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JFScheck · 07-16-2013, 09:20 AM

Ok Steve, I must have the newer version of the firmware, the good and bad of 'putters, they can always be reprogramed to behave a little differently...

SteveH · 09-11-2013, 08:57 AM

Just an update on this issue....Back in July I finally got in touch with someone at the dealer, and they told me there were no service bulletins on my truck's brake operator. So then I called Chrysler CS (thanks Kevin for the info), and they said yes indeed there was a service bulletin that dealt with the speed at which the main CPU communicated with the other items in the truck, and that upgrade "Might" effect the delay in the brake operator. They actually got the dealer's CS department on the phone with me, told them about it, then left me with the dealer to coordinate the time/date to take my truck in.

Jump forward to the day before yesterday, the first day that I was able to take the truck in because we were gone on a trip all of August, and after having the truck in all day, the dealer tells me the brake operator is working normally, and there is no service bulletin out on my truck. Does this emoticon explain my feelings properly?

Yesterday I called Chrysler CS back, they did have record of my call on July 12th, but would not let me talk with the same rep., but instead put me on hold for about seven minutes (I assume the consulted with the dealer during this time), and then when they returned told me there was no service bulletin on my truck, and there was nothing they could do for me.

So, my advise to you is, do not try to use a pivot point projection hitch of any kind with a late model Dodge Ram truck. And by the way, my ProPride hitch is for sale cheap in the classified section of this site.

dkottum · 09-11-2013, 09:42 AM

Our 2012 Ram 1500 and ProPride hitch have worked very well together, never had the brake delay that I'm aware of, nor the Hensley bump. I wonder if the 1500 and 2500 use the same controller. Probably. We'll be leaving soon for an extended trip and will report any problem if we have it.

The ProPride worked well with your Chev truck so one has to believe the problem is with your Ram brake controller. It's very unfortunate you have got the runaround from them and then brushed off, not good when these truck companies seem so proud of their towing abilities.

If your truck brakes grab before the trailer brakes, wouldn't this be a problem with any style hitch? Would the trailer want to bump the trick forward in an emergency stopping situation? These controllers ought to stop the trailer with the truck together, without a delay, I would think.

doug

SteveH · 09-11-2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkottum

Our 2012 Ram 1500 and ProPride hitch have worked very well together, never had the brake delay that I'm aware of, nor the Hensley bump. I wonder if the 1500 and 2500 use the same controller. Probably. We'll be leaving soon for an extended trip and will report any problem if we have it.

The ProPride worked well with your Chev truck so one has to believe the problem is with your Ram brake controller. It's very unfortunate you have got the runaround from them and then brushed off, not good when these truck companies seem so proud of their towing abilities.

If your truck brakes grab before the trailer brakes, wouldn't this be a problem with any style hitch? Would the trailer want to bump the trick forward in an emergency stopping situation? These controllers ought to stop the trailer with the truck together, without a delay, I would think.

doug

Yes, Doug, it is an issue with the Reese SC as well. The brakes just don't feel right, but at least there's no severe bump, and no requirement to re-adjust the hitch after a quick application of the brakes.

It all worked perfectly with my '08 GMC 2500, and at this point, I wish I had bought another, but such is life.

Of course, I have no way of knowing if we have the same controller, or even if I could install a different controller without screwing up the 'puter. At a minimum, I know I would loose a lot of the features built in to the truck.

Pahaska · 09-11-2013, 12:13 PM

I have disc brakes on my Classic 28. I was disappointed when I read the manual for my new 2013 Duramax 2500HD and found that the integrated controller was designed to only work with electric brakes.

I simply bolted two brake magnets to the rear of the storage box behind the propane tanks and tapped them into the blue brake wire from the umbilical to make it look like I have electric brakes.

Last week, I took my first trip with the new truck and the integrated brakes worked great. I have the gain set at 5.5 and the PPP never swerved from straight on. The brakes were much smoother and more linear than with my Prodigy controller in the old truck. I made several hard stops in a stretch of road construction and the PPP stayed straight.

SteveH · 09-11-2013, 02:04 PM

My PPP hitch always stayed straight on hard stops also, but on quick application of the brakes is when it would do "the bump", and slip out of alignment.

Pahaska · 09-11-2013, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveH

My PPP hitch always stayed straight on hard stops also, but on quick application of the brakes is when it would do "the bump", and slip out of alignment.

Believe me, I hammered the brakes HARD twice in the construction zone on I-35 near West. Once, because I wasn't alert enough to see a stoppage coming and once because of two lane-weaving idiots who took most of my stopping space. The PPP stayed straight through all of it.

ROBERT CROSS · 09-11-2013, 03:06 PM

I've always used the TruControl with our Hensley, only time I've had the "bump" is when the head has been off-center, strut bar re-adjust corrected the problem.

Have you contacted Sean? Not right that the yoke keeps going out like that.

Bob

SteveH · 09-11-2013, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pahaska

Believe me, I hammered the brakes HARD twice in the construction zone on I-35 near West. Once, because I wasn't alert enough to see a stoppage coming and once because of two lane-weaving idiots who took most of my stopping space. The PPP stayed straight through all of it.

Yes John, and I never had a problem towing with my GMC, it's only since I switched to the Dodge Ram tow vehicle that the problem has come up.

SteveH · 09-11-2013, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

I've always used the TruControl with our Hensley, only time I've had the "bump" is when the head has been off-center, strut bar re-adjust corrected the problem.

Have you contacted Sean? Not right that the yoke keeps going out like that.

Bob

Yes Bob, I have spoken with Sean, and he has been great in helping me with the problem....even sent me some new "U" bolts because I had ruined one of them trying to tighten it so it wouldn't slip. He also had some suggestions, and I ran some ideas by him, but neither his suggestions or my ideas actually addressed the problem of the delay in the Chrysler brake operator.

The PPP hitch design simply will not tolerate a delay in the application of the trailer brakes from the tow vehicle brakes.

dcheshire · 09-11-2013, 03:42 PM

Steve, sent you a PM. I'm willing to buy it if you still have it

SteveH · 09-11-2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcheshire

Steve, sent you a PM. I'm willing to buy it if you still have it

Yes, I replied to your e-mail, and I cannot package and ship the hitch. It's for sale for local pickup only.

If you saw how these hitches are packaged and shipped from the factory, you would understand. They use special boxes, plastic wrap, foam packaging, and special heavy duty plastic ties to hold the boxes together, all of which I have no access to.

Jammer · 09-11-2013, 04:00 PM

Well you could always add a Maxbrake controller if you think the integrated one is to blame. My rig brakes perfectly with the Maxbrake.

I have the PPP and have not had a problem with the yoke slipping during heavy braking. Maybe there's something wrong with your hitch.

switz · 09-12-2013, 11:17 AM

The Tekonsa p3 wireless unit worked well on my Mercedes with Hensley on trailer. It just uses the cigarette lighter socket to power the remote. The trailer mounted unit senses deceleration and applies the trailer brakes accordingly.

crispyboy · 09-15-2013, 09:57 PM

Must be a faulty controller. This past weekend I towed with a 2012 Dodge 2500 and the brake controller worked flawlessly with my trailer and Hensley Hitch. Brake setting was heavy trailer ~6.
Sent you an email with someone to contact. Might be time for a nasti-gram from your favorite lawyer to the dealer.

SteveH · 09-16-2013, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispyboy

Must be a faulty controller. This past weekend I towed with a 2012 Dodge 2500 and the brake controller worked flawlessly with my trailer and Hensley Hitch. Brake setting was heavy trailer ~6.
Sent you an email with someone to contact. Might be time for a nasti-gram from your favorite lawyer to the dealer.

Thanks, but I'm way past the dealer now. I've talked three times now with Chrysler customer service, and the last time to the manager of the department, and informed her this is not something that can be swept under the rug, it is a safety issue, and I have made sure they are aware of this.

She told me she would get with their engineering department, and get back to me.

switz · 09-16-2013, 10:56 AM

The call back may be when some place real warm freezes over. After a week, call every day.

I had a safety issue with a new Cessna years ago, a part would break off the cowling and fall to earth and repeated that sequence many times. The dealer and then the distributor said they would not work on it any more.

A friendly call the the Chairman of the Board explaining my lawyer had copies of these special repair work orders (plus all the others as well) in case I fell out of the skies and crashed because of the issue.

The next day there was intense interest from those same two parties to resolve the issue.

The squeeky wheel gets the grease.

SteveH · 09-16-2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

The squeeky wheel gets the grease.

Yep, I have her name and number, and will escalate higher if needed.

BAB · 09-17-2013, 07:10 PM

I ordered a 2014 Ram Laramie 2500 4x4 with Cummins as my new tow vehicle. It was shipped a couple of weeks ago, and I should have it next week. The first thing I'll be doing is checking out the brake controller.

dkottum · 09-17-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAB

I ordered a 2014 Ram Laramie 2500 4x4 with Cummins as my new tow vehicle. It was shipped a couple of weeks ago, and I should have it next week. The first thing I'll be doing is checking out the brake controller.

Please report back with your results.

doug