I do like the DirecLink can be held remotely.

 

Hey there Wild Bill. Yes I do have a sense of humor. Like most people born before 1980 I just don't think of GOOGLE as my first line of inquiry. I'm trying to keep up with this Hi Tech world but just not there yet.

And Yes Red I did read up on AIR. I think that is fascinating technology. I don't have disc brakes on my trailer so it's just reading time for me. I'm still up in the AIR on this decision. Plan to head south in early Feb so have to make the jump pretty soon. I hesitate to do this though without the chance to test drive before heading out. So still thinking. Ennie Meenie Minnne Mo.

Thanks all for the advice. Appreciate your taking the time.
And yes that includes the smart alec King of DODGE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all

 

You've got a stick and a BrakeSmart like me. I was able to mount mine just to the left of the shifter.

 

I don't have disc brakes on my trailer so it's just reading time for me.

The ANTI-LOCK Module is separate . . but if you ever upgraded then it would make sense to consider DL now, no matter the type of brakes.

FWIW, I've plenty of times recommended MAXBRAKE. Prodigy P3 is better at sensing slowdown prior to "brake on" (MB can't; there are situations where this can matter; where trailer brake pressure leads), but MB is all around a better performer, IMO.

I'd say that so long as no one goes LESS than Prodigy P3 then they are okay. But there's no sense in not moving to the better controller, DL or MB, as the day-in, day-out is so much better to live with. The price difference is small compared to the HUGE jump in apparent performance.

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rednax you do not understand how the maxbrake works. it is instant and in direct proportion to the truck brakes. if you have 20% stooping power applied to the truck brakes the max brake applies 20% to the trailer. stomp on the pedal to apply 100% and instantly the maxbrake applies 100% to the trailer. on heavy loads the pos p3 can not even sense the slowdown. the maxbrake is the only safe and true controller on the market. that is why some European countries outlaw the p3 and others like it.

 

I had a Maxbrake in my wife's truck but let it go when we sold it and swore I'd put one in my '01 when my Jordan went out. Last year it finally went out so I thought I'd get the latest & greatest which was hyped up to be the direclink. Got it, installed it and it wouldn't work. It took 2 days to get through to their tech dept only to find out that they won't work on all Dodges, it's a hit or miss! I sent it back & got a Maxbrake. I wouldn't waste my time with the direclink.

 

The only setup better than a MaxBrake is a MaxBrake and exhaust brake, I have both and I would never ever be without!

 

you got it jfn

 

Thirty bucks on eBay, 6 bucks for the adapter. Only thing it doesn't do that MB does is compensate for electrical fade. If the brake application is long and slow, there's plenty of time to reach down and augment the braking with my thumb. For 320 bucks, I think I can manage that.


Life expectancy on these 81740 series controllers is approximately forever.



My son just had his tool trailer unexpectedly launch into oncoming traffic on glare ice. I figure the pre-charge current on his $50 brake controller locked up the trailer brakes.

No thanks. I'm changing mine out.

 

Sweet! New old stock!

Other than having to run a line inside, I would rather have that over any current offering!

 

No, sir, I understand exactly how this type works. And have no complaints about the type. But technology moves on.

Do you have a link about P3 not being type-acceptable in some countries?

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I love my Brakesmart. If i upgraded trucks tomorrow, that controller would be coming out, period.

 

All the controllers pale in comparison to the Maxbrake (or Brakesmart) because they don't have what is essentially a PHYSICAL link to the brake pedal.....Your trailer brakes become part of your truck braking system and they are applied in direct proportion to the vehicle brakes as applied by your foot.

No waiting for sensors to detect a reduction in forward movement, like the typical unit that applies brakes AFTER the truck starts decelerating because a pendant swings forward and completes the braking circuit due to the change in movement of the truck.

Just push on the pedal your trailer brakes apply the same as the truck itself all in one smooth seamless operation. The harder you push on the pedal the harder the brakes apply...it is just that simple.

I see guys spend huge money on their rigs then cheap out when it comes to the most important item they need for towing.... a REAL brake controller!. It makes all the difference in the world and any of these guys telling you the other controllers are as good simply haven't tried a Maxbrake.

Is it worth the extra cost? you tell me..it is your vehicle, your camper and your familys lives at stake......

We all know these trucks have the grunt needed to drag these heavy trailers up and down the highway at dangerous speeds...seems to me a few hundred dollars to make sure you can stop that same load is a no brainer......

 

Just revisited the Montana accident with my son today. He said, as he remembers it:
1. He topped a hill, and the truck drivers started slipping.
2. He steered into it, and as he regained control, lightly hit the brakes, not even engaging them.
3. The trailer went sideways into oncoming traffic.

As I said before, the same pre-charge that makes parking an empty boat trailer, or maneuvering around a parking lot on ice a pain, locked up his trailer brakes and sent it out of control.

I do not think it wise to have a trailer brake controller that is not directly driven by the braking effort of the driver, including sensitive efforts as you would execute on ice. I am coming to the opinion that the pendulum controllers are downright dangerous, and their approval is criminal.

 

j martin i totally agree.