Towing--What brake controller is best?

[JERRYKAM]

Here is my two cents on the Brakesmart. I have used several brands of brake controllers over the years. Two years ago I upgraded to the Brakesmart. Others have lauded the quality and functionality of this superior controller. Ford uses a similar design for its built in Tow Command brake controller, this in itself is a testamony to the Brakesmart which I belive is the only aftermarket controller to use proportional braking via a direct pressure sensor installed in the tow vehicles master cylinder.



However, I'm going to take a stab at the cost of the Brakesmart. Vehicle cost $45,000, RV $30,000. Total investment $75,000. Cost of the Brakesmart $500 give or take a few bucks. Decision to purchase a brakesmart, a no brainer.

 

[TheWolf]

If I towed big weight or towed for a living then Brakesmart



I don't tow big or for a living so for me now it's Jordon Ultima

 

[JRyan]

For what it's worht, I second what TheWolf said. For weekend and leisure towers like myself, the Prodigy works well. (Because I just tow for weekend/leisure RV use, I would never try and tow my fifth wheel in a snow/ice condition. ) Plus, my unit is only about 10k lbs and I have the exhaust brake to help with slowing (though not stopping) the RV. But, if I moved up to a larger rig and/or towed more often (i. e. full-time after retirement-whenever that might be!), I would opt for the BrakeSmart.

 

[steved]

That's a fundamental design flaw with inertial controllers - they depend on the deceleration of the truck to determine how much braking to send to the trailer. Now, if it's slick and the truck won't generate enough deceleration to trigger trailer braking before wheel lockup (or ABS engagement) on the truck, then the trailer pushes the truck into an instant jack knife. Not good... . been there, done that, got rid of the inertial controller.



Rusty

... and this same thing will happen to surge brakes (the tongue actuated ones, like you get from U-Haul)... had a 16k pound compressor push my 30k pound truck through an intersection like nothing... glad that light had just turned red and no one was moving yet...



And as far as the snow/ice comment... all the issues I had with my tekonsha were on either wet parking lots, muddy driveways, and gravel driveways... it isn't always ice...



steved

 

[RustyJC]

And as far as the snow/ice comment... all the issues I had with my tekonsha were on either wet parking lots, muddy driveways, and gravel driveways... it isn't always ice...

Steve,



Right on. I about lost a rig in a Texas Gulf Coast summer cloudburst when some nutcase pulled out in front of me and I had to lay into the brakes on my 1996 3500 dually with a 5th wheel in tow and a Tekonsha Sentinel handling the trailer braking.



That's why this truck had a Jordan Ultima 2020 installed on it from the git-go! :-laf



Rusty

 

[steved]

Steve,



Right on. I about lost a rig in a Texas Gulf Coast summer cloudburst when some nutcase pulled out in front of me and I had to lay into the brakes on my 1996 3500 dually with a 5th wheel in tow and a Tekonsha Sentinel handling the trailer braking.



That's why this truck had a Jordan Ultima 2020 installed on it from the git-go! :-laf



Rusty

If I towed more... but once every three-four month doesn't justify it...



steved

 

[RustyJC]

Hmmm... the Jordan Ultima 2020 is available for less than $100 on the Internet - very price competitive with the Tekonsha Prodigy. I guess I don't understand the financial justification angle.



Rusty

 

[steved]

Hmmm... the Jordan Ultima 2020 is available for less than $100 on the Internet - very price competitive with the Tekonsha Prodigy. I guess I don't understand the financial justification angle.



Rusty

Considering I already own the one I have...



steved

 

[RustyJC]

Oh, OK. I can understand that. On the other hand, if one were out shopping for a controller..... :-laf



Rusty

 

[JThiessen]

If I towed big weight or towed for a living then Brakesmart

The controller you use really doesnt have anything to do with weight. Stopping the weight is a function of the brakes. Any trailer over about 3-4K can cause you to loose control. I love my Brakesmart, but i highly doubt that having it will be the difference in wether or not I wreck my rig (I think if you tow in icy conditions it would be a huge difference though). Driving habits and maintenance have a much greater impact on that end of it. I'd say that the PIA factor of not having to adjust the controller all the time, trying to get that perfect setting is the best thing for me. Cant tell you how nice it felt not having to do the herk and jerk shuffle coming out of the campground that first time! I tried to justify the price before I bought it, and I couldnt - so I ordered it with some amount of trepedation. That feeling dissapeared after the fist tow.

 

[Subby]

The best controller in my opinion is the Tow Command Brake Controller, FMC. Oh, sorry. That for Fords only.



Sorry, counldn't resist. :-laf



Subby

 

[Diesel Thunder]

Thanks for all the help!



Wow, what an incredible resource TDR has been and is going to be. Looks like the majority favors the Brakesmart. I now know where the hook-up is as well.



Now, I am gonna look into getting the Brakesmart and would like to know if there are there any suppliers here within the TDR community?



Thanks again for all of the help.

 

[KBennett]

The best controller in my opinion is the Tow Command Brake Controller, FMC. Oh, sorry. That for Fords only.



Sorry, counldn't resist. :-laf



Subby

I heard that the Tow Command uses the Prodigy brain.

 

[JThiessen]

As far as I know, DR Performance is the only place you can purchase the brakesmart.

 

[RustyJC]

I heard that the Tow Command uses the Prodigy brain.

Nope - although Tekonsha worked with Ford to develop the controller, it operates off of hydraulic pressure in the truck's braking system - just like the Brakesmart! See below:

Part of Ford's Tow Command package is an integrated trailer-brake controller. This affords two major benefits: One, there's no question about wiring and what it may do to your truck or trailer, and two, trailer braking was programmed to match the truck by the people who built it. The controller gets input from multiple sources, including truck-brake hydraulic pressure and ABS function, and delivers the ideal trailer-brake power for the shortest stops in any condition. The sole potential drawback is that it isn't compatible with all trailer-brake systems, particularly some newer disc-brake systems. We expect this to be addressed before it becomes the towing equivalent of DVD.

Rusty

 

[GrahamS]

Thanks for all the help!



Wow, what an incredible resource TDR has been and is going to be. Looks like the majority favors the Brakesmart. I now know where the hook-up is as well.



Now, I am gonna look into getting the Brakesmart and would like to know if there are there any suppliers here within the TDR community?



Thanks again for all of the help.

I ordered direct from the manufaturer: http://www.drperformance.com/brakesmart.html



One caution... my pressure sensor came with an o-ring at the base of the threads, but I couldn't tighten it enough to make contact with the nut on the end of the extension tube they provided. I was worried about it and called the support number. They informed me that the o-ring was for a different application, and was not needed for this particular use.



You do have to tighten the crap out of the sensor, though! After you bleed the air out, just test it for leaks by putting max pressure on the system. I had a small leak at the sensor that did not show up until I had about 2300 PSI (according to the sensor) on the system. I snugged the sensor a little tighter and everything has been good for the last 3500 miles or so.

 

[Diesel Thunder]

I was looking at the drperformance website and found the following.



"Set EGT Cutoff Temperature: An EGT and Turbo boost module is in the works and will be available soon. This function will allow the user to set the maximum temperature at which the exhaust gas will reach before an alarm is set off. "



Pretty cool feature for a brake controller.



Thanks again for all of the help!

 

[klenger]

I was looking at the drperformance website and found the following.



"Set EGT Cutoff Temperature: An EGT and Turbo boost module is in the works and will be available soon. This function will allow the user to set the maximum temperature at which the exhaust gas will reach before an alarm is set off. "



Pretty cool feature for a brake controller.



Thanks again for all of the help!

I've been hearing that one for three years.

 

[JThiessen]

Yeah, that info has been on there for several months (maybe up to a year). Wasnt available back in June.

 

[mlewis73]

Brakesmart... Mine is being installed this week (taps into brake lines to sense brake force and adjusts electric output to electric brakes accordingly--no finicky setup involved. )



I'll letcha know how it goes...



Mike