Brakesmart ?

[JThiessen]

For those that have a Brakesmart - Are these things always on? I just put mine in tonight, and even after about an hour or two of sitting in the driveway while I putting on the running boards, it was still showing the time and date display.

 

[Silver600]

In the menu you will find a setting to set the amount of time it stays on after the last application of the brakes. I set my first one for 30 min then quickly changed it to 2 hours after I realized that I go more than 30 minutes on the highway without using the brakes quite often. It does have some loud tones when it shuts off.

 

[Matt400]

What??, That can't be right.

You mean the unit will shut off and not work if you haven't applied the brakes within the selected time frame or just the display will shut off?



I wouldn't ever want it to shut off while towing and would expect it to power off when the key is turned off.

 

[Silver600]

It won't leave you without trailer brakes, it powers off after a set time but it powers back up as soon as you touch the brakes, it is instant with no noticable delay. The trailer brake plug has no ignition hot wire so there is no way for the brakesmart to know when the truck is running.

 

[JThiessen]

I played with that setting, but I wasnt able to figure out how to set it to anything under 1 hour. BTW, when I went out this am, it was off.



I also have to say the installation was very easy.

 

[Silver600]

The brakesmart on my 04. 5 went down to 30 min, I just installed a new one in my 06 so I will check it tonight to see if the software changed. I had planned on moving my old one but my mom wanted my SRW for towing horses so I let her borrow it for a while to make sure she liked the truck. After towing with the brakesmart and the pacbrake she wouldn't let me pull it out.

 

[Sled Dog]

I played with that setting, but I wasnt able to figure out how to set it to anything under 1 hour. BTW, when I went out this am, it was off.



I also have to say the installation was very easy.

When you park at the house or where ever and turn truck off.

Touch M once then E once, then arrow down 6 times, then E.

This will shut off power to display.

If you read instructions after every arrow down. You will see where you can

decrease time to shut off



I believe when you get to the one to decrease time, Touch E, then arrow down to 30 minutes, then E.



Also driving at night, if display is to bright. Just arrow down to decrease brightness.

 

[JThiessen]

I'll give it another shot tonight. Just got the truck back last night from Glenns Welding. They rang me up 645 bucks to my old Husky 5'er hitch in and wire up the bed plug. I should've asked for a quote! I expected a 300 or so tab for it. The cost of the new mounting brackets from Valley, according to Glenns, was 240 (they are a clamp on style). If I would have known how much they would be, I would've just bought a new B&W turnove/companion set up.



On a brighter note, I did program the custom message on the brakesmart: "Fords Suck!" ... ... . it'll do for now, but i gotta come up with something more creative.....

 

[TFlewitt]

Brakesmart still available?

Is the Brakesmart still available? I thought the company was in trouble or out of business. Are they selling these again, and if so, what is the website?

 

[ChrisTucker]

http://drperformance.com/products.html

 

[Silver600]

http://drperformance.com/products.html

That is the website that took over the brakesmart but they don't have it available to order on the website, you have to call to order it. I just installed one and can't tell that anything has changed, it is an exact copy of the one I bought in 2004.

 

[Matt400]

The trailer brake plug has no ignition hot wire so there is no way for the brakesmart to know when the truck is running.

Your right even my jipo stays on when the truck is shut off but only if the trailer is plugged in, un-plug the trailer and it goes off. I want to change that unit in bad way this season.

 

[ChrisTucker]

Silver600,

They are the new owners of Brakesmart. They bought out the original owner and are now the owner/builder of the unit. You will probabley never be able to buy it on any website. I doubt they will sell to other vendors.

 

[Silver600]

Silver600,

They are the new owners of Brakesmart. They bought out the original owner and are now the owner/builder of the unit. You will probabley never be able to buy it on any website. I doubt they will sell to other vendors.

I know they took over the production and distribution of the unit. I was telling him not to waste his time trying to order it on the Dr. Performance website as they have not made it available for online ordering off of their own site.

 

[HBarlow]

The owner can select a setting in the menu so the Brakesmart will turn off the display after 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or 90 minutes. The audible alarm can also be silenced so that the bell won't startle the driver when it turns off the digital display. The controller itself is never "turned off. " Braking is always available instantly whenever the driver presses the service brake pedal or presses the manual trailer brake lever on the side of the controller.



Harvey