RV safety tech - anti-lock braking for towable RVs
Today we’re looking at some new RV technology that could literally save your life. While the vehicle you’re likely driving will have a tremendous number of safety features on it, most RVs have little, if any, safety technology. Unless you count the carbon monoxide detector and that is a useful piece.
But the truck you’re towing your travel trailer with is probably laden with safety features including anti lock brakes. In fact, if it was built after 2012 I know it has this very useful safety feature. Now your trailer can be equipped the same way thanks to two companies - Dexter Axle and Lippert Components.
Anti Lock Brakes
Anti Lock Brakes (ABS) is a technology that prevents the wheels from locking up in a hard braking situation. The reason this is so important is that it helps you maintain better control of your vehicle and, in theory, helps to prevent collisions. It can also shorten the distance it takes to stop the vehicle.
When your tires lose traction, such as if you’ve locked up the brakes, it can extend the amount of distance it takes to stop the vehicle and that can mean the difference between avoiding a collision and starring in one.
Having loss of traction can also translate into loss of control of the vehicle which is also not a good thing.
But, until recently, that technology was not available for towable RVs. That has changed.
Dexter Tow Assist
Using technology from Bosch Dexter announced their Tow Assist system which incorporates a number of features that include Anti Lock Braking technology.
The Dexter system incorporates anti-lock braking and regulates braking levels to keep the trailer going where the tow vehicle is taking it. Without ABS trailers can easily swing out or become a huge burden on the tow vehicle which we’ve seen in some YouTube videos where the trailer suddenly becomes a tail that wags the dog, so to speak.
Dexter’s technology features individual braking at each wheel which is constantly monitored to provide consistent braking and stability. There’s also more to this system.
Many people who tow travel trailers have sway control hitches to prevent the trailer from getting out of control. But the Dexter system uses the individual braking at each wheel to actually provide this meaning you may no longer have to have a clunky sway control hitch. The vehicle you’re towing with, too, likely features sway control and some anti-sway technology and hitches can actually interfere with this technology.
The Dexter system can individually apply braking to minimize or eliminate trailer sway which is how your tow vehicle does it as well.
Lastly, the Dexter system utilizes a smart phone app that includes diagnostics and maintenance reminders. It also incorporates an odometer so you know how many miles your trailer’s been towed.
Lippert Anti-Lock Braking
Like the Dexter system, Lippert’s anti-lock braking technology for trailers also uses individual wheel braking to keep a trailer going where it’s intended by providing anti-lock braking. Lippert’s system was developed in-house and the company has already shown that they’re good at RV technology.
This integrated system works with the trailer’s brakes to prevent wheel lock-up and enhance control over the vehicle-trailer combination, particularly in slippery or abrupt braking situations. When the driver encounters an emergency braking situation, instead of the trailer fishtailing off to one side and pulling the vehicle into a dangerous drift, the Lippert ABS system helps the driver maintain traction and control, bringing the vehicle and trailer safely to a stop.
Lippert’s system works with their existing OneControl app and also provides sway control which can combat sway from side winds or slippery road conditions but also sudden movement including emergency maneuvers.
Lippert’s system is available in the aftermarket so you might be able to install it on your existing trailer and that’s why it got the award. I also already have the OneControl system which I use for our propane tank and refrigerator temperature monitors, among other things, so this means one fewer new app I have to download and figure out.
How ABS works
While ABS might seem like a relatively new technology it has actually been available for longer than you might think. The first application of ABS technology was by Chrysler in the 1970s with a system available as an option on full-sized Chrysler-branded models.
It become more widely available a decade later and finally mandated for all vehicles sold in the United States in 2012.
Essentially ABS works by monitoring wheel speed at each wheel and then modulating the brakes if the system detects a skid. Some skilled drivers used to be able to do this themselves and it was a fairly necessary skill in places where the roads were slippery.
ABS systems can pulsate the brakes many, many times faster than even the most skilled drivers ever could. This is one of those technologies in vehicles that is absolutely necessary and totally valid.
Conclusions
Both the Lippert and Dexter systems are fantastic advances in towing safety and I applaud both companies for moving forward with these. The reason I’m giving both Lippert and Dexter an award for Best New Safety Technology is that their systems can be life saving and require almost no changes by the driver, other than installing the system of course.
Either way these new safety features absolutely can be life saving and I’m hoping they find their way onto all new towable RVs in the very, very near future.
