BrakeSmart pricing

[Grizzly]

Where can I get the best price on a BrakeSmart. I want to get one for my son for Christmas. He has an 04. 5 3500 SRW with a 5. 9 Cummins and a NV5600 6 speed standard trans.



I have the BrakeSmart on my 05 and I believe it's the best brake controller on the market. I got mine from a parts dealer near Denver, who must no longer be in business. It was a little cheaper then Dr Performance price.

 

[jelag]

Grizzly...

We have the brake smart on most of our trucks... however we just installed a Max Brake on a customers truck and I like the simpler set of operational instructions... . and its easier to adjust the settings...

The brake smart was first promoted to add later an EGT feature... but they never made enough money to get that part working... later the company was sold and that feature was forgotten...

Look at the Max Brake web sight MaxBrake™ - Hydraulic over Electric Variable Brake Controller... . if you have an interest give us a call...

Did you ever get to the Grand Canyon...

 

[Grizzly]

Hi Jim, I'm Sure my son son would like the MaxBrake as well. Do you know how much they are and are you a distributor for them? You can call me or send me an email.



We never did get to the Grand Canyon because of Bert's work load. We did however take the 5er on a short outing and tried out the PacBrake. I was very happy with it and while I had the 5er hooked up, I had my son try it out, which he liked. He also liked the BrakeSmart.



My son has a 26' 5er and a 14' Big Tex goose neck dumptrailer that he will occasionally haul 3 to 4 cubic yards of landscaping material in one load. I was helping on one job and noticed that his Draw Tight brake controller was jerking the dumptrailer around. We decided he needed a BrakeSmart or a brake controller that is as good.



I didn't get the MaxBrake at the time I got my BrakeSmart because they were too new and knew of the reliability of the BrakeSmart.



george

 

[HBarlow]

George,

I was just reading on the Escapees website a few days ago in the HDT forum and several of the guys who post there, who are knowledgeable and accurate, report that Dr. Performance is apparently allowing the BrakeSmart product, which they apparently own the rights to produce, simply die.

I have been a very satisfied owner of a BrakeSmart for six or seven years and swear by it but I think the only solution is a MaxBrake which operates on the same design and reportedly works equally well.

MaxBrake controllers can be purchased from SouthWest Wheel in Dallas or Lubbock or from their website:

Southwest Wheel Company Steel and Aluminum Truck Wheels

Last I heard the price was about $400.

 

[jelag]

Harvey...

I quoted George a little better price... but am not going to post it here. . got my hands slapped the last time I did that. .

We're heading out of town (wife and I) all of you have a nice 2 weeks while we go out and play...

 

[Dutch & Di]

We are also a satisfied customer and distributor for Max Brake. If you'll go to our website Plug It Right you'll see our pricing. Have them in stock to. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. 941-416-0918 10 am to 10 pm days a week. Diana

Hi Jim, I'm Sure my son son would like the MaxBrake as well. Do you know how much they are and are you a distributor for them? You can call me or send me an email.



We never did get to the Grand Canyon because of Bert's work load. We did however take the 5er on a short outing and tried out the PacBrake. I was very happy with it and while I had the 5er hooked up, I had my son try it out, which he liked. He also liked the BrakeSmart.



My son has a 26' 5er and a 14' Big Tex goose neck dumptrailer that he will occasionally haul 3 to 4 cubic yards of landscaping material in one load. I was helping on one job and noticed that his Draw Tight brake controller was jerking the dumptrailer around. We decided he needed a BrakeSmart or a brake controller that is as good.



I didn't get the MaxBrake at the time I got my BrakeSmart because they were too new and knew of the reliability of the BrakeSmart.



george

 

[Bob Cochran]

George,



I was just reading on the Escapees website a few days ago in the HDT forum and several of the guys who post there, who are knowledgeable and accurate, report that Dr. Performance is apparently allowing the BrakeSmart product, which they apparently own the rights to produce, simply die.



I have been a very satisfied owner of a BrakeSmart for six or seven years and swear by it but I think the only solution is a MaxBrake which operates on the same design and reportedly works equally well.



MaxBrake controllers can be purchased from SouthWest Wheel in Dallas or Lubbock or from their website:



Southwest Wheel Company Steel and Aluminum Truck Wheels



Last I heard the price was about $400.

You wonder why the SmartBrake will be allowed to die as I have not heard of any problems. Only things have been problems with delivery but in these economic times who knows. As I know I am using the Jordon cannot get much simpler than that but you can no longer get them. When it goes south as most devices do in time will get a MaxBrake.



I am not knocking Dr. Performance and have never dealt with them; so no knowledge. Over the years I hear complaints but all vendors seem to have some. In general nothing specific; is Dr. Performance good or bad? Please no wars and bad words I don't want a trashing/flaming started. Remember it is Christmas ok!!!

 

[mcurtice1]

Some may not understand the need for this question, but I know my limits and the brakes fall outside of mine at this point. Can anyone recommend a place to get a MaxBrake controller installed? I am in AZ, so either a local company or a national company that may have a location in AZ.

 

[tempforce]

i bought the max brake, due to price and availability. i had a local auto repair speed shop install it. the fittings that came with it, wouldn't work with my dodge, so the shop cut and installed a double flare fitting tee, in the line and attached the sensor to the 't'. the controller i had mounted on the dash, within easy reach with my left hand. due to back problems, leaning down to manually use the controller, was out of the question. a dash cover protects it from the sun.

over all it works so much better than any electric controller i've ever used, and better than most of the old manual hydraulic electric controls.

cc

 

[Grizzly]

George,



I was just reading on the Escapees website a few days ago in the HDT forum and several of the guys who post there, who are knowledgeable and accurate, report that Dr. Performance is apparently allowing the BrakeSmart product, which they apparently own the rights to produce, simply die.



I have been a very satisfied owner of a BrakeSmart for six or seven years and swear by it but I think the only solution is a MaxBrake which operates on the same design and reportedly works equally well.



MaxBrake controllers can be purchased from SouthWest Wheel in Dallas or Lubbock or from their website:



Southwest Wheel Company Steel and Aluminum Truck Wheels



Last I heard the price was about $400.

Thanks Harvey, I sent Jim (jelag) an email to order a MaxBrake. I did speak to Dr. Performance and as you said, they are not making the harness for the BrakeSmart any longer. The still have a few brake controllers, without the harness, that they will sell for $295. They advised me to get the MaxBrake as well.

 

[LBARTLETT]

I recently got a MaxBrake from Dirrang, I had tried about every elec. controller there was out there with the last being a prodigy, with loads of hay weighing 30k to 35k I was not happy



finally bit the bullet and bought the Max Brake, service was excellent from Dirrang, installed and weighed 30k this past weekend, Kansas to Texas, I could not be happier, wished I have spent the extra $200 over the prodigy months ago

 

[richardcoxid]

I recently sent Dr. Performance an email asking for information as to when the Exhaust Temp/Boost press feature would be available for the BrakeSmart as well as the approximate price. As of now I haven’t received an answer. If they can’t even answer with an email that the product is out of production, I am not interested in doing business with them.



So I guess that it will be Max Brake for me!



May you have fair winds and following seas.

 

[DaveHess]

Ordered a MaxBrake this week from Diana at Plugitright. I am anal enough to be constantly monitoring and futzing with my Tekonsha to keep my trailer braking where I like it. Those days, I hope, are now over. Anyhow, she was very nice to deal with even to the point of offering to call me back to complete the order to keep the minutes off my cell phone. She told me the MaxBrake would be in the FedEx system yesterday and when I checked the tracking number it was. Her customer service and word is good! I look forward to getting this unit.

 

[mcurtice1]

Does anyone know of a company in AZ (or a national one) that will install one of these brake controllers? I asked earlier and got a response about taking it to a local shop for installation. Every place I have talked with won't touch it, including the dealer. He was was rude that I would even think of braking into the brake lines.

 

[LBARTLETT]

you might try a place that sells ag type livestock/horse trailers



I got the wiring harness specific for my truck and put it in myself and I'm not very mechanical, did have to get a 15 yr old to push on the brakie pedal to bleed the line out of the connection though

 

[Grizzly]

Does anyone know of a company in AZ (or a national one) that will install one of these brake controllers? I asked earlier and got a response about taking it to a local shop for installation. Every place I have talked with won't touch it, including the dealer. He was was rude that I would even think of braking into the brake lines.

If it's anything like the BrakeSmart, they are very easy to install. Do it yourself, but you will need someone to help with bleeding the Master cylinder as LBARTLETT said. I had my wife keep pressure on the brake pedal for me.

 

[Grizzly]

I ordered the MaxBrake for my son for Christmas.



Thanks for all the replies.

 

[CamarosRus]

I'm a Johnny Come Lately to this thread (and towing life)... ... .....



I bought and installed the PRODIGY in my 03 Q. C. Longbed 3500 (SRT) 6spd.



For now I'm only towing a bumper pull car trailer (10,000 GVW)... ... ...



Is the PRODIGY going to be "OK" or I do I need to now 2nd guess this purchase ??



Thanks,





#ad


#ad

 

[tempforce]

if you like the way the controller works, then it's o. k.

personally, i like the way the old hydraulic brake controllers worked.
so my only option's was the brake smart or max brake. which work off the hydraulic pressure of the brake system.
so as you apply more brakes the trailer receives more power.

the electronic pendulum controllers, use the force of the vehicle slowing down to apply the trailer brakes.
so you only receive brake power to the trailer, when there is enough braking force sensed.

 

[TSham]

I use the Prodigy with my 8000 lb travel trailer and has always worked just fine for me.