Brake Smart System: Part II - Towing Test

[Warpath]

WOW! This isn't your fathers brake controller.

Note: Test run using a 2000 Ford F-350 dually PSD & 20' enclosed dual axle car hauler.

I got a chance to use the Brake Smart Controller this past week and I cannot tell you how awesome this controller is. And I can say straight up, I am not writing this because Brake Smart is a advertiser of iRV2. I honestly was so blown away at how this controller made my towing setup feel like a single braking unit. But I am getting ahead of myself.

The first test I did was to hook my trailer up empty and leave the trailer wiring unplugged. I wanted to get a feel for what the trailer felt like without brakes at all. I was pulling a 20' dual axle enclosed trailer weighting in at about 3200 lbs. Obviously, lighter than most of your RV setups, but this aloud me to play around a bit more. I did some runs at various speeds and progressive braking levels on my dead end road. (no cars,safety first). I utilized the Brake Smart brake pressure readings to give me some rough numbers to base the amount of braking input I needed to use to stop this setup.

Then I hooked up the trailer wiring, leaving all the Brake Smart controller settings at the factory preset levels. (I made no adjustments) My first run was down my 450'gravel driveway. Perfect! No trailer tire skid and I could not tell the trailer was behind me now. At first I did not think it was working, so I used the red trailer braking button and sure enough it was working. I was so use to my other trailer towing experiences to have the brake tires skid in loose surfaces. I made some runs on my street and a few very hard braking stops and once again no tire skid and I could not feel the trailer behind me. It felt like I was driving my truck without a trailer! I cannot tell you how excited I was with this initial performance tests.

So I loaded the trailer up with my Explorer Sport Trac which is about 4200 lbs so total weight was about 7400 lbs. I again left the controller settings alone and made a few runs on my street and was amazed once again at how smooth each stop was. I decided to take a drive and get a feel for various driving and braking situations, and found that after a while I forgot about the braking test and just drove. I guess that is the greatest feature of this controller, it gives you the peace of mind that your trailer and it's brakes will be working in perfect unison with your tow vehicles brakes. (Sorry, that kinda sounds like a commercial)

This controller has some great features and one of them is the ability to fine tune the gain and although I did not feel I had to make this adjustment, I probably could have played around to find a slightly better setting. A big difference in the gain settings on the Brake Smart is that it does not limit the amount of braking to the trailer is just adjust the rate at which the power is applied. To me this is huge, because at the point you need all the braking you can get in a emergency, you still have it with the Brake Smart.

Again, I have not used some of the other controllers, so I cannot legitimately say this is the best controller on the market. But if you are like me, and you truly want a controller that is going to work proportionally with your tow vehicles brakes, install it and forget it and utilizes the most advanced technology. BRAKE SMART is your controller --> Brake Smart

BTW I am going to toss the controller in my motorhome and add a Brake Smart unit. This will be slightly different setup do to the air brakes, and I will post some info on the install for anyone running air brakes on their moorhome or MDT.

Bill

[Warpath]

WOW! This isn't your fathers brake controller.

Note: Test run using a 2000 Ford F-350 dually PSD & 20' enclosed dual axle car hauler.

I got a chance to use the Brake Smart Controller this past week and I cannot tell you how awesome this controller is. And I can say straight up, I am not writing this because Brake Smart is a advertiser of iRV2. I honestly was so blown away at how this controller made my towing setup feel like a single braking unit. But I am getting ahead of myself.

The first test I did was to hook my trailer up empty and leave the trailer wiring unplugged. I wanted to get a feel for what the trailer felt like without brakes at all. I was pulling a 20' dual axle enclosed trailer weighting in at about 3200 lbs. Obviously, lighter than most of your RV setups, but this aloud me to play around a bit more. I did some runs at various speeds and progressive braking levels on my dead end road. (no cars,safety first). I utilized the Brake Smart brake pressure readings to give me some rough numbers to base the amount of braking input I needed to use to stop this setup.

Then I hooked up the trailer wiring, leaving all the Brake Smart controller settings at the factory preset levels. (I made no adjustments) My first run was down my 450'gravel driveway. Perfect! No trailer tire skid and I could not tell the trailer was behind me now. At first I did not think it was working, so I used the red trailer braking button and sure enough it was working. I was so use to my other trailer towing experiences to have the brake tires skid in loose surfaces. I made some runs on my street and a few very hard braking stops and once again no tire skid and I could not feel the trailer behind me. It felt like I was driving my truck without a trailer! I cannot tell you how excited I was with this initial performance tests.

So I loaded the trailer up with my Explorer Sport Trac which is about 4200 lbs so total weight was about 7400 lbs. I again left the controller settings alone and made a few runs on my street and was amazed once again at how smooth each stop was. I decided to take a drive and get a feel for various driving and braking situations, and found that after a while I forgot about the braking test and just drove. I guess that is the greatest feature of this controller, it gives you the peace of mind that your trailer and it's brakes will be working in perfect unison with your tow vehicles brakes. (Sorry, that kinda sounds like a commercial)

This controller has some great features and one of them is the ability to fine tune the gain and although I did not feel I had to make this adjustment, I probably could have played around to find a slightly better setting. A big difference in the gain settings on the Brake Smart is that it does not limit the amount of braking to the trailer is just adjust the rate at which the power is applied. To me this is huge, because at the point you need all the braking you can get in a emergency, you still have it with the Brake Smart.

Again, I have not used some of the other controllers, so I cannot legitimately say this is the best controller on the market. But if you are like me, and you truly want a controller that is going to work proportionally with your tow vehicles brakes, install it and forget it and utilizes the most advanced technology. BRAKE SMART is your controller --> Brake Smart

BTW I am going to toss the controller in my motorhome and add a Brake Smart unit. This will be slightly different setup do to the air brakes, and I will post some info on the install for anyone running air brakes on their moorhome or MDT.

Bill

[ISLAPP]

You didnt say, Bill, but I presume this test was with your F350 pulling the trailer?
Mike

[Warpath]

Whoops, I clearified the review, but yes it was with the F-350.

I am definetly going to install a unit in my motorhome.

Bill

[Ken Lenger]

My first impressions were much the same. I did not feel the trailer pushing or draging the truck. It was hard to get too excited about the operation of the controller because it was so transparent. The installation is really a snap, considering it is tied into the tow vehicle hydraulic brake system. Much easier than the Jordan installation.

Still waiting for the boost and EGT module.

[C Driver]

Hey guys - you might want to look at your ad on the front page. The sentence says
"We reviewed the Brake Smart brake controller recently hand have included"

Sounds like a great unit. One of the problems I have with the Prodigy is that it just does not seem to work great on hills, either up or down, especially coming down. The BrakeSmart would seem to solve that problem since it uses the trucks hydraulic brake pressure.

Ed

[ralphb30]

With this being the third brake controller I have tried, it is the best. Since I pull different trailers of various sizes I have noticed no difference in braking performance from a 20' TT to a 38' 5er (mine). If your sciptical (sp) about the effects on the ABS, I have noticed no effects (including driving through severe thunderstorm) on control. It is a litle pricey but safety carries no price tag.

[Ken Lenger]

Welcome to irv2.com ralph.

[FiverBob]

Ken,
I really hate you - - you used to be such a nice guy, now ????? First you get a new truck and make me jealous - - now you get a BrakeSmart and say it is better than my Jordan. Man - - quit it.

Ed, you reflect my observations on my Prodigy. It really acts up on the steep downslope with the Ebrake on. My Jordan is much better there, but these guys have to start bragging up something else that costs too much. Is there no end to spending money on these stupid rigs?

BrokeBob

[Ken Lenger]

Thanks Bob, I needed that.

The BrakeSmart is cheap compared to the new truck. BTW, I had no complaints with the Jordan, but I like the simple installation and setup with the BrakeSmart. If it makes you feel any better, the bed of my new truck is all scratched up, and I don't have any more money for the Line-X.

[wannabee]

I have been using the Brakesmart for six months now. I feel the Prodigy and other controllers have been giving drum brakes a bad rap for years.
I know Disc brakes are better, but when you have a drum system tuned and operated properly it stops fast.

I never felt good about my stopping power with the Prodigy; however the Prodigy was leaps and bounds better than my old controller.

Now my only concern is stopping too fast; I don't want to throw around stuff in the coach. If messing the inside of the coach is the worst that happens in an emergency stop than the controller is doing everything I asked it to do and more.

I now stop with confidence and my anxiety is greatly reduced when driving in heavy traffic and steep grades.

For a list of specs http://Brakesmart.net

Another great find that cost more than I wanted to pay was my http://ttt-mirror.com
Stock Chevy mirrors are a joke and the camping mirrors are not much better.

Two other things I am trying but have not proved themselves yet are:

Tire pressure indicators on 5er http://www.accu-pressure.com/

Installed awning lock to ensure awning will not unroll while driving in high winds. http://www.hometown.aol.com/goldenwgf/

Have a safe season,

Tom

[Steve J]

Mine was simply great, till it broke! Naturally they said send it back, so I did. Been running my Prodigy while BreakSmart gets checked out and repaired/replaced. You guys thinks it's good with a single trailer, outta try it with a different trailer every week.

Cheers,
Steve J

[Casey]

I just installed a BrakeSmart in my rig. I had the Prodigy and liked it but the BrakeSmart is too good to be true. Very smooth and lots of braking power now. Just like the trailer is not there. Pricey but highly recommended.

Casey

[Loren B.]

I agree with the above posts. The BrakeSmart is so much better that whatever controller is in second place that it's not funny.

I also didn't know that standard electric drum brakes could work so well until I hooked them up to my BrakeSmart. I tow a 3-axle TT.

Sure it's expensive, but you don't have to let the controller go when you sell the truck. Keep the controller and buy a new wiring harness for your new tow vehicle.

Loren B.