I'm in the market for a new brake control. I've got one of the simpler ones and it has worked well for 4 years. Lately the digital display has gone out and I'm looking to replace it. It looks like both these are easy installs but the one thing I like about the Directlink is the wired remote hand control that can be mounted in a spot easy to see. The Maxbrake is much like the others and I would mount it low on the right side of the steering ( above the accelerator pedal ) and I find it difficult to see there.

The negative for the Directlink is that it takes up the OBD port and would prevent me from installing a tuner.

Now the questions: Is there any way to double up on the OBD port if needed?
Is there any other compelling justification to select one over the other. They both seem to be fine units that work well.

I tow a 30' Airstream with an '06 Dodge Ram 3500 w/ diesel , and love it.

 

i didnt do much searching other than a quick search this isnt to be smart butt however i dont wanna seem like im promoting a company or product

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=obdII+y+connector

 

DUH, thanks for being SMART. Got it

 

with the Maxbrake it really doesn't matter where you mount it...You don't have to touch it as it automatically applies the brakes on the trailer to match the amount of braking on the truck....hook it up and forget it...best experience towing you will ever have.

 

Having a bunch of controllers that "Guess" how much you are applying the brakes, I finally tried a Maxbrake. Wish I have done that sooner......so smooth and makes the trailer brake do exactly like your trucks brakes.

I have not tried the Direclink, nor do I plan to. But it will be another one of those guessing controllers since it can't read hydraulic pressure from the OBD2 port.

The Direclink may work pretty good, but why stop there?

 

I'll second the Maxbrake recommendation. Best controller on the market as far as I'm concerned!

 

maxbrake is the only true proportional brake on the market. it makes the directlink look like a junk toy.

 

Thanks all for the valued input from experience. I like the Max and sort of, kind of, probably am leaning in that direction.

Will be making the JUMP soon.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all

 

That is freakin hilarious!

Glad the OP had a sense of humor about your chosen method of helping out!!

So Maxbrake is that good, huh? I'll have to look into it.

 

yup,also if you use a CTS or any other device that uses the OBD port your sol the Dlink hooks to it .I havnt used a Dlink but the max brake is better then great.set it forget it.

 

Maxbreak is the only one to use. The rest were junk !

 

I'll never mount another brake controller where my knees can hit it. When I wrecked my Chevy my knee hit the controller and shattered my kneecap. Instead of sliding along the knee bolster, it stopped when it got to the controller. The controller is still in use, all it needed was a slight tweak of the mounting bracket.

 

I see no experience with DIRECLINK (correct spelling), or exactly the manner it works. It is not a modded Prodigy, for instance.

SMARTBRAKE and MAXBRAKE have well-deserved reputations. As did the JORDAN. And the old king, the KELSEY-HAYES. DL is another step along the way.

Polarlyse, I'd imagine you've already read the threads on AIR.

DIRECLINK is also coming out with an antilock module for trailer brakes. Combine that with trailer discs and you've got state-of-the-art.

Here's some reading to get up to speed:

MrTrailer Review/Test TUSON Direclink Trailer Antilock Brakes

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the direclink uses a logic circuit that looks at the break light signal, rate of rpm decrease and speed decrease and sends what it determines is a proportion to the trailer. the smartbrake (no longer made ) and max brake have logic circuits automatically sense the number of axles and sets up the curves to match. a pressure sensor is mounted in line with a brake line at the master cylinder and sends the signal to the plc, the plc instantly applies a direct proportional signal to the trailer. the smartbrake screen is setup to show the hydraulic pressure to the pound and amps to the nearest tenth. you do not have to tow more than a mile to tell the difference and as stated there is no reason to touch the maxbrake so it is never mounted where the junk controllers mount. the smartbrake had a manual switch on it that helped hook on to some trailers by being able to lock the trailer brakes while backing into it.

 

lost pix, try again