Roadmaster Flat-Tow Braking: InvisiBrake, Even Brake & BrakeMaster

When you flat tow a vehicle behind a motorhome, a supplemental brake system applies the towed vehicle's own brakes when the motorhome slows. Roadmaster makes three distinct systems: the concealed InvisiBrake, the portable Even Brake and the air-operated BrakeMaster. They serve the same purpose, but the connection method, setup routine and parts are different.

Compare the complete braking systems

Choose a system for how you tow

InvisiBrake 8700: Most of its equipment stays out of sight in the towed vehicle. Once installed, it responds automatically to the lighting/brake signal sent through the towing electrical connection. It applies braking progressively over the duration of the signal, rather than measuring motorhome deceleration in the same way as Even Brake. The unit has an adjustable pressure setting and includes its breakaway and motorhome monitor components. Roadmaster lists it for approved vacuum-assisted braking systems, including certain active-power-brake applications.

Even Brake 9400: A portable floor-mounted unit operates the towed vehicle's pedal. Its proportional braking follows the motorhome's rate of deceleration, and it can be moved between approved vehicles when the necessary vehicle-side equipment is installed. Roadmaster includes a wireless motorhome monitor and an emergency breakaway arrangement. This is the practical choice if you need to remove the pedal actuator between trips.

BrakeMaster 9160: Connects directly to the motorhome's air or air-over-hydraulic brakes and applies the towed vehicle brakes in proportion to the coach's braking pressure. Part 9160 includes BrakeAway. Owners of motorhomes with hydraulic brakes require a different BrakeMaster package; the 9160 is not a universal BrakeMaster kit for every motorhome.

See the full systems

8700 — InvisiBrake

Permanent, automatic

View 8700 product

9400 — Even Brake

Portable proportional

View 9400 product

9160 — BrakeMaster

Air-operated proportional

View 9160 product

Find the right installation and service components

98160 — BrakeMaster second-vehicle kit with BrakeAway

Air lines, monitor wiring, mounting components and BrakeAway for installing an existing BrakeMaster in another towed vehicle.

View 98160 product

98200 — BrakeMaster second-motorhome kit

Motorhome-side equipment for an existing BrakeMaster when the replacement coach uses air or air-over-hydraulic brakes.

View 98200 product

98850 — InvisiBrake motorhome monitor kit

Motorhome-side monitor and alarm components for transferring an existing InvisiBrake installation to another coach.

View 98850 product

900002 — BrakeMaster brake pressure reducer

Regulates pneumatic pedal pressure for BrakeMaster when required by the towed vehicle's active braking system.

View 900002 product

751507 — Vehicle-specific brake light monitor switch

Provides pedal-actuation feedback in the particular vehicles covered by Roadmaster's fitment listing.

View 751507 product

BrakeMaster air-pressure reducer: an important detail

Roadmaster 900002 controls the air pressure delivered to the brake pedal when a BrakeMaster installation requires reduced pressure, such as certain vehicles with active power brakes. According to Roadmaster's installation instructions, where BrakeAway is fitted the reducer must go after the BrakeAway air reservoir outlet and before the quick coupler inside the towed vehicle. Putting the reducer before BrakeAway can prevent full emergency braking pressure. See the 900002 illustrated installation instructions.

Second motorhome versus second towed vehicle

These are different kits. Choose 98160 when transferring an existing BrakeMaster pedal actuator into another towed car and adding the appropriate vehicle-side lines, monitor wiring and breakaway equipment. Choose 98200 when changing to a motorhome with air or air-over-hydraulic brakes. For an InvisiBrake monitor in another motorhome, the applicable kit is 98850. None of these kits contains every component of a new complete supplemental braking system.

Before ordering or driving

1. Confirm the car is authorized for flat towing and follow the vehicle's specific transmission, steering and battery procedures.
2. Identify the coach brake system. An air-operated BrakeMaster package must match the motorhome's brake type.
3. Determine whether the towed vehicle retains active power braking while being towed; the correct BrakeMaster pressure-reduction requirements depend on that design.
4. Check the exact breakaway and pedal-monitor arrangements and verify they operate as instructed before each trip.
5. Check Roadmaster's FitMaster vehicle application information and its current installation manual before selecting hardware.

Need lighting components for the towed car? Our Roadmaster flat-tow wiring guide covers separate bulbs, ordinary diodes and Smart Diodes.