I need to get a brake controller for my truck and am considering the Brakesmart and the Prodigy.

I have used the Prodigy in a Ford F-150 with good success.

I have a Ram 2500 Cummins and will be towing about 3,500 lbs. including trailer.

For a load this light does upgrading to the Brakesmart make sense or is it overkill?

Or is it more about the quality, smoothness, and accuracy of the brakesmart regardless of trailer weight?

I'm all about safer stopping with the trailer but at $400 I want to make sure I would see a difference.

TIA

 

Go with the Jordan Ultima 2020. It will provide you with most of the performance benefits of the Brake$mart at a cost comparable to the Prodigy.

Rusty

 

Certainly the Jordan, which would be second on my list, would be a good selection for what you describe.

Although, the BrakeSmart is definetly at the top of the performance pyramid IMO. The things I like about it are:

1) Safety - excellent proportional Braking due to hydraulic transducer coupling at master cylinder. Probably the safest to use in incliment weather/road conditions due to its inherent braking accuracy and smoothness.

2) Reliability - pretty much set it and forget it. Anytime you hook up after initial set-up all you do is hold down the red button for 2 Seconds and it will auto-calibrate itself. Comnponents seem to be top shelf.

3) Diagnostics - it checks amperage/voltage in trailer brake circuits. Audible alarms if connector should become unplugged, etc.

4) Expandability/Growth factor - Works with triple axle set-ups just as well as single axle. Detects both electric and hydraulic brake setups. There was also talk of incorporation of various gauge options into controller's readout - pyro temp, etc. Not sure if it is officially available yet, think it was in beta last I heard.

So, if that is the only trailer you ever plan to tow then the Jordan should do the job very well. However, if you might end up towing something else bigger/heavier (fifth wheel, boat, gooseneck cargo, etc. ) and with more valuable cargo the Brakesmat might be a very worthwhile investment now - buy once and be done! I know my load is worth more than my my truck and trailer put together and I want all the safety I can afford!

 

Thanks for the writeup. I have a Laramie and there is a small storage "bin" directly under the radio and it looks like the Brakesmart might be a perfect fit. I'm big into having things have a neat fit, just not sure if the extra $300 is worth that...

Also how difficult is installation on the Brakesmart?

 

Installation is pretty easy, assuming you have the tow package. Other than plugging into the dash, there is a T that you jump in to the brake line by the master cylender, a short hose, and the pressure sensor.

Just have someone step on the brake pedal while you loosen the sensor until air is out, and tighten it.

Then it's just a matter of running the wire from the sensor into the cab. It came with a threaded gromet type thing, but I ran mine through the factory rubber plug above the pedals (apparently where the linkage would go if I had an auto).

Anyhow, it's not much of a job.

I'm very happy with my Brakesmart. I really feel more comfortable towing the 5er since I upgraded. If I were only going to tow something that light once in a while, though, and money was an issue, I would also consider the Jordan.