Just installed BrakeSmart.... WOW WOW WOW
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Denver Co.
I hate my Voyager, I was ready to buy a Jordan but didn't move in time, just have a real hard time with the price for a Brake Smart, I'll probably end up with a Prodigy. Anyone know when (or if) Jordan will be available again?
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Royce City Texas
It says here late this summer
http://www.bestbrakecontroller.com/
http://www.bestbrakecontroller.com/
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Joined: Jun 2006
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I looked at the prodigy also, but since I work in the engineering field, I just couldn't get past the fact that the basic operational premise of an accelerometer in the tow vehicle is a compromise.
I suspect that we're going to start to see a lot more of these hydraulic sensing type controllers on the market in the coming couple of years. The performance difference is so huge it's stupid. With the advances in sensors that don't displace any real quantity of fluid, the ABS functionality is no longer an issue, which is what drove the demise of the original hydraulic based actuators.
I think we're coming full circle again now that the technology can easily accomodate the ABS issue.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Dallas, TX
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,902
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From: Claxton, GA
Dude, will you quit trying to advertise your brake controller. Someone buying one and posting a response about it is one thing, if you have a give away that is also one thing, Why don't you give one to Larry (Top) for a drawing if you want to sell them that bad!!!!!!!
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 138
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From: Walnut Springs, TX
Well, for all of you folks that absolutely hate your Voyager, PM me and I will send you my address and enough money to cover shipping! I need one for my wifes truck.
Seriously, if you think the Voyager is bad, try the $49 time based controller! The Voyager is a hundred times better!
Dry Creek
Seriously, if you think the Voyager is bad, try the $49 time based controller! The Voyager is a hundred times better!
Dry Creek
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A lot of what comprises an "acceptable" controller for towing is the amount of weight you are towing.
For my old 7,500 lb trailer, the Voyager was a bit annoying, but acceptable. The tow vehicle could take some of the brake load if it was necessary.
When I moved up to my 13,000 trailer however, it was an entirely different story. My new trailer had a lot more to say about when we stop and how fast. In fact, truthfully, it was unsafe. The Voyager just seemed to "flatten out" at a certain amount of hard braking and then really provide no more braking power to the trailer after that. If I turned up the power control or gain, it made it absolutely unbearable in stop and go traffic.
If I still had my old trailer, heck, I'd probably still just be putting up with the Voyager.
When the trailer brakes are truly proportioned to the hydraulic pressure with the Brakesmart, you get a sense that the whole rig is "stopping as one". I'd have never thought it was possible with electric brakes, but I guess it is.
I strongly believe that if you are towing in excess of 10,000 lbs, that's where a really good controller makes all the difference in the world.
Towing 5,000 lbs - you can get by with almost anything.
For my old 7,500 lb trailer, the Voyager was a bit annoying, but acceptable. The tow vehicle could take some of the brake load if it was necessary.
When I moved up to my 13,000 trailer however, it was an entirely different story. My new trailer had a lot more to say about when we stop and how fast. In fact, truthfully, it was unsafe. The Voyager just seemed to "flatten out" at a certain amount of hard braking and then really provide no more braking power to the trailer after that. If I turned up the power control or gain, it made it absolutely unbearable in stop and go traffic.
If I still had my old trailer, heck, I'd probably still just be putting up with the Voyager.
When the trailer brakes are truly proportioned to the hydraulic pressure with the Brakesmart, you get a sense that the whole rig is "stopping as one". I'd have never thought it was possible with electric brakes, but I guess it is.
I strongly believe that if you are towing in excess of 10,000 lbs, that's where a really good controller makes all the difference in the world.
Towing 5,000 lbs - you can get by with almost anything.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 138
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From: Walnut Springs, TX
I tow beyond 10K all the time.
I love the Voyager, I just have to set it up between trailers. For the lighter trailers the time-based controllers are acceptable, but the Voyager doesn't seem to care what the load is - as long as I take the time to set it up during the first few stops on the way down to the gate. It does seem to get grabby at lower speeds though.
Dry Creek
I love the Voyager, I just have to set it up between trailers. For the lighter trailers the time-based controllers are acceptable, but the Voyager doesn't seem to care what the load is - as long as I take the time to set it up during the first few stops on the way down to the gate. It does seem to get grabby at lower speeds though.
Dry Creek
DTR's 'Wrench thrower...' And he aims for the gusto...
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Smith Valley, NV (sometimes Redwood City, CA)
Wait till you are on a downgrade and picking up speed with no throttle at maybe 60-65 MPH. Now you just touch the brakes and the Brakesmart turns on the trailer brakes at the predetermined initial setting. The trailer brakes lead the truck brakes and there is no deceleration yet to turn on an accelerometer type controller. The whole rig gets MORE stable as it slows a bit. Next you are in a hard turn and have to stop for a problem up ahead. Hit the brakes. And before you are actually decelerating the Brakesmart is already applying the trailer brakes. Less chance of a jacknife. Since the trailer brakes are sensitive to truck hydraulic pressure, and they can be set up to "lead" the truck brakes, the trailer is usually trying to stop faster than the truck under all conditions. Another situation is towing on a rough road. The accelerometer can get "confused" by the bumps while braking and become erratic or go to full braking (mine did).
In the first case you don't have deceleration to activate the trailer brakes. In the second you need brakes on the trailer at the same time or before the truck brakes. By the time you have deceleration on a curve you have the trailer trying to push you off the road. The accelerometer type controller can never be as safe as one connected to the truck brakes. And timed type controllers are not sensitive to various conditions. The heavier your trailer is the more you need a brake pressure sensitive controller that can actually lead the truck brakes. For light duty small trailers, the other types are better than nothing. But then you'll hook up to something heavy and there you go, not enough control. In the third case, bumps have no affect on the controller if it runs on truck hydraulic pressure. Bounce it around all you want.
Bite the bullet and get the best! You already have the best truck and you are riding in it! There are other people on the road too. What is it about not having the best controller that makes sense?
John
In the first case you don't have deceleration to activate the trailer brakes. In the second you need brakes on the trailer at the same time or before the truck brakes. By the time you have deceleration on a curve you have the trailer trying to push you off the road. The accelerometer type controller can never be as safe as one connected to the truck brakes. And timed type controllers are not sensitive to various conditions. The heavier your trailer is the more you need a brake pressure sensitive controller that can actually lead the truck brakes. For light duty small trailers, the other types are better than nothing. But then you'll hook up to something heavy and there you go, not enough control. In the third case, bumps have no affect on the controller if it runs on truck hydraulic pressure. Bounce it around all you want.
Bite the bullet and get the best! You already have the best truck and you are riding in it! There are other people on the road too. What is it about not having the best controller that makes sense?
John
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 138
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From: Walnut Springs, TX
Or, you just go down to 4th and flip the switch up on your exhaust brake.
You tap your brakes as necessary to remind the others behind you that you are slowing down. It never ceases to amaze me how many people run right up on you because they don't understand the concept of compression braking. I would even hazard to guess that there are people out there on the road now who cant even drive a MANual transmission!
The best controller I ever had was an old Tekonsha on an early '70s Dodge. It tapped into the rear brake line and offered the best proportional braking available at that time.
Dry Creek
You tap your brakes as necessary to remind the others behind you that you are slowing down. It never ceases to amaze me how many people run right up on you because they don't understand the concept of compression braking. I would even hazard to guess that there are people out there on the road now who cant even drive a MANual transmission!
The best controller I ever had was an old Tekonsha on an early '70s Dodge. It tapped into the rear brake line and offered the best proportional braking available at that time.
Dry Creek
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,528
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From: Oregon
The Brakesmart does basically the same thing as the old fluid activated controllers-- it applies trailer braking in exact proportion to the pressure in the truck's brake system. The difference is it doesn't displace fluid, so it works with proportioning valves and anti-lock systems.
Even with a Brakesmart, an exhaust brake is also very nice when towing over 10k in steep, narrow and curvy mountain roads. No matter what controller you use, it's nice to have the Jake to hold the rig back so you don't have to apply the service brakes all the time to keep the rig from creeping up to an unsafe speed.
It makes the drive more pleasant, saves wear on the brakes, and the service brakes stay nice and cool, and ready.
Even though I would agree that you probably don't make that much of a safety gain by using a good controller if all you tow is light trailers, I've found lesser controllers annoy the heck out of me, even with light trailers. Seems like either the trailer is trying to push the truck, or the trailer is trying to jerk the truck to a stop... With the Brakesmart I find any trailer stops smoothly, like it isn't there.
No disrespect to the Voyager, but if you get a chance to test tow a truck with a Brakesmart, give it a shot. I really had to use one before I understood what people were posting about them.
Even with a Brakesmart, an exhaust brake is also very nice when towing over 10k in steep, narrow and curvy mountain roads. No matter what controller you use, it's nice to have the Jake to hold the rig back so you don't have to apply the service brakes all the time to keep the rig from creeping up to an unsafe speed.
It makes the drive more pleasant, saves wear on the brakes, and the service brakes stay nice and cool, and ready.
Even though I would agree that you probably don't make that much of a safety gain by using a good controller if all you tow is light trailers, I've found lesser controllers annoy the heck out of me, even with light trailers. Seems like either the trailer is trying to push the truck, or the trailer is trying to jerk the truck to a stop... With the Brakesmart I find any trailer stops smoothly, like it isn't there.
No disrespect to the Voyager, but if you get a chance to test tow a truck with a Brakesmart, give it a shot. I really had to use one before I understood what people were posting about them.
