RAM integrated trailer brake controller ( Factory Installed )

[RMaynard]

Does anybody ouit there have any comments on it's use. I have a 2015 RAM 3500 Diesel 6.7. Does not seem to work all that well. Again , any comments , any suggestions , any adjustments you know of , thanx Roger

 

[Brocky]

My trailer brakes do not work anywhere as good behind my 2014 3500 as they did behind my 2006 F-250?? Beginning to think it is in the truck instead of the trailer??

 

[mpaulson]

If you have thee 8.4 screen you need to go into the menu and find the electric brake settings page and set them up for the type of brakes you have on the trailer. Light electric, heavy electric, light hyd, heavy hyd, etc. They may be on the light settings and that is why you can't turn them up enough to feel the pull. These setting are available with the screens other than the 8.4, but I haven't used one.

 

[Dieselnerd]

My brakes seem to work just as good with the RAM controller as they did with a BrakeSmart on my previous truck. They are set for heavy electric. No complaints at all, I was surprised at how well they worked when properly set up.

 

[Brocky]

I have the 5.0 and they are set on heavy electric..

 

[JLandry]

I have the 5.0 and they are set on heavy electric..

Brocky,

Don't be afraid to increase and experiment with the setting.

I pull a 9000 pound bumper-pull travel trailer and use heavy electric set to 7. This setting gives proper braking where it feels like the trailer is neither pulling or pushing on the truck.

John L.

 

[RMaynard]

My brake controller is set on heavy electric , my gain is set on 10 . I did find one wheel on the trailer which is a 28ft fifth wheel with the drivers side rear drum all grease , the magnet had grease on it also. This axle was changed in Florida by professionals at Ft Myers Camping world. A lead mechanic at the RAM dealership told me in no way would he have an integrated brake controller on his new truck to be. He says he hears a lot of upset people that have this type of system. He also printed off the paperwork from star that they use and gave them to me. I am not happy with this system myself. Roger

 

[jhenderson]

Do a search on the subject in the towing section. Many complaints. Particularly those who truely tow heavy.

 

[CTufte]

My trailer weighs around 12,500 and I have controller set at 9.5 to 10 in heavy mode and it stops but not anything great.

 

[Larry Willard]

My trailer is 17000 (+ -) and I am set on heavy electric/hydraulic with gain on 7 and they work excellent.

 

[CTufte]

Seems to be a difference between th 2015 trucks and the other years. My 99 with the same trailer and a Jordan controller would lock up the brakes on the trailer not the factory one.

 

[MCSloan]

My trailer is between 15 & 16000lb for a combined total of 25 to 26000lb I run heavy /electric set at 7 and couldn't ask for a better controller. Works as good or better then the Jordan controller I had in my last truck. Don't know how you could improve on this controller. No pushing or jerking from trailer. Just smooth braking all the way to a stop & never have to readjust after setting up.

 

[mpaulson]

My brakes seem to work just as good with the RAM controller as they did with a BrakeSmart on my previous truck. They are set for heavy electric. No complaints at all, I was surprised at how well they worked when properly set up.

Same experience here, I had the Brake Smart on the last truck as well.

 

[SnoKing]

I had questionable brakes on my 12.4K trailer for years and rewired it with heavier wire in a star, new shoes and a new Max Brake controller, and it was great. I got the new truck and let the Max Brake go with Old Blue. The IBC seem to work good on high electric 6.0. Will be towing to Arizona after Christmas and that will give it a good test. Chris

 

[w6pea]

To all that have participated in this thread, thanks for the info.

 

[Stab]

Mine is working flawlessly.....but, then again this exhaust brake makes me forget about them. I had mine set to light electric then to heavy electric, now I'm back to light. 5 gain.
26.5 gross is all but, seems to work great. I had to use them three times to control speed descending Ike tunnel pass last month. (each direction)

 

[K9Kodi]

How do you know if you should be on heavy or light. Obviously the hydraulic set up vs electric is a gimme

 

[kthaxton]

IIRC, the manual says under 10K would be the light setting, over would be the heavy setting.

 

[JLandry]

How do you know if you should be on heavy or light.

Start with the "light" setting, and if you can't achieve adequate trailer braking with the gain maxed out, switch over to "heavy" and start working up from the minimum gain there. The setting is ideal when the trailer feels like it's neither pushing or holding back the tow vehicle when braking. I.e.: the brake feel should be the same both when not towing... but with increased stopping distance with the trailer.

John L.

 

[SnoKing]

Start with the "light" setting, and if you can't achieve adequate trailer braking with the gain maxed out, switch over to "heavy" and start working up from the minimum gain there. The setting is ideal when the trailer feels like it's neither pushing or holding back the tow vehicle when braking. I.e.: the brake feel should be the same both when not towing... but with increased stopping distance with the trailer.

John L.

I agree with John, however the trailer has to be towed a bit before ou get to a final adjustment. I had mine about right playing around in the storage lot. After a few miles out on the road I had to back it down a little. Trailer drums I think get a little rust while just setting, and clean up once you start towing it again.

My guess is the varying reports are a result of the trailer not the trucks.

SNOKING