Placement of Brake Controller in 2012 2500

[RUSSELL5000]

I have a 2012 2500 crew cab ST w/ 4WD. It did not come with the factory brake controller; I have since read a number of threads suggesting that is not such a bad thing.



Prior to finding TDR, I did some looking and picked the Tekonsha Prodigy P3. I see a large number on the forum prefer MaxBrake, but the Prodigy got great reviews as well. I think it will work fine for me as I will be towing only one trailer and it has electric brakes.



I thought I would place the controller in the same slot to the left of the steering column- just above the parking brake handle - that the factory controller would occupy. I squeezed under the dash and removed two white plastic clips that I thought were holding the slot cover to the dash - but still the slot cover does not move.



So, I thought I would carefully trace the outline of the controller on the slot cover and use a Dremel tool to cut an opening; then place the controller there.



(1) Is this what others have done? In concept, that is - even if placing somewhere else?



(2) Have I messed something up by removing the two plastic clips? Should I reinstall? I think I broke them - can more be obtained (through dealer?)



Thanks for the help!

 

[RVTRKN]

I have owned the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 and own the equivalent to the MaxBrake, Brake Smart. If your on a budget then the Prodigy will work well for you, but by far the best is MaxBrake, if your safety is big a concern then don't settle for second best, get the MaxBrake.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Max Brake is great but I would check into getting the controller from Chrysler. The 12 controllers work as well as the MaxBrake and it is all integrated.

 

[HBarlow]

The OEM brake controller does not work as well as a MaxBrake because the OEM is unable to sense brake line hydraulic pressure. Only someone who had no towing experience with a MaxBrake or BrakeSmart would make that claim.

Russell, you are fortunate the truck does not have an OEM brake controller but you wipe out that advantage if you buy a worthless antique Tekonsha Prodigy controller. Prodigy controllers may receive great reviews from those who own one and don't know any better.

The first lesson to learn about reading on internet forums when seeking product advice is about 99% of particpants will claim whatever they own is the best. Apparently some odd quirk of human nature causes people to try to persuade everyone else to buy what they bought in order to make them feel better about their choice.

Toss the Prodigy in a trash can and buy a MaxBrake. Key MaxBrake into the TDR search feature and do some reading. Most TDR members praising the MaxBrake previously owned a Tekonsha brand controller. BTW, I do not own a MaxBrake.

 

[DennyDay]

Listen to HBarlow - - - neither the OEM nor the Prodigy come anywhere being equal to the MaxBrake - - - the only thing that ever came close is the Kelsey-Hays - - - they quitmaking that about 20 years ago

 

[CRath]

I used my factory 2011 controller for the first year towing my 5th wheel before I finally said enough and install the maxbrake from my previos truck. I don't have any firsthand knowledge of the 2012 controller but I can tell you that the maxbrake does make the truck and trailer feel like they act as one... very seemless and extremely smooth braking. I followed a thread here on TDR and bypassed my factory controller and everything works perfect. As far as location is concerned I thought about mounting under the dash but didn't like how tight it was with my knees there so I installed it in the center console all the way to the left, drilled a small hole at the bottom of the console to run the wires and routed them inside the left side of the console to the factory connector on the left side of the dash.

The only small drawback is that the display is easier to read from the passengers perspective than the drivers (due to the location of the manual actuation lever) but it has not been any inconvience for me to operate and the controller is nicely tucked away in the console and doesn't protrude out from the dash. The whole installation was very easy and the controller works wonderfully. If you went with the maxbrake you would not regret it. Crath

 

[RUSSELL5000]

First, thanks to those who have posted. I appreciate the input.



I have read a lot of the threads posted here dealing with trailer brake controllers and it appears there is a pretty strong consensus regarding the superiority of the MaxBrake.



If I understand this correctly, it seems there are two approaches to brake controllers. I think the basic idea underlying each is as follows (assumes electric brakes):



The first kind is like the Tekonsha Prodigy P3. These kind contain some type of physical or solid state device that senses the change in acceleration of the towing vehicle when you step on the brake. The greater the change in acceleration of the towing vehicle the greater the current sent to the electric brakes on the trailer and so the greater the braking of the trailer. It seems to me that there must be some inevitable delay with this type of controller - the towing vehicle must physically slow before the trailer brakes are applied. I noted in the threads that many said the prodigy P3 would work 99% of the time - it is just slow in a crisis braking situation.



The second kind is like the MaxBrake (if there are any other like the MaxBrake). These kind have a hydraulic pressure sensor that attaches to the hydraulic brake line of the towing vehicle. The greater the force applied to the brake pedal, the greater the current sent to the electric brakes on the trailer and so the greater the braking of the trailer. It seems to me that in this case the brakes on the towing vehicle and the brakes on the trailer must be applied at the same time - or at least the difference must be very small (and probably imperceptible to a human). I would think this approach would be better in a crisis braking situation - the trailer would start to brake as soon as the driver foot is applied to the brake pedal rather than after the towing vehicle has begin to decelerate.



I have read the installation instructions of the MaxBrake from on the web as well as watched a youtube video of an install. Some items I picked up on are:



(1) Support the MaxBrake hydraulic line in some manner so that over time vibration does not loosen or brake the connection(s) to the towing vehicle hydraulic brake system.



(2) Run the cables through a rubber grommet on the firewall to prevent chafing - I think I'll add some split wire loom as well.



(3) Avoid sharp kinks in the cabling.



(4) The installation instruction say all you have to do is bleed the one hydraulic line where the pressure sensor is added one. Wouldn't you introduce air into that brake line and have to bleed at the wheels as well?



If I have the basics of this down then I think I'll go with the MaxBrake. Just want to make sure I understand correctly. Measure twice - cut once!



Kevin

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, you have the basic concept figured out. Buy and install a MaxBrake. Dozens of us here will promise you you won't regret it.

 

[crispyboy]

I installed the Maxbrake controller last month. No need to bleed at the wheels, only at the Maxbrake sensor.

There are actually two other types of controllers. The el cheapo model is "time" based. I have no experience with them but others have told me about them and none of it has been good.....

The newest type on the market is "direclink". http://www.direclink.com/
This model plugs into the OBD2 port and acquires information from the abs sensors and other data. It is literally a "plug and play" brake controller. I know somebody who has one along with a disk brake setup on the trailer and they seem to love the system. It is the same price as the Maxbrake.
I went with Maxbrake because so many others have recommended them. I have towed several times since installing last month and feel much more confident when coming to a stop.

 

[crispyboy]

I installed the Maxbrake controller last month. No need to bleed at the wheels, only at the Maxbrake sensor.



There are actually two other types of controllers. The el cheapo model is "time" based. I have no experience with them but others have told me about them and none of it has been good.....



The newest type on the market is "direclink". http://www.direclink.com/

This model plugs into the OBD2 port and acquires information from the abs sensors and other data. It is literally a "plug and play" brake controller. I know somebody who has one along with a disk brake setup on the trailer and they seem to love the system. It is the same price as the Maxbrake.

I went with Maxbrake because so many others have recommended them. I have towed several times since installing last month and feel much more confident when coming to a stop.

 

[mbirch]

I also read all the reports of the Maxbrake controller on this site and finally bit the bullet and bought mine about six months ago. I have had many different controllers and never was happy with any of them, always adjusting them. You thought it would be set right and then the next time you used the brakes it would be out of adjustment. I LOVE my new Maxbreak. Every stop is the same. I wish they would make a better looking control box though, and I wish I could turn down the level of the panel light at night. My brother-in-law bought a 1999 ford F-450 with a Maxbrake controller and it looked like it was a smaller control box than mine.

Anyway, I'm glad I listened to you guys.

 

[SnoKing]

mbirch, take the MaxBrake case apart and paint it. It was look much better! Snow22king

 

[HBarlow]

I installed the Maxbrake controller last month. No need to bleed at the wheels, only at the Maxbrake sensor.

There are actually two other types of controllers. The el cheapo model is "time" based. I have no experience with them but others have told me about them and none of it has been good.....

The newest type on the market is "direclink". http://www.direclink.com/
This model plugs into the OBD2 port and acquires information from the abs sensors and other data. It is literally a "plug and play" brake controller. I know somebody who has one along with a disk brake setup on the trailer and they seem to love the system. It is the same price as the Maxbrake.
I went with Maxbrake because so many others have recommended them. I have towed several times since installing last month and feel much more confident when coming to a stop.

DirecLink may be the same price and claims to be a brake controller but it is an inertia-activated controller just as all the junk Tekonshas and other brands. Don't be fooled by the advertising hype claiming magical capabilities. It is just another cheap imititation of a real brake controller.

There is only one brake controller available on the market that uses direct brake line hydraulic pressure to control trailer brakes electric trailer brakes. The brand name is MaxBrake.

 

[mbirch]

Thanks Snoking, that's a good idea!

 

[Cummins12V98]

I used my factory 2011 controller for the first year towing my 5th wheel before I finally said enough and install the maxbrake from my previos truck. I don't have any firsthand knowledge of the 2012 controller but I can tell you that the maxbrake does make the truck and trailer feel like they act as one... very seemless and extremely smooth braking. I followed a thread here on TDR and bypassed my factory controller and everything works perfect. As far as location is concerned I thought about mounting under the dash but didn't like how tight it was with my knees there so I installed it in the center console all the way to the left, drilled a small hole at the bottom of the console to run the wires and routed them inside the left side of the console to the factory connector on the left side of the dash.
The only small drawback is that the display is easier to read from the passengers perspective than the drivers (due to the location of the manual actuation lever) but it has not been any inconvience for me to operate and the controller is nicely tucked away in the console and doesn't protrude out from the dash. The whole installation was very easy and the controller works wonderfully. If you went with the maxbrake you would not regret it. Crath

Did you have your controller disabled at the dealer?

 

[CRath]

Did you have your controller disabled at the dealer?

I didn't have anything disabled... quite the opposite. I followed instructions from another post here(which I can't seem to find) which still powers up the factory controller but doesn't allow it to recieve or send brake signals which in turn keeps any messages from showing up on the EVIC. I am a keep it stock kinda guy as much as possible so I didn't want the dealer to mess with anything and if for some reason decide to sell the truck all I have to do is unplug my bypass connector and plug the controller back in and everything is back to normal. Crath

 

[CRath]

Took some pics of my maxbrake install location for another member... in case anyone else is curious.

This location works great for me and the controller is mounted with adhesive velcro so if I need to remove it nothing has been damaged. Crath

 

[DennyDay]

Max Brake is great but I would check into getting the controller from Chrysler. The 12 controllers work as well as the MaxBrake and it is all integrated.

No electronic brake works "as well as" the Max Brake, especially the OEM one! The only one that compares is the old Kelsey-Hays that connected to the master cylinder.

 

[Cummins12V98]

If my truck were a 2012 the factory brake controller would work great. But it is not so I am in the process of installing the Max Brake now. It sure is an ugly looking unit and there is really no good place to put it. CRath has a good location but I don't want to loose any of the console storage. So I have it installed as close to the hood release as I could get it and centered left to right. Of course my leg hits the emergency slide bar when getting out. I will probably do like SNOKING did and paint it. Probably will grind off most of the emergency slide bar.

 

[HBarlow]

No it wouldn't.

It looks pretty silly for you to continue defending the Ram oem brake controller even though you've finally admitted to yourself that the one in your truck does a lousy job.

The only owners who claim to like their oem brake controller are those who have never experienced the huge improvement in performance and safety of a brake line pressure sensing controller like MaxBrake, BrakeSmart, or the old Kelsey-Hayes manual brake controllers we used prior to the '90s.