Toad brake-light circuit | Progressive (ramps to a preset level) | About $1,380 list | Professional install recommended | Yes | Two-stage motorhome monitor |
| Roadmaster BrakeMaster 9160 | Air or air-over-hydraulic (9060 for hydraulic) | Coach brake-line pressure | Proportional | $1,010 online | Coach side once; clamp to pedal each trip | Yes on the 9160 | LED monitor |
| NSA ReadyBrute Elite II | Any coach | Surge: the toad pushing on the tow bar | Surge (reacts to push, not your pedal) | About $1,100 to $1,300 with the tow bar (owner reports) | About half a day to fit the pedal cable (owner reports) | Sold separately (ReadyStop) | Optional dash light |
What you get
Feature-by-feature comparison
Proportional braking, which coaches each one works with, breakaway protection and the extras that save hassle. A half mark means only with an add-on, a particular model or in a limited way.
| System | Proportional | Air-brake coaches | Hydraulic coaches | Breakaway included | In-cab monitor | Charges toad battery | Zero setup each trip | Nothing in the cab |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demco Air Force One | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | YesWireless on some kits | PartlyAdd-on kit | Yes | PartlyPedal cylinder |
| M&G Brake System | Yes | Yes | YesHigher-priced kit | Yes | PartlyAdd-on light | PartlyUses no power | Yes | Yes |
| Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO | Yes | PartlyUse Air Force One | Yes | Yes | YesWireless on some kits | PartlyAdd-on kit | Yes | No |
| CURT RVibrake Shadow 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | YesWireless | Yes | Yes | No |
| Roadmaster InvisiBrake | PartlyProgressive | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | PartlyUnder the seat |
| Roadmaster BrakeMaster 9160 | Yes | Yes | PartlyModel 9060 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| NSA ReadyBrute Elite II | PartlySurge | Yes | Yes | PartlyOptional kit | PartlyOptional light | No | Yes | PartlyPedal cable only |
Yes IncludedPartly With an add-on or certain modelsNo Not offered
How it works
What a built-in toad brake actually does
Your motorhome’s brakes are sized for the coach, not for a car pushing on the hitch from behind. A supplemental brake makes the toad stop itself, and a built-in one does it without any setup each trip.
- Monitor in the coach
- Signal: air line, wire or push
- Actuator at the pedal
- Breakaway cable
Coach air pressure
An air line runs from the motorhome’s brake system to the toad. Press the coach pedal harder and more air reaches the toad’s actuator, so braking is exactly proportional.
Systems: Demco Air Force One, M&G Brake System, Roadmaster BrakeMaster 9160
Electric signal and sensor
A hidden box in the toad watches the brake-light signal, a G-force sensor or both. When you brake, it pulls or pushes the pedal with its own air or vacuum.
Systems: Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO, CURT RVibrake Shadow 2, Roadmaster InvisiBrake
Mechanical surge
When the coach slows, the toad pushes into the tow bar. A surge mechanism in the bar converts that push into a pull on a cable tied to the toad’s brake pedal.
Systems: NSA ReadyBrute Elite II
Stopping distance, motorhome towing a medium-size car
72 feet shorter, about a third less distance. Test reported by FMCA’s Family RVing magazine.
Watch before you buy
See these braking systems in action
Install walk-throughs and maker overviews, picked because they show the hardware clearly. Videos open in a player on this page.
Start here
The Top 5 RV Flat Tow Vehicle Braking Systems
A clear walk-through of portable, permanent, air and surge systems, and how to match one to your rig.
Video: RV Inspection And Care on YouTube
Head-to-head
The matchups RVers ask about most
These are the systems people usually weigh against each other. Here is how each pair stacks up and which one we would pick.
Air Force One vs M&G
| Compared on | Air Force One | M&G |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $1,329 | $995 |
| In the cab | Pedal cylinder | Nothing |
| Monitor | Included on some kits | Add-on |
| Fit | Nearly any toad | Check M&G fit list |
Our pick: Air Force One, M&G for value
Pick Air Force One if you want an in-cab monitor and the widest list of compatible toads. Pick M&G if your car is on its fit list: it costs less, keeps the cab clear and still includes a breakaway.
Stay-IN-Play DUO vs Shadow 2
| Compared on | Stay-IN-Play DUO | Shadow 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $1,246 | $1,596 |
| Trigger | Brake lights + G-force | Inertia sensor |
| Install | Half day or more | Under 2 hours |
| Monitor | LED; wireless extra | Wireless included |
Our pick: depends who installs it
Pick the DUO if a shop is installing it and you want the proven system with an upgrade path to air. Pick Shadow 2 if you are doing it yourself or want the wireless monitor and battery charging without add-ons.
InvisiBrake vs BrakeMaster
| Compared on | InvisiBrake | BrakeMaster |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $1,380 | $1,010 |
| Braking | Progressive | Proportional |
| Each trip | Nothing to do | Clamp to pedal |
| Coach brakes | Air or hydraulic | Air (9160) or hydraulic (9060) |
Our pick: BrakeMaster for air coaches
Pick BrakeMaster if you have air brakes and do not mind a one-minute setup for proportional braking at the lowest price. Pick InvisiBrake if you want truly zero setup and mostly tow on gentle roads.
Shadow 2 vs ReadyBrute
| Compared on | Shadow 2 | ReadyBrute |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,596 (brake only) | About $1,100+ (bar and brake) |
| How it works | Electronic, inertia | Mechanical surge |
| Follows your pedal | Yes, by deceleration | No, by push |
| Breakaway | Included | Extra |
Our pick: Shadow 2 for smoother stops
Pick Shadow 2 for braking that tracks how hard the coach is slowing. Pick ReadyBrute if you need a tow bar too and value a brake with no electronics to fail.
System by system
All 7 braking systems, reviewed
What each one is, how it brakes, what it costs, the catch and who it suits. Grouped by how the system gets its signal to brake.
Run off your coach’s air brakes
Air brakes Proportional
Best for diesel pushers
Demco Air Force One
$1,329 to $1,599 online · 5-year warranty (checked November 3, 2026)
The toad brakes with the same air pressure your foot puts into the coach’s brakes, so the car slows exactly as hard as the motorhome does. Demco says it is the only air system that ships with the separate air circuit and flow protection valve federal rules call for, and on a breakaway it seals the coach’s air supply. Because it only listens to the air brakes, an exhaust brake will not set it off.
What we like
- Smoothest, most natural braking of any system here
- Exhaust brake cannot trigger false braking
- Hook-up is one air line and a breakaway cable
Keep in mind
- Works only with an air-brake coach
- Long install: plan on a full shop day
- A second coach needs its own coach air kit
Best for: Diesel pushers and other air-brake coaches that will tow the same car for years
Coach air Nothing in the cab
Best value air system
M&G Brake System
$995 air, $1,685 hydraulic · limited lifetime warranty (checked November 3, 2026)
M&G has built coach-air toad brakes since 1987. Its original system puts an air cylinder between the toad’s brake booster and master cylinder; the newer M&G 2.0, for most vehicles built after 2018, mounts a universal cylinder under the hood that works the back of the brake pedal. Either way coach air does the braking, nothing sits in the cab, and it uses no electricity except during a breakaway.
What we like
- Lowest price of any built-in air system
- Nothing in the cab and no battery drain
- Breakaway kit and lifetime warranty included
Keep in mind
- Check M&G’s fit list for your car
- No in-cab brake monitor as standard
- Hydraulic-coach version costs $1,685
Best for: Air-brake coach owners whose car is on M&G’s fit list and who want a cabin with no hardware at all
Hidden actuator boxes in the toad
Hydraulic brakes Proportional
Best for gas motorhomes
Demco Stay-IN-Play DUO
$1,246 to $1,425 online · 5-year warranty (checked November 3, 2026)
The DUO needs two signals before it brakes: your coach’s brake lights and a G-force sensor that feels the slowdown. That double check stops false braking, and the sensor sets how hard it pulls the pedal. It makes its own vacuum, works with hybrids and power-assist brakes, and can be converted to Air Force One later if you move up to an air-brake coach.
What we like
- Two-signal trigger means no false braking
- Hybrid and power-assist brake friendly
- Upgrade path to Air Force One
Keep in mind
- Install is involved; many owners pay a shop
- Toad LED is hard to see in bright sun
- Add a charge line to protect the toad battery
Best for: Gas Class A, Class C and Super C owners who want a set-and-forget proportional brake
Any coach Easiest install
Easiest permanent install
CURT RVibrake Shadow 2
$1,596 online · wireless monitor and battery charging built in (checked November 3, 2026)
The newest system here. Shadow 2 senses when the car is being flat towed and switches itself on, then an inertia sensor matches the toad’s braking to the coach’s slowdown in about half a second. CURT says most installs take under two hours with plug-in connectors, and it charges the toad battery while you drive. RVibrake has been part of CURT and Lippert since 2025.
What we like
- Fastest permanent install of the group
- Wireless monitor and battery charging included
- Works behind any type of coach brakes
Keep in mind
- Newer model with a shorter track record
- Check CURT’s list of vehicle exceptions first
- Highest price of the box-style systems
Best for: DIY-minded owners with any coach who want a hidden, proportional system without a full shop day
Any coach Hidden
Best fully hidden box
Roadmaster InvisiBrake
About $1,380 list · adjustable from 5 to 100 psi (checked November 3, 2026)
InvisiBrake hides under the front seat and uses the same signal that lights the toad’s brake lights. When you brake, it engages the pedal and quickly ramps up to the pressure you chose, anywhere from 5 to 100 psi. A built-in vacuum pump keeps the pedal from going hard, and Roadmaster sells second-car and second-coach kits if you change rigs.
What we like
- Nothing to connect or disconnect, ever
- Built-in vacuum pump and breakaway
- Second-vehicle kits for moving it later
Keep in mind
- Progressive, not proportional, braking
- Only acts when the brake lights come on
- Exhaust or engine braking alone will not trigger it
Best for: Owners of any coach who want a hidden brake and mostly tow on gentle terrain
Semi-permanent and tow-bar brakes
Air brakes Lowest price
Best value semi-permanent
Roadmaster BrakeMaster 9160
$1,010 online · limited lifetime warranty (checked November 3, 2026)
A halfway house between portable and permanent. The air plumbing lives in the coach for good, and an air cylinder clamps onto the toad’s brake pedal before each trip. Coach brake-line pressure drives the cylinder, so braking is proportional, and Roadmaster says hook-up takes under a minute with no tools.
What we like
- Proportional braking for the least money
- Easy to move between toads
- Limited lifetime warranty
Keep in mind
- Something to set up and stow every trip
- Needs a kit for power-assist brakes
- Not a true built-in system
Best for: Air-brake coach owners on a budget, or anyone who swaps toads often
Any coach No electronics
Simplest mechanical option
NSA ReadyBrute Elite II
Tow bar and brake in one · rated to 8,000 lb (checked November 3, 2026)
The brake is built into the tow bar itself. When the motorhome slows and the toad pushes forward, a surge mechanism in the bar pulls a cable that runs to the toad’s brake pedal. There are no wires, air lines or electronics, and owners like that they can see it working. Buying the bar and brake together is often cheaper than a separate tow bar and brake box.
What we like
- No electronics, air lines or batteries
- Tow bar and brake in one purchase
- Nothing to set up inside the car
Keep in mind
- Reacts to push, not to your brake pedal
- Cable slack must be set carefully
- Breakaway kit costs extra
Best for: Owners who want a simple, mechanical system and are buying a new tow bar anyway
The rules
When the law says your toad needs brakes
There is no national rule. Each state sets its own towed-weight limit, and most toads are over the line in nearly every state you will drive through.
Towed weight above which a supplemental brake is required
- 1,000 lbNew York
- 1,500 lbCalifornia, Idaho, Nevada
- 2,000 lbMississippi
- 3,000 lb28 states and DC
- 4,000 lbNorth Carolina, Rhode Island, Delaware
- 4,500 lbTexas
- 10,000 lbMassachusetts
Source: Roadmaster’s summary of AAA’s Digest of Motor Laws and other sources (May 2023). Some states instead set a stopping-distance test. Laws change, so check each state on your route.
The practical answer
Plan on toad brakes for any car you flat tow. Even where the law is loose, your chassis maker’s towing rating and your insurer may assume you have them, and a breakaway that stops the car on its own is the safety net that matters most.
Before you buy
Six things to check first
Most toad-brake regrets come from the same few surprises. Sort these out before you order.
Know your coach brakes
Air-brake coaches (most diesel pushers) can use air systems like Air Force One, M&G and BrakeMaster. Hydraulic-brake coaches (most gas Class A, C and Super C) need a box system or a hydraulic kit.
Confirm the toad can flat tow
Check the car’s owner’s manual for four-down towing approval and the exact procedure. A braking system does not make a car towable.
Budget for the install
Built-in systems are a one-time job, but a long one. etrailer’s installers allow about 8 hours for Air Force One. Shadow 2 is the outlier at under two hours.
Protect the toad battery
Systems that run off the car’s battery can drain it on long days. Shadow 2 and InvisiBrake charge it and M&G uses no power; for others, add a charge line kit.
Get a breakaway
Many states want the toad to stop itself if it ever comes loose. Every system here includes a breakaway except ReadyBrute, which sells it as an add-on.
Skip orphaned brands
Brake Buddy maker Hopkins Manufacturing has closed, and dealers report its replacement parts have run out. US Gear’s Unified Tow Brake is also off the market. Buy from a maker that still supports its systems.
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Helpful answers
Built-in toad brake questions, answered
What RVers ask most when they are choosing a permanent braking system.
Best for air-brake coaches
Start with Demco Air Force One
Air Force One brakes your toad with your coach’s own air pressure, includes a breakaway that seals off the coach air, and carries a 5-year warranty.
Thank you to the people behind these photos and videos. Top photo: dave_7 from Canada on Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Video stills from RV Inspection And Care, etrailer, Demco RV, CURT and RVgeeks on YouTube. Illustrations by RV-Roundup. Product names are trademarks of their makers.
How we compared
Independent. No maker paid to be included, and none of the links on this page are affiliate links.
How we compared. We checked each system against its maker’s published specs and current listings at major online retailers on November 3, 2026. ReadyBrute bundle prices vary by retailer, so for those we used recent owner reports and say so. Install times come from makers or installers where noted. Prices and compatibility change, so confirm fit for your exact coach and toad with the maker before you buy.