Anybody else using Direclink Brake controller

[seaeagle2]

I've been towing boats for 20 years, 10 with hydraulic surge brakes, the last few years with disc brakes. When we got our new trailer I needed to get a controller so I decided to try the Direclink. I have no experience with other controllers, but so far I really like it, no surge brake clunk when starting and stopping, no reverse lockout dramas. From searching, it appears the controller that tap into the hydraulics were a favorite, but they are no longer made..... This was an easy install, just plug into the OBDII connector, I opted to get the oem specific controller harness because my truck had the factory harness, but the computer isn't set up for the ford oem controller. The controller part looks like a radio mic and I found a place to mount it out of the way.

[GeoBoy]

My P3 works nicely, but this controller has my interest.

[carringb]

It is pretty much on the top of my wish list. I have a P3 now. I may also go to their hydraulic actuator with ABS too, since my trailer is pretty heavy (12,000+) and I do a lot of winter towing.

[Gdetrailer]

WayneAt63044 wrote:
I am not but don't think I would want to either. If I'm reading their website correctly, it is a sequential controller which means the brakes are applied on a time delay after the tow vehicle brakes. I prefer the inertia type that applies the trailer brakes at a time and rate similar to the tow vehicle.

Umm.. you are wrong.

That controller WILL be a vast improvement over ANY INERTIAL controller since it READS the vehicles DATA stream DIRECTLY. It WILL ACT IMMEDIATELY TO ANY BRAKING CHANGE THAT IS INDICATED BY THE VEHICLES DATA STREAM..

The Direclink IS a "proportional" controller and it should be a real step up in smoothness over any inertial controller.

Inertial controllers use the brake pedal light to INITIATE the braking SEQUENCE which includes and INITIAL FIXED amount of braking current, then once the inertial controller is ABLE to "calculate" the decrease in speed then it applies the CALCULATED APPROXIMATE amount of braking power. A inertial controller has to continuously recalculate and adjust.. and you better HOPE it gets it right!

There has been a few folks who HAVE HAD bad experiences with the mythical famed P2 and P3 controllers FAILING to apply trailer brakes during a SIDEWAYS TYPE MOVEMENT.

Yep, inertia controllers DO have a some FATAL FLAWS, they only work best IF you are stopping in a STRAIGHT LINE.. They also do not detect correctly if your VEHICLE LOSES TRACTION..

I would not be afraid to use a Direclink, but heck I was not afraid to use a Jordan Ultima 2020 either :B

[WayneAt63044]

I am not but don't think I would want to either. If I'm reading their website correctly, it is a sequential controller which means the brakes are applied on a time delay after the tow vehicle brakes. I prefer the inertia type that applies the trailer brakes at a time and rate similar to the tow vehicle.