Need advice on replacing my brakesmart controller

[Armand_C]

After 13 years, my brakesmart controller finally failed. Now I need to replace it with a new brake controller. During a search for a new one, i discovered that they no longer make Brakesmart controllers. I need a recommendation on a new controller. My dealer recommended that I not use any controller that ties into the master cylinder on my truck when i mentioned i was looking at a maxbrake controller. Anyone have any recommendations for a brake controller. My truck is a 2004 Ford F250 and integrated brake controllers were not offered on that vehicle until the following model year. When looking at the Max brake controller, I didn't see anything that would fit my truck.

[Lynnmor]

memtb wrote:
JMO. If it’s an inertia type controller, and you are on ice.....when braking the truck you will get little to no inertia, thereby “no” braking to the trailer! Am I correct in this assumption? This was much of the reason we went with the Brakesmart!

You are correct. While some talked about ice, something as simple as wet leaves or mud in a campground might leave you wishing that your foot controlled the brakes. The idea that your trailer brakes will only assist if your truck already has the ability to stop is almost funny. Since few would not spend the money, or didn't understand the function or were too lazy to hook up an additional circuit, we are left with the current crop of guesswork controllers. At least the truck manufacturers understood the merit of a driver controlling the brakes and used a system almost as good as the Brakesmart.

[Terryallan]

memtb wrote:
JMO. If it’s an inertia type controller, and you are on ice.....when braking the truck you will get little to no inertia, thereby “no” braking to the trailer! Am I correct in this assumption? This was much of the reason we went with the Brakesmart!

. IF you wanted trailer brakes on ice. Not sure why you would, but if you do. You can always pull the manual lever.

[Lantley]

memtb wrote:
JMO. If it’s an inertia type controller, and you are on ice.....when braking the truck you will get little to no inertia, thereby “no” braking to the trailer! Am I correct in this assumption? This was much of the reason we went with the Brakesmart!

Which would you prefer minimal braking with a inertia based controller or locked up wheels with fluid base controller. Pick your poision

[memtb]

time2roll, Thanks! I sure hope that mine doesn’t fail.....love it!

[time2roll]

memtb wrote:
JMO. If it’s an inertia type controller, and you are on ice.....when braking the truck you will get little to no inertia, thereby “no” braking to the trailer! Am I correct in this assumption? This was much of the reason we went with the Brakesmart!

My P3 provides some braking as long as the brake is applied. The more the truck slows the combo the more trailer braking is applied. And of course it will not be much on ice as you would not want much. I have not had much or any experience on glare ice although I have been on snow a few times and all seems OK and normal. But you are already going pretty slow in these conditions. Really need antilock on the trailer to expect superior performance on ice.

[memtb]

JMO. If it’s an inertia type controller, and you are on ice.....when braking the truck you will get little to no inertia, thereby “no” braking to the trailer! Am I correct in this assumption? This was much of the reason we went with the Brakesmart!

[DSteiner51]

Lynnmor wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
I would try to find a way to fix that Brakesmart, MaxBrake is also out of business and there are no controllers available that use your foot pressure as a reference. You likely will not be happy with the guesswork controllers that can only apply the brakes if your tow vehicle already has the ability to slow the combination.

Actually, That is not true. The Prodigy, and well every controller will apply the trailer brakes when you pull the manual lever. Weather or not the TV is braking. It is simply the best after market controller currently on the market. Millions of trailers are being stopped by some version of the Prodigy.

Now the Ford Factory brake controller will send braking current dependent on how hard you press the brake pedal. But with out a factory controller, prodigy is best

Actually the Brakesmart works like the Ford controller, a much superior method than the plug and pray guesswork controllers that you suggest.

Sorry, you had the best after market brake controller ever available. Now any other will come up wanting but that is the way it is. The Prodigy will most likely be the best you can currently find unless you trade up in trucks to get factory.

[BarneyS]

[Terryallan]

Armand_C wrote:
Unfortunately, the brakesmart is toast, it shorted and was causing a major draw on the batteries which drained them in about 2 days, which in turn due to the cycle of discharging and charging, ruined a pair of batteries. i will take a look at the prodigy. is there anything else to choose from on the market currently? Thanks for the recommendations and keep them coming!

There are other choices. There are time based controllers that the longer you press the pedal, the more braking power is sent to the TT. You do NOT want one of those. The trailer brakes will come on shortly after the accident.

And there are other proportional inertia based controllers. Voyager is one, also made by Tecknosia. Instead of an accelerometer, it has a pendulum that swings when the TV brakes, and of course the more it swings, the more brakes are applied. It does exactly what it is supposed to do. but is pretty jerky, and has to be leveled. But again. the Prodigy series is the best.

[time2roll]

Prodigy P3 works excellent for me. Disk brakes help too.

[Terryallan]

Lynnmor wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
I would try to find a way to fix that Brakesmart, MaxBrake is also out of business and there are no controllers available that use your foot pressure as a reference. You likely will not be happy with the guesswork controllers that can only apply the brakes if your tow vehicle already has the ability to slow the combination.

Actually, That is not true. The Prodigy, and well every controller will apply the trailer brakes when you pull the manual lever. Weather or not the TV is braking. It is simply the best after market controller currently on the market. Millions of trailers are being stopped by some version of the Prodigy.

Now the Ford Factory brake controller will send braking current dependent on how hard you press the brake pedal. But with out a factory controller, prodigy is best

Actually the Brakesmart works like the Ford controller, a much superior method than the plug and pray guesswork controllers that you suggest.

then go buy one. Oh! You can't. they don't make them any more. Which goes back to my statement. The Prodigy is the best after market controller currently on the market.

[Armand_C]

Unfortunately, the brakesmart is toast, it shorted and was causing a major draw on the batteries which drained them in about 2 days, which in turn due to the cycle of discharging and charging, ruined a pair of batteries. i will take a look at the prodigy. is there anything else to choose from on the market currently? Thanks for the recommendations and keep them coming!

[Lynnmor]

Terryallan wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
I would try to find a way to fix that Brakesmart, MaxBrake is also out of business and there are no controllers available that use your foot pressure as a reference. You likely will not be happy with the guesswork controllers that can only apply the brakes if your tow vehicle already has the ability to slow the combination.

Actually, That is not true. The Prodigy, and well every controller will apply the trailer brakes when you pull the manual lever. Weather or not the TV is braking. It is simply the best after market controller currently on the market. Millions of trailers are being stopped by some version of the Prodigy.

Now the Ford Factory brake controller will send braking current dependent on how hard you press the brake pedal. But with out a factory controller, prodigy is best

Actually the Brakesmart works like the Ford controller, a much superior method than the plug and pray guesswork controllers that you suggest.

[Terryallan]

Lynnmor wrote:
I would try to find a way to fix that Brakesmart, MaxBrake is also out of business and there are no controllers available that use your foot pressure as a reference. You likely will not be happy with the guesswork controllers that can only apply the brakes if your tow vehicle already has the ability to slow the combination.

Actually, That is not true. The Prodigy, and well every controller will apply the trailer brakes when you pull the manual lever. Weather or not the TV is braking. It is simply the best after market controller currently on the market. Millions of trailers are being stopped by some version of the Prodigy.

Now the Ford Factory brake controller will send braking current dependent on how hard you press the brake pedal. But with out a factory controller, prodigy is best

[Lynnmor]

I would try to find a way to fix that Brakesmart, MaxBrake is also out of business and there are no controllers available that use your foot pressure as a reference. You likely will not be happy with the guesswork controllers that can only apply the brakes if your tow vehicle already has the ability to slow the combination.