Reese Towpower 74642

[im_deaf]

Good evening my fellow dodgers, I have a question I couldn't find an answer on here to, I recently bought a 2017 5.7L quadcab St, I decided against the oem brake controller for now and ordered a Reese does anyone know if this would work? It is posted on amazon that a certain ram will work, just wanted your opinions.

Reese Towpower 74642 Brakeman Compact Brake Control https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0016KA9PY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bdTOCbSP3WE7Y

 

[BruceMorgan]

Why did you decide against the integrated OEM brake controller?

My ‘17 has that and it’s AWESOME. I’ve always had aftermarket and while they work fine once installed, the OEM controller is just all around easier to deal with. Nothing bashing my knees under the console, the brake controller is easy to reach, and it’s a really clean setup.

 

[crash68]

Another one in the column of why would you not want to use the ITBM? It's fully integrated into the vehicle ABS/VSC system, the display/warnings show on the dash and it's controls not only uses proportional but also speed to apply the brakes. All of that makes the system safer and smooth while using.

If you do decide to install the aftermarket controller, buy a plug-in or plug and play harness for the truck.

 

[Lazlo Leiby]

I had a helluva time trying to install a Curt aftermarket brake controller. Never did get it working. Dealer wouldn't diagnose problems with an aftermarket controller. I got the OEM unit (& I'm glad I did, worth every penny) and it didn't work. The dealer ultimately determined that a pin in the wire harness was bent over at the factory and wasn't making good contact. Since that's fixed the OEM unit works great & I'm able to monitor it in the dash, while I'm towing.

 

[BruceMorgan]

I've read many posts on several different forums (Colorado, Frontier, now Ram) the hassles of aftermarket brake controllers. Thus I was determined to buy a truck with a factory integrated unit.

My last truck was a Frontier which has a factory harness from dash to tailgate. To install an aftermarket unit, you just have to buy an adapter to fit your particular unit into the factory harness, and add a one relay. Simple as that, or so I thought. But not for me...

I bought my Frontier with an aftermarket controller installed by the previous owner, but it was a cheap unit that I wanted to upgrade. I bought a new unit on Amazon and went to plug it in, and guess what I found? The outfit that installed the other unit had used their own custom-made cable from dash to tailgate, not using the factory harness or any adapters. They also chopped up the factory harness at the tailgate to splice into it for power and what-not. I read on the Frontier forum this is common by after-market installers, they'd rather run all their own gear from front to back than stock different adapter harnesses. More profit for them, and the customer walks out that day with the unit installed. It's just the next guy who is screwed and has to undo that mess...

 

[im_deaf]

Thanks for your post guys and you've convinced me to go oem, less knee bashing, cleaner look and less to worry about.

 

[BruceMorgan]

I’m confident you’ll be happy with OEM.

 

[im_deaf]

Well guys, my brother and I got the oem brake controller installed, that bracket was a serious pain, few cuts and scratches later its done and we followed the post to enable it. The evic works, but we cannot get the trailer name on the radio even thou it's enable. 2017 st ram 5. 7 hemi any suggestions?

* we got it to show up, apparently the vehicle in motion got it to show up, but now I have suspension and delivery mode and alignment feature?? I don't recall seeing that, anyone able to add to that?