Mopar brake controller worth it?

[jonp9576]

Just picked up my gladiator yesterday. I thought there might be a chance, since it has the max tow package, that it came with a brake controller. I thought wrong.

I’m looking at a few different brands. Are there actual performance benefits to the Mopar one? Or is the premium price just because it fits nicely and looks great?
It’s over $300 while I’ve seen other brands for as low as $159.
I definitely don’t want to drill a hole in the dash. I feel like I’m answering my own question here.

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[Lost1wing]

The Curt bluetooth works great. You can save several different towing configurations. Once you select a configuration, it remains there even with your phone off. You can move it from vehicle to vehicle as it just plugs in the trailer connector.

 

[jonp9576]

The Curt bluetooth works great. You can save several different towing configurations. Once you select a configuration, it remains there even with your phone off. You can move it from vehicle to vehicle as it just plugs in the trailer connector.

So it just plugs in line with your trailer wiring in the back of the vehicle?

 

[Lost1wing]

Yes. It is that easy.

 

[jonp9576]

Yes. It is that easy.

Cool thanks. I’ll look into that. Seems easier and cheaper.

 

[Lost1wing]

Cool thanks. I’ll look into that. Seems easier and cheaper.

I saw a used one for $150 on ebay

 

[Jaxmax]

How do you hit the emergency brake button on the Curt, through the phone? My family had an experience with a Tahoe with a violent out of control swaying situation that the passenger would be the only person to be able to hit the brake controller, after that, my son in laws and every truck we equipped with a brake controller is reachable by the front passenger. The phone controlling the curt would have to be mounted solid. Our incident still makes me anxious talking about it but it was a long downhill in NY bad enough I just kept it on the two lanes of traffic for long downhill, things thrown around truck , tractor trailer knew what was going on and followed behind me swaying his truck to stop cars from passing.
Boat trailer towing the Whaler was then equipped with electricity operated hydraulic disc brakes and a brake controller. At bottom of the hill the trucker stopped with us, I was soaked. I threw firewood and some other stuff out at a rest stop and really set the suspension up better later on the soft Tahoe rear.
I Have and very much like the Mopar controller other then losing the 12v outlet which I have not really needed. Wife can reach it! ……Jack

 

[jonp9576]

How do you hit the emergency brake button on the Curt, through the phone? My family had an experience with a Tahoe with a violent out of control swaying situation that the passenger would be the only person to be able to hit the brake controller, after that, my son in laws and every truck we equipped with a brake controller is reachable by the front passenger. The phone controlling the curt would have to be mounted solid. Our incident still makes me anxious talking about it but it was a long downhill in NY bad enough I just kept it on the two lanes of traffic for long downhill, things thrown around truck , tractor trailer knew what was going on and followed behind me swaying his truck to stop cars from passing.
Boat trailer towing the Whaler was then equipped with electricity operated hydraulic disc brakes and a brake controller. At bottom of the hill the trucker stopped with us, I was soaked. I threw firewood and some other stuff out at a rest stop and really set the suspension up better later on the soft Tahoe rear.
I Have and very much like the Mopar controller other then losing the 12v outlet which I have not really needed. Wife can reach it! ……Jack

Good point. I m not planning on mounting my phone. Or leaving it on with the app open.
I e never had a need to touch a brake controller while driving, but the extra safety of having it accessible seems worth it.

 

[Lost1wing]

You can hit the button on the phone to activate the brakes. That being said, you would need to keep your phone on and plugged in.
Curt also makes a bluetooth panic button so that you can put your phone away or even turn it off. It's another $50 or so, but worth it to me.

 

[jonp9576]

You can hit the button on the phone to activate the brakes. That being said, you would need to keep your phone on and plugged in.
Curt also makes a bluetooth panic button so that you can put your phone away or even turn it off. It's another $50 or so, but worth it to me.

I feel like I’m mentally just dancing around getting the Mopar one. If I’m mounting a button, the factory clean look of the Mopar controller is the clear winner.

 

[Lost1wing]

I feel like I’m mentally just dancing around getting the Mopar one. If I’m mounting a button, the factory clean look of the Mopar controller is the clear winner.

I don't mount the button. It is portable to move to other vehicles. You can set it where ever you want. I also don't use it all of the time. Only on long trips when I may use the phone for something else. It works very good.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I just bought a camper yesterday and went with the curt Bluetooth controller. I'm glad I went this route you can interchange it between vehicles and not drilling holes or running wires. Just plug it into the 7 pin and download the app.

I'm looking for a solid mount for my phone so I can control the brake controller from it. You can press the brakes on the app, it's got a large red button to hold. No big deal really and better than drilling holes. Dealership wanted $750 to install the Mopar one for reference. That was what they quoted me last week when I called. I paid $250 for the curt Controller.

 

[abe57]

While you are installing the Mopar one order one of these https://www.ebay.com/itm/373420177975 and it will give you two connection points to power up other items. I used mine to install a 2port usb charging point up front and the other for a 4" LED light mounted in front of my automatic shift lever on the console with a dimmer switch to light up the lower dash panel at night. Now I can see the lower switches !

 

[jonp9576]

While you are installing the Mopar one order one of these https://www.ebay.com/itm/373420177975 and it will give you two connection points to power up other items. I used mine to install a 2port usb charging point up front and the other for a 4" LED light mounted in front of my automatic shift lever on the console with a dimmer switch to light up the lower dash panel at night. Now I can see the lower switches !

I’d love a picture of that setup.

 

[loganjeeps]

also keep in mind with the mopar one you lose that cigarette style 12v outlet which is the only one in the gladiator because everything else is USB. you may not think you need that outlet right now, but something will creep up in the future when you least expect it.

I've got the curt bluetooth I use on the gladiator which is convenience related since its not my primary towing rig. i've got a curt traditional under dash control box on my chevrolet.

I think the need for a "panic button" is a bit overrated. If the controller is setup right it should surge the trailer brake appropriately in an emergency braking situation way faster than you can react to push any button anywhere.

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