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.

[otrfun]

CampingN.C. wrote:
. . . 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.

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.

We installed the Tekonsha P3 as a fix action. It's a simple unplug, plug and play swap. Remove the lower dash cover (below the steering wheel), unplug the OEM ITBC, then plug in one end of an optional Tekonsha P3 pigtail made specifically for the later model (2014+?) Ram trucks. The other end of the pigtail plugs into the P3. No flash or other preset required---works great. EVIC shows the ITBC is inop/disconnected, which it is. We now get up to 12 volts of braking voltage with the P3 whenever we need it.

P.S. Before purchasing a P3 I'd suggest checking the maximum braking voltage on your 2018 Ram ITBC first. It's possible they've corrected this issue on the 2018 with a firmware fix. If you get 12 volts with it set to max, then your ITBC is working fine. Need to start looking at your trailer's braking system for the problem.

[Huntindog]

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.

[mkirsch]

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.

[Camper_G]

The itbc on my 17 works ok, but it's not the strongest braking unit out there. I cannot lock up the trailer brakes on my Layton, even with the factory itbc set at 10 ( max) and that's set on "heavy electric"

I feel the P3 is the better, stronger braking unit....personaly. I always liked the boost 2 setting for a little bit of lead trailer braking.

I've thought about disabling the factory itbc and installing the P3. However the factory itbc isn't that bad and is smooth so I've let it go for now. The itbc is nice because it's built into the dash and not sticking out from it like the prodigy....however again comparing the two soely based on performance, i have to give it to the P3, but that's just my opinion. Good luck with your decision

[SteveB]

CampingN.C. wrote:


No, I haven't. I'm going to do that this weekend hopefully. Not fooling with the dealer even though that would be a warranty issue.

It would be good to confirm the trailer brakes are OK. The TSB is for 2015-2016 according to the service writer. They should have fixed the problem by 2018 so it is possible it is a trailer or wiring problem.

[CampingN_C_]

Me Again wrote:

CampingN.C. wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Did you try it on Heavy Hydraulic. I run my 2015 on #6 Heavy Hydraulic and it works well. I also had a TSB flashed that helped the braking. Chris

Yes, I did that this weekend actually. I drove 150 miles like normal then 150 miles home on 'HOH'. I couldn't tell a bit of difference.

Have you pulled the drums to make sure they are not full of grease? Chris

No, I haven't. I'm going to do that this weekend hopefully. Not fooling with the dealer even though that would be a warranty issue.

[blofgren]

Ron3rd wrote:
You have some sort of problem. Love the IBC on my Ram

x2. It works fantastic with my 16k fifth wheel with disc brakes. It also worked well with my former 12k fifth wheel with 12" drum brakes.

[Me_Again]

CampingN.C. wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Did you try it on Heavy Hydraulic. I run my 2015 on #6 Heavy Hydraulic and it works well. I also had a TSB flashed that helped the braking. Chris

Yes, I did that this weekend actually. I drove 150 miles like normal then 150 miles home on 'HOH'. I couldn't tell a bit of difference.

Have you pulled the drums to make sure they are not full of grease? Chris

[dodge_guy]

My trailer when brand new had bad magnets in the brakes. I found that out after a year of diagnosing and replacing parts.

[SteveB]

I am having the same issue. 0-30 mph there is essentially no braking. It is not the trailer brakes. The programming of the ITBM is messsed up. Last trip, set on 8, my 9000 pound trailer nearly pushed me into an intersection at 10 mph. I got it stopped in the crosswalk. I ran it at 10 for the rest of the trip home but it is just not right.
Saturday I went to my RAM dealer, TSB number in hand, and convinced him to look it up. At first i got pushback and he was comparing his surge brake boat trailer with my 5th wheel. I had to gently explain that they are in no way alike and that his 1500 brake control is doing nothing to control the surge brakes. After getting him to read the TSB he agreed to reprogram the ITBM which will be done on Monday. There is some nonsense in there about connecting the trailer pigtail with the truck running or not running. That is BS because the ITBM sucks no matter what procedure is used. If this does not fix it then I guess I will resort to my old original Prodigy that worked great in my ‘01.

[CampingN_C_]

Me Again wrote:
Did you try it on Heavy Hydraulic. I run my 2015 on #6 Heavy Hydraulic and it works well. I also had a TSB flashed that helped the braking. Chris

Yes, I did that this weekend actually. I drove 150 miles like normal then 150 miles home on 'HOH'. I couldn't tell a bit of difference.

[Me_Again]

Did you try it on Heavy Hydraulic. I run my 2015 on #6 Heavy Hydraulic and it works well. I also had a TSB flashed that helped the braking. Chris

[CampingN_C_]

Ron3rd wrote:
You have some sort of problem. Love the IBC on my Ram

The Ram IBC issue doesn't typically come into play on lighter trailers because of the brake size, usually 10 inch.
Between your trailer weighing around 8K lbs (guessing) and the exhaust brake on the Cummins, it will never be an issue.

[CampingN_C_]

Lynnmor wrote:
Trailer brakes take a lot of miles till the are properly burnished. If this is a new trailer, the delivery driver may have not have used the brakes in a way that worked them enough. Here is what Dexter says, but I found that it took way more usage till the brakes functioned normally. See page 11

We use the trailer for my sons racing almost every weekend. We probably have well over 5K miles on it already.

[Ron3rd]

You have some sort of problem. Love the IBC on my Ram