The new Ford controller does use truck brake pressure to control the current sent to the trailer brakes. It should be as good or better than a Brakesmart because the Ford can also pulse the trailer brakes if the ABS in the truck is activated.

I have a Brakesmart in my Dodge now and it works much better than the old Prodigy. The problem with the Prodigy is that it would jerk at low speeds.

I do have to get my trailer brakes repaired as the RV service guys screwed them up when they repacked the bearings. They don't brake as well now.

Brian Elfert

 

I would think that if the trailer brake controller were built in with the truck, the major advantage would be that they could activate in proportion to fluid pressure.

I would imagine that the controller applies the trailer brakes fully when the anti-lock on the truck kicks in?

I'm no expert, but I would guess that the magnets and arms of trailer brakes wouldn't react fast enough to deal with antilock pulses? Wasn't that why the pressure activated controllers went away?

Somebody who knows more about this feel free to educates me if I gots it wrong.

 

'05 trucks (Atleast the protype I saw on display) , Do have boost gauges.

Merrick

 

a close friend has an '05 with the brake controller.. we tow similar loads. he couldn't even feel the brakes activating on the trailer until he turned the gain WAY up on that controller, to like 8.5/10. It's that smooth. Must be like what the brakesmart guys feel (or dont' feel for that matter)

It's goofy but neat that if you slide the manual lever while there's no trailer connected, the truck "dings" and a message goes across the display...

And yeah, he's got a 40 psi boost gauge in the center of the tach. BUT, we're getting ready to install a new X-monitor soon... if we can find anywhere on that darn Turd's exhaust system that a drill can reach!! what a cramped-a$$ engine bay. I see lots of dry-rotted hoses in his future from the heat.

 

Activating in proporiton to the brake pressure is exactly what the Ford controller and the Brakesmart do.

Ford claims their brake controller can do ABS for the trailer. Just activating the brakes normally on the trailer when the ABS on the truck activates wouldn't do anything special. Every add-on brake controller made does that right now.

I don't have any clue how Ford is doing anti-lock for the trailer brakes, but they claim to be doing it.

Brian Elfert

 

Maybe I can get my buddy to hook up his trailer and do a emergency stop, and let ya know...

he'd probably be scared to break something on the truck.. it's fragile...