Giving up on my Ram IBC/ Update

[CampingN_C_]

So after owning a 2015 Ram 2500, my current 2018 3500, two enclosed trailers, a 32ft TT and now a 42ft 5er TH I am convinced the IBC on a Ram just isn't going to cut it, at least to my standards.

I won't go into all the details, the subject has been well beaten for the last three years. At slow speeds I almost have no trailer brakes at all. For example, approaching a stop light, I can run the slide all the way over for the last 40-50ft or so and I can hardly feel it grab at all. Once stopped, with the slide activated the truck won't pull the trailer. It's just an issue in the 0-30 mph range. Higher speeds it seems to work in unison with the truck well.

I'd like to hear from folks that have installed a P3 or similar to a Ram that had the factory brake controller and what were the results were.

[boshog]

I pull two heavy trailers with my 2015 RAM 3500, a 3790RD Montana and a 15,000 pound GVW 16 foot dump trailer. After RAM updated my ITBM and ABS controllers with the trailer brake update, I no longer have any issues at all, the ITBM performs almost transparent, what I mean by that, it applies, proportionally, the correct amount of trailer braking.

I initially ran a P2 until RAM came out with the fix. The ITBM performs better than the P2 but that is expected since the ITBM has access to all of the vehicle's dynamic data.

[ib516]

When I had my 2014 2500 I was happy with how it worked pulling a 37' 5er. I had an error message come up once, I initially blamed the truck but it turned out the 5er had a brake issue. RV dealer repaired that and all was well again.

[ugeesta]

quote...
So I finally got around to looking at this issue and pulled the front passenger wheel off the camper today. I couldn't believe what I saw. The left shoe is almost gone already with pieces breaking off and the right shoe isn't much better. I'll go out on a limb and assume the other three wheels are the same way as I hardly had any brakes at all on the last trip and started hearing a grinding sound. I took pictures and may post later.

These are Lippert self adjusting 12' brakes with approx. 4k miles on them on a 2018 trailer. What could've caused this on such a new trailer? I never started with good brakes. In other words, I've been on a gain setting of 8-10 since I got it, which is why I was questioning the Ram ITBC to start with. ..... quote


Well, that’s concerning as we have similar trailers. My brakes have worked fine but I did notice a lot of brake dust on the rims these last few trips. We are still under 2,000 miles this year with the trailer.

Haven’t taken the trailer out with the new truck yet as it’s still in break in mode but that will change in a couple weeks. This will be the first time I’ve
Had a factory IBC so now my mind is wandering.....

Thanks for the update.

[Huntindog]

Thank you for the update.
This is how we learn to diagnose over the net, so to speak.

[CampingN_C_]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"I'll be calling the dealer first thing in the am for sure."

What do you think the Dealer will say? Sounds like poor quality right from the RV Factory. Do your self a favor and swap out to a Kodiak Disk conversion kit, you WILL thank me!!!

I would for sure if we were in love with this camper, long term, but we're not. I can see us in a different model within another year.

[Cummins12V98]

"I'll be calling the dealer first thing in the am for sure."

What do you think the Dealer will say? Sounds like poor quality right from the RV Factory. Do your self a favor and swap out to a Kodiak Disk conversion kit, you WILL thank me!!!

[CampingN_C_]

So I finally got around to looking at this issue and pulled the front passenger wheel off the camper today. I couldn't believe what I saw. The left shoe is almost gone already with pieces breaking off and the right shoe isn't much better. I'll go out on a limb and assume the other three wheels are the same way as I hardly had any brakes at all on the last trip and started hearing a grinding sound. I took pictures and may post later.

These are Lippert self adjusting 12' brakes with approx. 4k miles on them on a 2018 trailer. What could've caused this on such a new trailer? I never started with good brakes. In other words, I've been on a gain setting of 8-10 since I got it, which is why I was questioning the Ram ITBC to start with.

I'll be calling the dealer first thing in the am for sure.

[otrfun]

If I had braking problems (regardless whether I was using an OEM ITBC or aftermarket brake controller), I'd take the 5 minutes to check the voltage output of the brake controller first---preferably at each brake assembly. I'd do that before spending a few hours jacking up axles and pulling tires/wheels/brake drums. A perfectly operating trailer brake will not brake properly with insufficient voltage. With the brake controller adjusted to max. I should read approx. 12 volts.

[otrfun]

Lynnmor wrote:

otrfun wrote:
Our '16 Ram Cummins SRW came with the OEM ITBC from the factory. With it set to max (10), it will only produce approx. 8 volts of braking voltage (at all speeds). For trailers that only needed 8 volts or less to brake safely, then all was good. If the trailer needed 8 - 12 volts then we were out of luck.

How, and where were you measuring the voltage at highway speeds?

Parallel tapped into the connector/plug on the ITBC (located behind the lower dash--below right of the steering column) and measured the braking output voltage with my VM. Been a few years so I can't remember the color code for the OEM ITBC wire with the braking voltage. Most aftermarket units use the blue wire.

In any case, the wire with the braking voltage should be easy to find. Just identify the wire that varies the voltage at the same time you adjust the brake controller (with the brakes applied, of course). Don't confuse it with the brake light wire which always reads a constant 12 volts when the brakes are applied.

[BenK]

IMHO...always think most trailer brake issues has to do with that whole braking system not being setup correctly

Why...another IMHO...think highly integrated trailer brake systems from the OEMs are loved by so many (most rightly so)...as there is no setting up, or much to setup...

Still waiting for the years to come and go...to see how these 'highly integrated trailer brake systems' hold up. Hope not like the highly integrated printer/copier/fax/etc have held up for me over the years...have had to toss way too many...but...have a combo bought because had to have a copier 'now' and that was the only one they had at that time...

[hawkeye-08]

Dad had brake problem on his new toy hauler, thought maybe grease on brakes so had them checked, all fine. Still had problems, shop checked things and pronounced it all good, still had problems. Dad found a new place to go, they replaced his brake controller (he doesn't have IBC), brake switch in truck and complete brake setup (times 4) minus new drums on trailer. His brakes work as expected now. No telling where the problem was, but Dad was tired of it.

Dealer was worthless, Dad ended up at independent shops.

[goducks10]

I'd be willing to bet that it's the Ram crappy software. My 12 did the same thing. My 18 is better but in no way is it as good as the P3 I used in the Ram.
Towed the same TT with a 2010 F150 and a 12 Ram 2500. F150 was as good as the P3 in the 12 Ram. Got a new 5th wheel. Ram still didn't provide slow speed stopping ability. Added the P3 and slow speed stopping is perfect. Never had anything to do with bad trailer brakes.
The OP has towed several trailers with both trucks and is getting the same results. I highly doubt all his trailers have poor brakes.

[memtb]

Huntindog wrote:

mkirsch wrote:
If the P3 works and the IBC doesn't, there's no sense in pulling your trailer brakes apart. You've already proven where the issue lies.

The OP doesn't have a P3..... Yet. He is considering that as a solution.

To The OP:
Check out your brakes first . Most everyone loves their IBCs... That goes for Ford, GM, and Ram... It is unlikely that you have had two Rams in a row with faulty IBCs... It is much more likely that there is a brake problem. Grease being a primary culprit.
A lot of trailers IMO, are under braked in the first place... So if they are not functioning at peak performance, they are terrible.

Bingo! We have a winner! “NOT” saying that you do not have a truck related problem.....but I’m leaning, heavily” toward a brake issue on the camper.

As suggested, many of today’s campers are “woefully” under braked. The manufacturers of recent cut corners on everything else.....why not brakes/axles?

[Lynnmor]

otrfun wrote:
Our '16 Ram Cummins SRW came with the OEM ITBC from the factory. With it set to max (10), it will only produce approx. 8 volts of braking voltage (at all speeds). For trailers that only needed 8 volts or less to brake safely, then all was good. If the trailer needed 8 - 12 volts then we were out of luck.

How, and where were you measuring the voltage at highway speeds?