2012 Max Tow

[Don]

I just got my truck back fro getting a Max Brake control installed after reading all the post about the poor performance of the factory controller. All I can say is wow to both truck and controller. I only pulled over to the scale to get weight on both coach and truck, but what a difference from my 2004. Now if I only have enough money for fuel for this beast for our trip south!

Don

 

[Slow Six]

Who did your Max Brake for you and what problems were encountered? I have a Max Brake in my 03 that I am moving to my 2012 when it arrives. I agree about the Max Brake. I installed it, set it according to instructions and I have not touched it since. I have towed 4 different trailers, tandems, triaxles, light or loaded it does not matter, the controller is flawless. I have a similar truck coming. I hope it pulls like they say it does as I will be around 26000 lbs. GCVW. I get the part about fuel too.

 

[RustyJC]

Nothing at all against the Brakesmart or Maxbrake, but those of you getting 2012s may want to at least try the factory integrated brake controller first. The 2012s have a controller setup option through the EVIC for type of trailer brakes and trailer weight (Electric Light, Electric Heavy, EOH [electric over hydraulic] Light and EOH Heavy) that the 2011 and earlier trucks didn't have. I personally haven't seen the 2012 guys complaining about the latest version of the integrated trailer brake controller - just us with the 2011 and earlier factory controllers.



Rusty

 

[Don]

I had a friend install the Max Brake. He did call folks at Plug It Right for some guidance and phoned the factory for the correct tee fitting and all is well.
As far as the factory controller, I didn't even try it. It may be fine, but I already had a new Max Brake in the box and didn't want to mess with it (factory) if there were any issues.
Don

 

[Slow Six]

RustyJC, thanks for the info. Would this EVIC have to be changed every time you changed trailers? As I posted earlier the Max Brake needs setting once and it seems to be right in tune even with different trailers.

 

[HBarlow]

Rusty,

No disrespect intended but the folks who are happy with their OEM controllers in 2012 trucks have never towed with a truly integrated hydraulic over electric controller. They have probably towed with the ancient and long ago superceded technology of the Tekonsha inertia-actived junk. The new Ram OEM controller is probably using a form of inertia activation.

Those who have not used a MaxBrake or BrakeSmart simply do not know what they are missing and what amazing brake control is available for only a little over $400.

 

[RustyJC]

Harvey,



I don't know - the integrated brake controller is supplied by Continental who provides advanced electronics to many OEMs. These include stability control systems, anti lock braking systems, etc. With the integration into the truck's CANbus system (transmission control module, exhaust brake function of the VGT), I suspect that the integrated trailer brake control is much more sophisticated than a simple Tekonsha Voyager or Prodigy (which I also have experience with and agree they're junk. )



Again, as I said, I have nothing at all against the BrakeSmart or MaxBrake (I may well wind up with the latter myself), but the 2012 ITBC seems to have addressed the obvious shortcoming of the earlier ITBCs. I'll reserve judgement until I see more first-hand reports; that's why I'd like to hear more first-hand experience from the 2012 purchasers. Hey, if they don't like it, they can always go to the MaxBrake.



Rusty

 

[MChrist]

I've never used the Max Brake mentioned above, but I'd like to hear a real comparison between a stock 2012 system and the Max Brake.

 

[HBarlow]

I'm not sure the Ram OEM controller is inertia activated but things I have read suggest it is. If Ram would hire someone like Continental, the company you mentioned, to manufacture a controller that actually sensed hydraulic line pressure like ABS sensors must do, the OEM could be equal to or perhaps even superior to the lone aftermarket controller now offered. It would have the considerable advantages of being ordered and installed at the factory, designed into the dash, and compatible with everything in the truck. Everyone who even considered towing with a new Ram product, and that would be most owners, would gladly check that block on the order form.

 

[RonD]

I don't know how the new Factory Controller is designed, but in my case it works very well, I even had to make a panic stop at 60 mph, I would say the truck and trailer stopped just as good as if I did not have the trailer connected, anyone who is replacing a 2012 controller is tossing good money out the window

 

[HBarlow]

Ron,

But have you ever towed with an old fashioned Kelsey-Hayes manual hydraulic over electric or a modern computerized BrakeSmart or MaxBrake?

To me, a '57 Chevy BelAir Sport Coupe with a mildly modifed 350 ci Chevy small block was fast but I've never drag raced a 12 second car.

 

[RonD]

Ron,



But have you ever towed with an old fashioned Kelsey-Hayes manual hydraulic over electric or a modern computerized BrakeSmart or MaxBrake?



To me, a '57 Chevy BelAir Sport Coupe with a mildly modifed 350 ci Chevy small block was fast but I've never drag raced a 12 second car.

No, never have, but the reason we have trailer brakes is to stop, my 2012 controller does that very well, so the old saying, "if it ain't broken, don't fix it", I think goes with my feelings, on the other hand, my 2005 had a Prodigy, I can relate to what is being said, that was a terrible system, nothing like the new one, those with older factory controllers, or no controller at all, I would definitely install a MaxBrake controller. The new trucks are going more, and more toward electrical operated systems, even the throttle is now electric, so I don't have a clue how the new controller works, but it works,

 

[HBarlow]

Ron,

I bought my first travel trailer in Bremerton, WA in the fall of 1972. I've been towing trailers since then except for a period while I was overseas in the early '80s. I have NEVER accepted inertia controllers although I was able to stop the truck and trailer when I was forced to use one. Just stopping the trailer is not a great measure of convenience and safety. I made a lot of white knuckle stops with no trailer brakes and a lot more with locked trailer brakes and tires skidding or trailer brakes alternating between none and locked lurching and jerking violently. To say I hated the Tekonsha Voyager controllers would be much too polite.

Back when I bought my first trailer the standard brake controller was a Kelsey-Hayes that tapped into the truck's brake line. I learned to pull a trailer with a real brake controller that responded precisely to my right foot on the brake pedal.

After living overseas for five years from late '79 until the mid-'80s and not towing for several years I was appalled when I returned home at how incompetent a Tekonsha inertia controller was when towing an Airstream with a '94 Furd F-250HD. It was just plain intolerable but every RV dealer in America at the time was happy to claim a brake line could not be tapped on a modern truck with ABS.

By accident, browsing on a dusty shelf in an RV dealer's parts shelf I found a brand new in the box old Kelsey-Hayes controller in '94 or '95. I bought it, took it home and read all the literature. The literature stated that the controller could be safely used on new trucks because the controller only displaced less than 0. 02 cu. in. of brake fluid.

I called and spoke to engineers at Kelsey-Hayes which was by then Hayes or Hayes-Lemmerz. They assured me that was a fact but deferred to the truck manufacturer. Furd was silent on the issue but GM truck brochures then and until a year or two ago still contain the tiny fine print line stating that as long as an aftermarket brake controller did not displace more than 0. 02 cubic inches of fluid they could be used. I installed the K-H controller on my Furd and amazingly had great trailer brakes again after enduring the pos Tekonsha junk for years. I used it for several years on the Furd.

When I bought my first Dodge-Cummins in '01 I installed the K-H controller and had great trailer brakes but when braking line pressure would slam the manual rheostat arm so violently I knew the controller couldn't survive. My Dodge was a late 2001 with four wheel disk brakes.

I used a Kelsey-Hayes or Hayes-Lemmerz electronic inertia controller for about a year. It was better than the junk Tekonsha but about 50% as effective as the K-H manual.

I heard of the BrakeSmart controllers in 2002 on TDR and bought one. I'm still using the same BrakeSmart 660,000 miles later on my '08 C&C. Two years ago I gave the K-H controller to a friend who tows a heavy fifthwheel with a 2001 Dodge dually. His is an early 2001 with rear drum brakes and the controller works fine on his truck. Apparently the hydraulic line pressure is much greater on a four wheel disc truck.

Until the OEM truck manufacturers learn to manufacture or outsource a brake controller that actually senses brake line pressure I wouldn't pay $10 for one and would disable a free one. There is simply no comparison between the two concepts.

 

[RustyJC]

Can we all stipulate that the BrakeSmart/MaxBrake is the ultimate in brake controller design and function? That it/they are the ne plus ultra of brake controllers - there's absolutely nothing better on the market?



Now, with that agreed to, would it be possible to solicit comments from 2012 owners regarding performance of this latest version of the factory integrated brake controllers (ITBCs)?



Rusty

 

[Slow Six]

RonD, do you have Electric over Hydraulic disk brakes on your RV? This is where there has been a problem with the integrated controller. I will be very pleased if it does work. I for one love the Max Brake but maybe, just maybe they got it right for 2012.

 

[HBarlow]

I just got my truck back fro getting a Max Brake control installed after reading all the post about the poor performance of the factory controller. All I can say is wow to both truck and controller. I only pulled over to the scale to get weight on both coach and truck, but what a difference from my 2004. Now if I only have enough money for fuel for this beast for our trip south!
Don

Rusty,

Here's the Original Poster's opening thread. It seems to me the OP was discussing his new MaxBrake and how pleased he is with its performance.

Perhaps you are seeking information on new 2012 OEM brake controllers but he was not. We were talking about MaxBrake controllers.

 

[RonD]

RonD, do you have Electric over Hydraulic disk brakes on your RV? This is where there has been a problem with the integrated controller. I will be very pleased if it does work. I for one love the Max Brake but maybe, just maybe they got it right for 2012.

No mine is elect brakes, and I think they got it right, along with a whole bunch of other stuff. I have a gut feeling that when Mercedes owned Chrysler, they did a lot of the improvements, small things, like the EVIC, the stitched dash cover, the seats, the better brakes, for those on the side lines, when you do decide to update your truck, you won't belive the difference.

 

[RustyJC]

Harvey,



Yet ANOTHER discussion about the absolute superiority of the MaxBrake is probably appropriate for the Towing forum. However, THIS thread is in the 4th Generation forum, and some of us (as indicated by posts other than mine) would very much appreciate garnering some user information on the 2012 ITBCs. Would it please be possible just to let some comments from these users flow in?



Thanks,



Rusty

 

[jhenderson]

I remember my father towing a camper back in the 70's. He used a controller that tapped into the brake hydraulics. Everything old is new again. I installed a Max Brake last year and never looked back. Best ever.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey,

Yet ANOTHER discussion about the absolute superiority of the MaxBrake is probably appropriate for the Towing forum. However, THIS thread is in the 4th Generation forum, and some of us (as indicated by posts other than mine) would very much appreciate garnering some user information on the 2012 ITBCs. Would it please be possible just to let some comments from these users flow in?

Thanks,

Rusty

I didn't post this thread in this forum or select the topic. I'm discussing the OP's chosen topic as are all the other posters.

Do you want us to stop discussing subjects you don't approve of?

Are you claiming a right to hijack the OP's thread?

Perhaps if you don't like reading about MaxBrakes (I understand your resentment) perhaps you should start your own thread with that subject line.

I think I remember you asking that question on another thread a few days ago. Did you get any responses then?