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A
Apollo®
Braking System
Owner’s Manual
BX88179
(Apollo)
BX88193
(Luxor)
THANK YOU
for purchasing an Apollo braking system from Blue Ox. We’ve organized this manual to make your installation simple and as trouble-free as possible. Insure it is read. Keep your sales receipt and this manual in a safe place so that
both are available for future use if needed.
Blue Ox®
Five-Year Limited Warranty
Automatic Equipment Manufacturing Company (“Automatic”) warrants to the original retail purchaser that each product manufactured by Automatic shall be free from defect in material and workmanship under normal use and service for a period of five years from the date of delivery. In the case of equipment used for commercial or rental purposes, such warranty period is limited to 30 days from the date of delivery to the original retail purchaser.
During said five-year period (30 days in the case of equipment used for commercial or rental purposes), Automatic will repair or replace any parts which (a) shall be returned to an authorized dealer, distributor, or the factory, with transportation charges prepaid, and (b) after examination by Automatic, are found to be defective. This limited warranty will not cover, in any way, any alleged damages caused by incorrect or improper installation, improper use, modification or neglect of product, or failure of the user to follow the guidelines contained in the instructional material provided by Automatic.
REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS SET FORTH IN THIS LIMITED WARRANTY
IS THE SOLE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE PURCHASER. AUTOMATIC
SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES FOR BREACH OF ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY ON THIS PRODUCT. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ON THIS PRODUCT IS LIMITED IN LENGTH TO THE DURATION OF THIS WARRANTY.
Some states do NOT allow the exclusion or limitations of incidental or consequential damages, or allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations or exclusions may NOT apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Automatic reserves the right to make changes or add improvements to its products at any time without any obligation to make such changes to previously manufactured equipment.
IMPORTANT
Coverage and performance under the foregoing limited warranty is conditioned upon the original purchaser completing and returning customer registration card to Automatic or registering via our web site at www.blueox.us within ten days of delivery date and upon the original serial number being visible on the product and unaltered. Automatic will not honor any warranty claims unless the warranty registration card is on file at Automatic’s factory in Pender, Nebraska. Some states do NOT allow exclusions or limitations based on the return of the registration card to the manufacturer, so the above limitations may NOT apply to you.
Blue Ox Division
Automatic Equipment Mfg. Co.
P.O. Box P
Pender, Nebraska 68047
www.blueox.us (402) 385-3051
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Product Information & Table of Contents
Equipment Information Record
Date Purchased: _______________________
Purchased From: _______________________
Address: ______________________________
City:__________State: ___ Zip Code: ______
Phone Number of Dealership: ____________
Installed By: __________________________
Service #: _____________________________
Model #: ______________________________
Serial #: ______________________________
Notes: ________________________________
______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
! WARNING
-FOR YOUR SAFETY-
We recommend that this product be installed by an authorized Blue Ox® Professional Installer. Improper installation and/or operation can create a hazard which can cause serious injury, property damage or death. Improper installation and/or
operation will void the warranty.
At Blue Ox® we pride ourselves in offering exceptional customer service to our valued customers.
Table of Contents
I
Warranty Information
II
Equipment Information Record Table of Contents 24/7 Customer Care Information
Page 1
Description of Product
Page 2
Features and Benefits
Page 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Page 4
Welcome to the Blue Ox Experience Care and Maintenance
Page 5
Unpacking
Page 6
Parts List Itemization
Pages 7-10
Installation
Page 11
Operation
Pages 12
The Apollo® Illustrated
Pages 13-14
Breakaway System
Pages 15-16
Wireless Remote Indicator
Page 17-18
Troubleshooting
If you have any questions, comments, |
DEALERS AND DISTRIBUTORS: |
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or concerns please feel free to contact |
PLEASE give the instructions to the customer so |
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a member of our 24/7 Customer Care |
they fully understand the setup, operation, and |
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Team by calling (402) 385-3051. |
safety precautions of this braking system. |
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Apollo® Braking System from Blue Ox®
Description of your product.
Just like all Blue Ox® towing products, the Apollo® braking system is built to last. Be confident you’ll have superior performance for years to come. For added comfort and security, Blue Ox stands behind the Apollo braking system with a five-year limited warranty on parts and labor.
Your RVs brakes are designed to stop your RV safely and effectively. However, when adding the weight of a towed vehicle, brakes can become overburdened and fade or fail. This is why the Apollo braking system from Blue Ox is such an important accessory for RVs when towing a second vehicle.
It activates your towed vehicle’s brake pedal, removing the entire weight of the vehicle from your motor home’s stressed brakes. This means your RV is better able to stop quickly and efficiently.
Apollo makes advanced braking simple. When you apply pressure to your motor home’s brakes, the Apollo analyzes the braking in a fraction of a second.
Install the Apollo in only a few short steps. It requires no electrical or mechanical connections to the motor home. Apollo contains everything you need in one convenient unit—including
an air pressure gauge and an air pressure regulator that gets power from your 12-volt accessory outlet.
Transfer the Apollo easily between vehicles. It’s small, lightweight and fully adjustable.
Apollo uses digital technology. This means when you begin your stop, Apollo can engage your towed vehicle’s brakes quickly - within 1/4 to 1/2 of a second.
Apollo transmits an engagement signal only when
the brake pedal engages—not simply when the actuator arm extends from the brake case.
These features mean Apollo delivers a more accurate and reliable stop, with improved recognition of unexpected developments. It does not affect your towed vehicle’s Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), ride brakes down steep grades, or wear brakes more than normal use.
With Apollo you get instinctive features adding safety and convenience—like gauges and controls
that are conveniently located with improved visibility and access. Apollo meets SAE governmental specification and protects your towed vehicle from a wiring or fuse overload. Just plug it into the 12-volt accessory outlet.
After your towed vehicle’s brakes are engaged, an optional Wireless Remote Indicator transmits a signal back to your RV and
illuminates a dash-mounted light to let you know the braking system is activated.
Apollo also contains a high-quality surge suppressor to avoid unwanted braking on bumpy roads, bridges, or railroad tracks. For fine adjustments, Apollo offers sensitivity settings for your driving style and environment. For breakaway situations, Apollo provides an optional system that meets or exceeds all requirements in the United States and Canada.
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Features and Benefits
This section explains the many different features and benefits of your Apollo®.
•Convenient Design
Benefit: The Apollo®’s compact size allows it to be used in most applications. The unit sits on the floor in front of the driver’s seat. It is installed easily and does not void your towed vehicle or motor home warranty. The Apollo is lightweight. It weighs a mere 14 lbs. Transfer the unit easily from one vehicle to another and use it for several towed vehicles.
•Eight Sensitivity Settings
Benefit: Get optimal braking performance by choosing the setting that best fits the terrain and your particular driving style.
•Constant Monitoring of G-Forces Benefit: The Apollo unit does this every 1/4 to 1/2 a second. It also provides continuous application of the brakes during braking
application. Apollo takes 1/100 of a second to start applying air to the brakes and only one second until full pedal extension. The quicker the system is activated, the faster the required braking is applied. The Apollo utilizes solid state sensing and activation. It has no moving parts to inhibit proper braking activation.
•Satisfies Increasingly Strict Chassis Manufacturer Braking Requirements Benefit: Reduces the risk of chassis warranty issues regarding braking.
•Digital Normalization
Benefit: Allows the unit to be normalized in any application to compensate for unleveled floorboards of the towed vehicle.
•Brake Bracket
Benefit: The brake bracket is very durable— increasing its lifetime value. The release handle is easily released by a single hand operation. Adjust it to fit the size of your brake pedal without difficulty using a Phillips screwdriver.
•Brake Retracts Utilizing Air Pressure Benefit: Positive return. No spring. Complete retraction.
•High-Quality Surge Suppressor Benefit: No unwanted braking on bumpy roads, bridges, or railroad tracks.
•Large, Quick-Refill Air Tank
Benefit: The large air tank ensures that the compressor cycles less often - increasing the life expectancy of the system. The air tank takes a minimal amount of time to refill because the size of the tubing allows for a quicker response with more air flowing through the line.
•Corrosion Prevention
Benefit: The Apollo has many components that help prevent premature corrosion. The stainless steel construction lasts longer. Air filters and safety relief valves allow for long, trouble-
free operation. Micron air filters and a water separator enhance the Apollo by protecting it from system contamination and premature failures. Air is taken in from above the tank,
ensuring the air is cleaner and drier—reducing the chance of corrosion.
•Exhaust Air Outside of the Unit Benefit: Removing the air outside the unit protects the circuits from water damage.
Accumulated moisture in the bottom of the tank is purged—further preventing corrosion.
•Wireless Remote Indicator (Recommended) Benefit: The Wireless Remote Indicator signals the system if the brake is actually being applied in the towed vehicle. This eliminates the possibility of false indicators that the brake is engaged and provides easy monitoring of braking engagement. The Wireless Remote Indicator continues to transmit as long as the brake pedal is depressed.
•Remote Indicator (Recommended) is Activated from the Brake Light Switch of the Towed Vehicle
Benefit: This gives true indications of brake activity in the towed vehicle.
•Breakaway System (Recommended) Benefit: Provides protection in the event your towed vehicle becomes detached from your motor home. The system immediately applies the brakes of your towed vehicle and brings it
to a rapid stop. This system meets or exceeds all
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Apollo drain the battery of the towed vehicle?
Answer: We recommend disconnecting the Apollo and starting the vehicle each
night to recharge the battery. However, depending on braking conditions, a typical car battery can endure up to four days of towing with the Apollo installed.
How does the Apollo know when to apply the brakes?
Answer: The logic sensor recognizes and reacts to changes in inertia.
How does the Apollo have enough power to apply the brakes on a “dead pedal”?
Answer: The Apollo uses compressed air to actuate the towed vehicle’s dead pedal.
Do you need a strap to pull the brake pedal back?
Answer: No. Air pressure is used to pull the brake pedal back.
Does the air pressure gauge show the amount of PSI applied to the brake pedal?
Answer: No. It shows how much PSI is applied to the Apollo’s cylinder in a braking situation. The cylinder controls the actuator arm pushing the brake pedal. So, the higher the PSI, the more force that is applied to the brake pedal.
Do brackets need to be mounted to the floor of the vehicle?
Answer: No.
Can the outside case withstand the operating conditions on a towed vehicle?
Answer: The Apollo’s outside case is composed of Acrylonitrile Butadiene
Sytrene (ABS) plastic, the same plastic used to make trim for the interior of automobiles. ABS plastic is highly durable and withstands extreme temperatures.
Do you have to wire anything to the towing vehicle for the receiver of the wireless remote indicator?
Answer: No. The receiver plugs into a 12-volt accessory receptacle.
What activates the LED of the wireless remote indicator?
Answer: The light is activated when the Apollo applies the brakes in the towed vehicle. The wireless remote transmitter senses actual current flow to brake lights and transmits a digital signal to the receiver in the towing vehicle. This illuminates the receiver’s LED indicating that the brakes are applied in the towed vehicle.
Will the transmitter of the wireless remote indicator be able to transmit from underneath the dash?
Answer: The transmitter will be able to properly transmit from under the dash in most cases. However, in some cases (i.e., diesel pushers), the transmitter may need
to be installed within the motorhomes line of sight.
Does the wireless remote indicator require cutting into the towed vehicle’s brake lines?
Answer: No. The wireless remote indicator connects to the existing cold wire on the brake pedal switch. This allows accurate monitoring when the brakes are actually applied (not when the unit is simply activated). The Apollo is the only product on the market that offers different frequencies. This allows for traveling in caravans or attending other group functions without interference.
How does the Apollo recognize terrain? Answer: The Apollo uses a built-in logic sensor. The Apollo is digital and analyzes
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Welcome to the Blue Ox® Experience
Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of an Apollo® braking system.
Welcome to the Blue Ox® Family. The braking system that you have purchased combines quality components with the latest in technology and style. We are confident that these design features will provide you with the conveniences you expect during your travels. After you understand how to properly and safely operate and care for your Apollo, expect years of trouble-free operation and service backed by a five-year limited warranty.
In this manual, you will find installation instructions. Please read all of the technical documents, warnings, cautions, tips, and notes in this manual before attempting to operate your Apollo for the first time. Improper installation, use or maintenance may result in malfunction causing personal injury or property damage. Finally, don’t forget to fill out and return your warranty card. For future reference, your serial number is located on the outside of the manual packaging and is also located on the bottom of your Apollo unit.
! WARNING
Do NOT install the Apollo on vehicles that have continuous power assist brakes. Doing so will cause severe tire damage.
! WARNING
Do NOT modify your Apollo® in any way NOT authorized by Blue
Ox®, as it will void the warranty.
Care & Maintenance
Care and Maintenance of your Apollo Braking System
Your Apollo unit requires a minimal amount of care and maintenance. If you do not feel confident in your ability to perform the occasional maintenance, consult your Blue Ox® Dealer or Professional Installer, or see a Blue Ox representative at a rally or race that you plan to attend. The following will inform you of the areas of your Apollo that will need periodic inspection and/or care and maintenance.
- REMINDER -
Proper installation and use of this product is the sole responsibility of the purchaser.
Care
Do NOT use any type of solvent or spray cleaner on the Apollo braking system. The recommended cleaning procedures for the Apollo are to wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth. Wipe down with a dry cloth.
Store in a clean, dry place.
Maintenance
It may be necessary to occasionally lubricate the brake bracket with silicone spray.
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