Trailer brake controller options

[RonD]

The owner of the RV storage yard I use to keep my 5th wheel is a Retired Ford Tech, he told me Ford from 2005 on calls there brake controller Tow Command, and it does work the same as MaxBrake does, connects to the truck hydraulic brake system. I would guess Dodge did the same thing.

 

[HBarlow]

I wonder if the RV storage yard owner is actually familiar with the true hydraulic pressure driven design of the MaxBrake?

 

[Grizzly]

The owner of the RV storage yard I use to keep my 5th wheel is a Retired Ford Tech, he told me Ford from 2005 on calls there brake controller Tow Command, and it does work the same as MaxBrake does, connects to the truck hydraulic brake system. I would guess Dodge did the same thing.

I was told just the opposite from a furd mechanic at Bob Turner Ford here in Albuquerque. He said it's a Prodigy inertia-activated brake controller.

 

[jgillott]

I'm certain that the "Trailer Sway Control" programming on these trucks uses input from and control over the ABS system as part of the overall stability system. I wonder if some of people at these dealerships are confusing info on the Trailer Brake Controller with the Trailer Sway Control? Either way, if they are reading pressure with the built in controller, I would love to know how they are doing it.

 

[RonD]

I just found out more about Tow Command, this is what he told me, there are 3 parts to the system, the in dash module, the Tow Command master cylinder that has a brake pressure transducer , and the active PCM. He told me all three work together, the PCM is connected to the ABS system to adjust the trailer brakes should the tow vehicle have brake lockup, so in other words it sounds like the MaxBrake controller, he said he was not real familiar with MaxBrake, but has read about them, never installed one, so I still think Dodge must have something just like this.

 

[craiggo]

I just found out more about Tow Command, this is what he told me, there are 3 parts to the system, the in dash module, the Tow Command master cylinder that has a brake pressure transducer , and the active PCM. He told me all three work together, the PCM is connected to the ABS system to adjust the trailer brakes should the tow vehicle have brake lockup, so in other words it sounds like the MaxBrake controller, he said he was not real familiar with MaxBrake, but has read about them, never installed one, so I still think Dodge must have something just like this.

RonD,



He is correct. One of the many problems I had was a bad "Tow Command master cylinder brake pressure transducer. "





Ford’s integrated controller electronically tracks hydraulic

pressure inside the vehicle’s master cylinder

and uses it and vehicle speed to modulate the

amount of current produced for trailer brakes. Thus,

the system accurately follows tow-vehicle braking —

more at high speeds than low — even to the point of

utilizing ABS. If the tow-vehicle wheels are slipping,

ABS goes into action for the tow vehicle as well as

the trailer. The Ford system doesn’t give the trailer

the same functions and characteristics of true ABS,

but when the truck’s ABS is activated, the trailerbrake

application is reduced to avoid wheel lockup

— just as with true ABS. A dash monitor indicates

the level of trailer braking, and a manual override is

provided so trailer brakes can be applied independently

of tow-vehicle brakes.



I was told by the Dealer and have read in numerous places that it was designed by Tekonisha but have no evidence to suggest this is correct.

 

[RonD]

Yes, he also told me Tekonisha was the manufacture. The big question how is the current Dodge unit designed, and by whom?

 

[SPucillo]

Well I am on travel and away from my truck.
But based on my memory this is what I know from my testing with the integrated controller.
Using the console display indicated brake force indicator when I am slowing down and hold constant pressure on the brake, when I get to 5mph the braking force tapers to 0, even on a hill. If this was an inertia unit it should break a little harder going down hill. This tells me it is also sensing vehicle speed. The nice thing about this is when you let off the brake at stop lights it doesn't' jerk from the tension in the goose neck releasing.

My F250 had a simple timer controller that would hold steady at lights and release with a nick jerk.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Not sure how the Dodge controller gets its input but I can say it doesn't work anywhere near as good as a GM factory controller. I can't remember the brand, but way back I had the controller that hooked up with a cable to the break pedal. The GM one is similar to that, but actually works even better. My guess is the Max Brake and the GM work the same way. The Dodge feels like the old inertia controllers. Its grabby, not linear, releases after you release the pedal and does not increase brake output the harder you press the pedal.

You can watch the power output on the GM work in exact conjunction with the pedal pressure, the harder you press, the more it applies. Even when your stopped. Does the max brake do the same?

 

[Powder Extreme]

Not sure how the Dodge controller gets its input but I can say it doesn't work anywhere near as good as a GM factory controller. I can't remember the brand, but way back I had the controller that hooked up with a cable to the break pedal. The GM one is similar to that, but actually works even better. My guess is the Max Brake and the GM work the same way. The Dodge feels like the old inertia controllers. Its grabby, not linear, releases after you release the pedal and does not increase brake output the harder you press the pedal.



You can watch the power output on the GM work in exact conjunction with the pedal pressure, the harder you press, the more it applies. Even when your stopped. Does the max brake do the same?

 

[seafish]

Certainly the Brake Smart, which is the same type of controller as the Max Brake, correlates hydraulic pressure to voltage output. Both PSI and voltage read out on the display and continuously change as you apply the brakes.

 

[HBarlow]

Tekonsha does not manufacture a hydraulic-sensing brake controller to sell under their own name so it would be surprising if they manufacture one for Furd.

 

[craiggo]

Not sure how the Dodge controller gets its input but I can say it doesn't work anywhere near as good as a GM factory controller. I can't remember the brand, but way back I had the controller that hooked up with a cable to the break pedal. The GM one is similar to that, but actually works even better. My guess is the Max Brake and the GM work the same way. The Dodge feels like the old inertia controllers. Its grabby, not linear, releases after you release the pedal and does not increase brake output the harder you press the pedal.



You can watch the power output on the GM work in exact conjunction with the pedal pressure, the harder you press, the more it applies. Even when your stopped. Does the max brake do the same?

It's the exact same unit that GM uses, supplied by Continental. From pickuptrucks.com First Review of the 2010 HS's:



Dodge is also to be recognized for finally adding an integrated trailer brake controller – like Ford and GM trucks have -- that ties the truck’s ABS system to a trailer’s electric brakes. The feature is ordered from the factory and can be controlled manually by the driver, by squeezing the brake controller, or automatically by the truck to help brake the trailer. It’s easy to quickly dial-in custom gain settings (brake pressure) to help stop the trailer. Chrysler’s ITBC supplier is Continental, the same supplier that GM uses for its trucks.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Well I sure wont argue who makes it, I have no idea. But it sure doesn't work as well as the controller in my 08 GMC. *shrug.

 

[stick]

Seems that someone with the intergrated brake controler could look for a transducer in their brake system. That would tell if it's an inertia system or not.



Stick

 

[RustyJC]

2011 3500 Integrated Trailer Brake Controller

OK, I have a question. I just ordered a 2011 Laramie 3500 4x2 crew cab long bed dually to tow our 5th wheel RV. As the salesman and I sat at his computer and checked the option boxes, there was no option for the integrated trailer brake controller. The salesman says that he thinks the integrated trailer brake controller is now standard equipment on the 3500s, but that he would double-check and let me know. Naturally, I've heard nothing since.



Has anyone ordered and received a 2011 3500, and can you confirm that the integrated trailer brake controller is standard equipment, or am I having smoke blown up my skirt??



Rusty

 

[craiggo]

I just read someplace (and of course I can't remember where) that it is now standard on the Laramie models.

 

[BurlesonR]

Rusty,

I just ordered a Laramie and it does come standard on the 2011's.

My salesman gave me a print out of the order and some place in the standard equipment list I saw it. Did you get a print out for your order?

 

[RustyJC]

Just a 1 page printout showing the truck itself and the options I ordered. It didn't list the standard equipment.



Rusty

 

[BurlesonR]

Hmmm...

I got 4 pages. First 2 are standard equip. and the second 2 are all the options... . Sounds like you just got the option part?...