Well,
We've been towing Jeeps, ( 8 different ones) for over 35 years and, have used two different types of auxiliary braking systems for them. Now, unless something's seriously changed in the towing/auxiliary braking systems/actuators/ etc. type braking systems for toads, a "BREAK AWAY" system is NOT the auxiliary braking system that one installs in a toad, or Jeep for all you Jeep folks out there.
A break-a-way system is designed to activate an EXISTING AUXILIARY braking system should the coach/towing vehicle BREAK AWAY from the toad/Jeep. Someone mentioned using just a break-a-way system instead of the ACTUAL braking system that would be installed in their Jeep. Well, just exactly WHAT are you going to hook that break-a-way system up to, in your toad or Jeep, if you don't have any form of auxiliary braking system on board???
Depending on what kind of braking system you install, a break-a-way system is designed for that SPECIFIC type/style of brake system. They ARE NOT UNIVERSAL!
The first system we used for quite a few years was the cheapest, efficient brake actuation system you could get at the time. It's called the "Ready Brake" system. If you're not familiar, it's simply a surge brake system, very simalar to a surge brake system that's used on ten zillion boat trailer out there.
The main difference is, boat trailer utilize a sliding hydraulic master cylinder to actuate the boat trailer brakes to assist in slowing and stopping. But, the Ready Brake system utilizes a cable actuator, attached to your ball slider on the back of your coach/truck etc. It has a sliding component, inside the unit itself that, when inertia is encountered, the actuator slides forward which, pivots a lever that sticks out of the top of the unit.
That lever, is attached to a cable, that's attached to your jeeps brake pedal. When you apply the brakes on the coach/truck, the coach starts to slow down, the inertia of the Jeep behind it, pushes on the actuator which, intern pivots the lever which, pulls on the cable which, pulls on the Jeeps brake arm. That's how that works.
But, in the event your tow bar breaks and you loose the physical connection between the coach and Jeep, there's a small auxiliary steel cable that pulls on the "BREAK-A-WAY" which, pulls on the cable to the brake arm. There is no way to release the break-a-way without actually disabling it, via a set of instructions.
The second and present type of auxiliary braking system we now use is called the M & G braking system. It utilizes air pressure from our coaches air brakes, to activate a diaphram that I installed between master cylinder and the power brake unit. It's specifically designed for diesel coaches with air brakes but, they've also developed a system for gas coaches with hydraulic brake systems too.
With the M & G Braking system, there is absolutely NOTHING connected to the brake pedal inside the Jeep. Nothing has to be installed, each and every time we tow our Jeep. The only thing that needs to be placed in between the coach and the Jeep is small, curely cue air brake hose. It takes me a whopping 4-5 seconds to hook up that brake system, DONE!
But, each type of auxiliary braking system, Ready Brake, Brake Buddy, Even Brake, SMI, Air-Force 1, M & G Braking system, and more, all have their own break-a-way system.
Scott