RVibrake Shadow Performance (Engineered Design)

A.  Shadow is an inertia-activated system designed to detect brakings. This allows Shadow to take the weight of the towed vehicle off your motorhome every time it activates.  

The on/off switch for Shadow is charging voltage coming from your 6 or 7 pin connector at the front of your towed vehicle. Once you plug your umbilical in and start your motorhome's ignition, Shadow recognizes that you're towing. From there, Shadow's built-in accelerometer takes over, measuring inertia and braking as needed.

A. No. RVibrake Shadow applies the brakes in the towed vehicle only when the inertia of your stop is severe enough to trigger a braking. A good way to think about this is that if you're braking hard enough to feel your chest pull forward from the G-force, then the Shadow will activate. Anything less than that (such as engine braking or constant braking down a hill) is not enough to trigger Shadow's inertial components. Additionally, Shadow's advanced software adjusts for slope, whether you’re going uphill or down. Downshifting or using exhaust brakes will not engage RVibrake Shadow.

A. No, as long as your unit's built-in battery charger is properly installed. This built-in feature allows Shadow to charge your battery as you're towing, so you never have to worry about a dead battery again! In addition to being the on/off switch for the unit, the alternator voltage coming from your coach is more than sufficient to charge most towed batteries while going down the road. However, there are some rare vehicles that will require a Towed Battery Disconnect (which Shadow's charger cannot take the place of). If you're unsure whether this pertains to your vehicle, make sure to check out our Specific Vehicle Products page.

If your towed vehicle will be sitting for multiple days without being driven or towed, we would recommend pulling Shadow's inline fuse and stowing it in an easy-to-locate spot. This is because some ancillary components within the Shadow must stay on at all times. The drain is low, but will run the battery in your towed down if left alone for more than a few days. 

A. Yes, Shadow is fully compatible with Active braking systems. The only brakes that Shadow does not work with are Hydroboost/hydraulic systems. See our article entitled "Is RVibrake Shadow Compatible With Electric/Hybrid Vehicles" for more info.  

A. No. RVibrake Shadow uses the highest level of technology available. The surge suppressor inside the unit will not engage unnecessarily on bumpy roads, bridges, or railroad tracks. 

A.  When the engine of the towed vehicle is not running, the ABS, which is an electrical feature, is not functioning. If the ignition is on but the engine is off, ABS is active. 

A.  Your lights when towing are actually controlled by your lighting kit - which is separate from your braking system. This lighting kit controls your running lights, turn signals, and also turns on your brake lights every time you hit the brake pedal in the motorhome. In essence, your lights on your towed vehicle function no differently than when you're driving the vehicle around. 

A. No problem. Just choose the SENSITIVITY setting of PANIC. Here's how the sensitivity works:

NORMAL: Shadow will perform 40-70% of the time you put your foot on the brake pedal in the motorhome. The rule of thumb in NORMAL is, if you feel your chest getting gently pulled forward in a braking then the Shadow will brake. The harder you feel your chest getting pulled forward the bigger the graph will grow.

PANIC ONLY: Shadow will only perform in a panic stop. In this type of braking you definitely don't have time to look at the monitor.