Brake Controller

Jim2015RAM · Jun 17, 2016

Totesmygoats said:
No it's not.

Are you talking about the trailer brake design level or the RAM controller design level? I was simply posting my measurements to show the level of issue with my 2015 controller. And they seem similar to what other's have posted that took measurements.
I would like RAM to fix the controller programming.

Totesmygoats · Jun 17, 2016

Jim2015RAM said:
Are you talking about the trailer brake design level or the RAM controller design level?

It's neither.

linkjay · Jun 17, 2016

So I spent a few hours last night and was able to read through the entire thread. It was like a mystery novel - I kept reading hoping a solution would be found!

With that said, I can't for the life of me recall if the brake controller is also an issue in the 2016's? We are looking at a 2015 and 2016 Power Wagon and want to be sure if it does work or doesn't and what steps we will need to take to tow our trailer safely.

Thanks again.

BlkZrx · Jun 17, 2016

Mine seems to work OK on my 16 2500, but I'm pulling a smaller 25 ft. camper with smaller brakes. Seems the issues were with 12" brakes on heavy trailers..

Sent from my 6045O using Tapatalk

linkjay · Jun 17, 2016

BlkZrx said:
Mine seems to work OK on my 16 2500, but I'm pulling a smaller 25 ft. camper with smaller brakes. Seems the issues were with 12" brakes on heavy trailers..

Sent from my 6045O using Tapatalk

Thanks. I believe my trailer brakes are 10" or 12". The trailer has two axles and weighs no more than 7500 lbs loaded.

Reading through the thread has made me think twice about buying the Ram pick up a Ford (that was my first choice until I saw the Power Wagon)

Thanks again!

drittal · Jun 17, 2016

My 2015 ITBM needs 2-3 more gain than my father's 2012 with the same trailer to get the same perceived braking effort. Nor can I lock my trailer brakes and make them slide as described in the manual for setting trailer brake gain. I have 6,000lb axles and have towed with it at close to 12,000lbs. I have put on a couple thousand miles towing it and other than needing more gain I haven't had my trailer push me, or attempt to push me, through an intersection. I still believe it is an issue, especially for a HD truck line, and it needs to be resolved by FCA.

I believe BossHogg has larger axles and brakes than need higher voltage than mine for full braking effect.

AFMoulton · Jun 21, 2016

Dear sweet Jesus, I just read this whole thread. Anyone have any updates in the last few days? I have a 2016 1500. Was looking at adding the ITBM, but if it's still crap with no fix insight, I will just go with a P3. Thanks for all the info, and trying to get her a solution.

PippinAin'tEasy · Jun 21, 2016

This is no longer a thread; this is now a tome.

"Oh, sweet debt. Thy name is Truck."

eggwhtye · Jul 11, 2016

I finally got to tow with my 2016 1500 EcoDiesel and see how the brake controller worked. This is my first trailer with electric brakes (before it's been boat trailers with surge brakes). It's a dual axle travel trailer (just about 6,000 pounds). For me, the brake controller worked really well. I set it to 'Light Electric', started with it set at 8.0, but backed it off to 6.0. That seemed to be the sweet spot between the trailer pushing on the truck and it pulling on the truck. I would bump the controller up to 7.0 in stop and go traffic just to because I'm still building my confidence with towing this trailer (only 252 miles thus far).

I realize many of you are experiencing issues, but I thought a success story in here would be good.

Thanks to all those that have supplied input on this thread, I learned a lot before I had to actually tow.

tmletourneau · Jul 11, 2016

I don't know how accurate this is so if I'm misinformed please correct me. I have been told by people that tow more often than I do that an effective way to set gain, if you have an automatic transmission, is to put the truck in drive at idle on level ground and set the gain so that the trailer brakes stop the truck when set to 100%. Again, if that's not a good method let me, and potentially, others know.

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

BossHogg · Jul 11, 2016

eggwhtye said:
I realize many of you are experiencing issues, but I thought a success story in here would be good.

Success is about how much weight is on the trailer axles, the more weight, 14,000 pounds for example, the more voltage that is required to get a proportional braking action. This is where the ITBM fails, at speeds under 30 MPH, by limiting the amount of voltage to about 70%. That may be fine on a lighter trailer like yours, but not with the heavier axle weights where more voltage is needed.

bjd68 · Aug 11, 2016

Just read most of this thread as I just bought a 2015 ram 3500 dually megacab and am towing a 40 ft tandem axle fifth wheel toy hauler and have been trying to figure out the brakes all day!
Heres what I found with brakes set to heavy electric I will only get 5.7 volts to trailer brakes which is not nearly enough to stop a 17000 IBS trailer in a panic stop!
Next thing I found is if u set your brakes to heavy electric over hydraulic I got 8.6 volts to trailer brakes which I noticed a big difference right away!
And no my trailer brakes are not hydraulic but I read on another forum to try that setting and it does give u more volts than heavy electric setting!

So tommorow I will be calling the dealer to bring in my truck to get looked at and I will show them what its doing! Bottom line is a truck that they advertise to tow well over 20000 IBS it should be able to stop that kind of weight too ! Its total B.S that they havent done a recall on this brake controller yet! I guess it takes someone getting killed because they couldnt stop there trailer in time!

BossHogg · Aug 11, 2016

bjd68 said:
So tommorow I will be calling the dealer to bring in my truck to get looked at and I will show them what its doing!

Please post back what the dealer does or doesn't do. Really, RAM should have corrected this issue by now and send out an update for us.

BlkZrx · Aug 11, 2016

My '16 2500, built in Feb, is same way. I pulled my 7500 lb TT a couple times now and braking is weak, compared to the Prodigy controller I had in previous truck. Not sure what I will do, probably put one in this truck..

Sent from my 6045O using Tapatalk

stoney · Aug 11, 2016

bjd68 said:
Just read most of this thread as I just bought a 2015 ram 3500 dually megacab and am towing a 40 ft tandem axle fifth wheel toy hauler and have been trying to figure out the brakes all day!
Heres what I found with brakes set to heavy electric I will only get 5.7 volts to trailer brakes which is not nearly enough to stop a 17000 IBS trailer in a panic stop!
Next thing I found is if u set your brakes to heavy electric over hydraulic I got 8.6 volts to trailer brakes which I noticed a big difference right away!
And no my trailer brakes are not hydraulic but I read on another forum to try that setting and it does give u more volts than heavy electric setting!

So tommorow I will be calling the dealer to bring in my truck to get looked at and I will show them what its doing! Bottom line is a truck that they advertise to tow well over 20000 IBS it should be able to stop that kind of weight too ! Its total B.S that they havent done a recall on this brake controller yet! I guess it takes someone getting killed because they couldnt stop there trailer in time!

I tried that setting too as I read it somewhere as well (maybe here)....did not recall feeling a difference when towing, but I never checked voltage either.

bjd68 · Aug 11, 2016

BlkZrx said:
My '16 2500, built in Feb, is same way. I pulled my 7500 lb TT a couple times now and braking is weak, compared to the Prodigy controller I had in previous truck. Not sure what I will do, probably put one in this truck..

Sent from my 6045O using Tapatalk

Let your dealer have it we need people to show that there is a serious issue hear to hopefully get a recall from dodge !

bjd68 · Aug 11, 2016

stoney said:
I tried that setting too as I read it somewhere as well (maybe here)....did not recall feeling a difference when towing, but I never checked voltage either.

Yes mine went from 5.7 to 8.6 volts and then I set my gain to 10 and I could till that they were working better! Maybe try both settings and drive it back to back and see if u can see if there is a difference !

I still cant believe dodge has not acknowledged a problem here it just gets me right ticked off!

stoney · Aug 11, 2016

bjd68 said:
Yes mine went from 5.7 to 8.6 volts and then I set my gain to 10 and I could till that they were working better! Maybe try both settings and drive it back to back and see if u can see if there is a difference !

I still cant believe dodge has not acknowledged a problem here it just gets me right ticked off!

I intend to try it again next week when I am towing ours again.

bjd68 · Aug 11, 2016

Well I have a appointment next tuesday august 16 I told them I want the shop foreman there when I get there so I can go over what it is doing or not doing! I will update what the dealer is going to do or not do!

bjd68 · Aug 17, 2016

So the dealer looked at my 2015 dually 3500 and go figure all they can say is that the brake controller is working as it was designed! So I told them it does not put out enough voltage to have full braking power on my trailer! All they do is have a dumb look on there face and really dont give a crap!

So I called consumer service to put a case file in about this issue but probably wont do any good but at least I tried ! Maybe a recall will be in the future !

Brake Controller

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