Factory Trailer Brake Controller releases ...EDIT: STILL WAITING

[ShadowsPapa]

You Sir must be a master typer! I always wonder how you put so much down on each post. Good for you on those skills lol. I always have trouble typing on my phone.

I HATE typing on my phone. That's why I have a Nexus and a Chromebook in my shop, an LG tablet next to a chair in the front room, an HP laptop with digital drive, and a server down in my main office.
I typed 40 wpm in high school, and worked as a security admin for the state - had to keep ahead of the bad guys when thwarting risks. (and I did triple work duties so had to learn to be fast)

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[TheHime]

I HATE typing on my phone. That's why I have a Nexus and a Chromebook in my shop, an LG tablet next to a chair in the front room, an HP laptop with digital drive, and a server down in my main office.
I typed 40 wpm in high school, and worked as a security admin for the state - had to keep ahead of the bad guys when thwarting risks. (and I did triple work duties so had to learn to be fast)

That makes a lot of sense now!

 

[eaglerugby04]

"Why doesn't Jeep just buy from Redarc" or similar wording.
Well, if only it was that simple. Then you're importing a product, electronic product, for use in a USA made vehicle. Testing testing testing.
Does Redarc manufacture their own, or do they do like many electronics firms do - contract with a company that already makes the PC boards, etc.?
Redarc likely couldn't keep up with demand as an OEM supplier! Think of the numbers.
So it would have to pass all sorts of testing as a product integrated into a truck sold on dealer lots, as well as the licensing agreements and more.
I worked in a global electronics company. We sold systems worth anywhere from a few hundred thousand dollars to over a million if you included the engineering for a specific customer (such as GAZPROM, Exxon, GM, and others)
And - believe it or not, we did not make our own PCBs! No, we had another company do that due to the extreme expenses involved (and the EPA and others) So each time there was a rev requiring a board change - we had massive hoops to jump through and work with that other company to make the next rev boards, send them back, so we could build and test the control systems.
And there's packaging to develop and more.

Here's something I bet the people suggesting "why not just have Redarc make them"
Maybe they didn't know that Redarc controllers won't pass California laws when installed in a Jeep vehicle without spending about another $100 to make them compliant - because CA law requires your trailer brake lights to come on when you manually trigger the trailer brakes! Redarc and other controllers can't do that without an add-on circuit at the back (at least at this point as far as I know)
In short, if I lived in CA, with the Redarc controller in my JT, pulling a trailer in CA and hit the trailer brake controller to pull out of a sway or something - CA could ticket me. It won't trigger the lights.
Tons of troubles getting 3rd parties involved that already sell their own to the after-market. A lot of logistics, legal things going on, not to mention capacity.
And if said trailer brake controller companies have theirs made in China - there's another mess to sort through.

So you are saying Jeep could quickly release this if the just marked it "not CA compliant" and did'nt sell it there like generators and other things that can't pass CAs crap laws? lol JK, maybe?

 

[danielspivey]

I HATE typing on my phone. That's why I have a Nexus and a Chromebook in my shop, an LG tablet next to a chair in the front room, an HP laptop with digital drive, and a server down in my main office.
I typed 40 wpm in high school, and worked as a security admin for the state - had to keep ahead of the bad guys when thwarting risks. (and I did triple work duties so had to learn to be fast)

I was thinking you were at least 1943 words per minute, especially since you have over 5100 posts that average 1962 words per post...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So you are saying Jeep could quickly release this if the just marked it "not CA compliant" and did'nt sell it there like generators and other things that can't pass CAs crap laws? lol JK, maybe?

LOL - no, just myself SPECULATING that it could be part of the delay - California requires that when you trigger the trailer brakes, no matter how they are triggered, the brake lights must illuminate.
That would seem to complicate things as so far as I know there is no existing controller that does this alone. Curt makes an ADD-ON that plugs into the plug at the back of the truck and intercepts the brake solenoid current and lights the brake lights but would that work with a JT since any feedback into the brake light circuit seems to cause so anxiety of the JT's systems?
That's why we have a diode in the line to the brake lights when you use certain trailer brake controllers - to prevent any feedback into the brake light system of the tow vehicle.

I wonder how CA people get around this.........

It's just one more hurdle besides all of the others Jeep must be going through.
They'd also have to make the thing that it has been found by the state of confusion, sorry, I mean California, to cause CANCER and that the bag it comes in could kill your baby, there may be sharp edges, must be 18 to purchase, and so on.

 

[eaglerugby04]

LOL - no, just myself SPECULATING that it could be part of the delay - California requires that when you trigger the trailer brakes, no matter how they are triggered, the brake lights must illuminate.
That would seem to complicate things as so far as I know there is no existing controller that does this alone. Curt makes an ADD-ON that plugs into the plug at the back of the truck and intercepts the brake solenoid current and lights the brake lights but would that work with a JT since any feedback into the brake light circuit seems to cause so anxiety of the JT's systems?
That's why we have a diode in the line to the brake lights when you use certain trailer brake controllers - to prevent any feedback into the brake light system of the tow vehicle.

I wonder how CA people get around this.........

It's just one more hurdle besides all of the others Jeep must be going through.
They'd also have to make the thing that it has been found by the state of confusion, sorry, I mean California, to cause CANCER and that the bag it comes in could kill your baby, there may be sharp edges, must be 18 to purchase, and so on.

It makes sense and could explain why so many manufactures don't mess with including or selling one. It then is up to the customer to voluntarily not follow that stupid law. Its like the person who wrote it had no clue how a brake controler works.... O wait it seems like politicians in that state don't know how most things work they write laws on....

Don't even get me started on the "known to cause cancer in california". That means it only causes cancer there, right? If I am outside the state of Cali that means it doesn't cause cancer? Or at least thats how i interprerate it since it seems like 90% of the things I buy have that lable on them....

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I received at least 3 packages and parts last week that had the CA prop xx cancer warning. 2 were powder coated steel brackets - now unless you ingest the powder coating in volume, after you somehow remove it - how will that impact you? Worse issues by dropping them on a bare foot.
Plastic air dam retainer clips - cancer warning. What, you're going to EAT them or smoke them?? I know the young these days smoke almost anything and everything but really, buy these and smoke them?

Anyway, as far as I know, CA is the only state in the union to have the law about brake lights.
I get it - I do - if I go into a sway situation a good way to control it can be to use the trailer brakes to try to pull the trailer back straight. I believe I am correct in saying that OTR drivers can do that with big rigs - they have brakes for the trailer only.
So if I'm on the highway and for any reason in the world, hit that brake controller to use the trailer brakes only, I am not warning anyone behind me (those fools that like to run 15 feet behind your bumper at 70 mph) that I'm hitting brakes.
So I get it - sort of - but it does complicate things when you try to sell product, or install it from the factory, now you are selling a truck that's not compliant with CA law.

If I had a bit more electronics experience, especially when it's related to the CANbus, I'd figure a way around it, for now, you just run the diode in the line between controller and JT harness to not cause the system to freak out under specific conditions.

As far as how to comply - a device plugged into the trailer harness connector, then plug the trailer wiring into that - the device would have a diode to prevent feedback into the JT's brake light circuit. It would sense the trailer brake power line and when it saw power, it could apply power from the 12v line to the trailer brake lights, the diode preventing feedback.
I could build a circuit for likely pretty cheap - the connectors being the most expensive parts.

 

[eaglerugby04]

I received at least 3 packages and parts last week that had the CA prop xx cancer warning. 2 were powder coated steel brackets - now unless you ingest the powder coating in volume, after you somehow remove it - how will that impact you? Worse issues by dropping them on a bare foot.
Plastic air dam retainer clips - cancer warning. What, you're going to EAT them or smoke them?? I know the young these days smoke almost anything and everything but really, buy these and smoke them?

Anyway, as far as I know, CA is the only state in the union to have the law about brake lights.
I get it - I do - if I go into a sway situation a good way to control it can be to use the trailer brakes to try to pull the trailer back straight. I believe I am correct in saying that OTR drivers can do that with big rigs - they have brakes for the trailer only.
So if I'm on the highway and for any reason in the world, hit that brake controller to use the trailer brakes only, I am not warning anyone behind me (those fools that like to run 15 feet behind your bumper at 70 mph) that I'm hitting brakes.
So I get it - sort of - but it does complicate things when you try to sell product, or install it from the factory, now you are selling a truck that's not compliant with CA law.

If I had a bit more electronics experience, especially when it's related to the CANbus, I'd figure a way around it, for now, you just run the diode in the line between controller and JT harness to not cause the system to freak out under specific conditions.

As far as how to comply - a device plugged into the trailer harness connector, then plug the trailer wiring into that - the device would have a diode to prevent feedback into the JT's brake light circuit. It would sense the trailer brake power line and when it saw power, it could apply power from the 12v line to the trailer brake lights, the diode preventing feedback.
I could build a circuit for likely pretty cheap - the connectors being the most expensive parts.

You never know what will become the next tide pods!!! Got to be prepared I guess for those teens smoking automotive parts....

 

[jwilson2899]

Looks like the time has finally come:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...or-officially-released-part-82215652ab.35873/

 

[brog]

Actually it does.... it varies by state. In Virginia you can’t tow over 3000 lbs without a brake controller. But wait, you can’t get a dealer to install one because they don’t have one available. You still can’t even get a brand new 2021 with one installed from the factory. The dealers refuse to to install an after market one, has anyone had the dealer install one yet? If you get an after market one and install it yourself or at another shop, per my dealer, they don’t cover and issues because it’s not OEM. No wrecks or electrical/failure covered.

So yes, technically you CANT get a Gladiator and tow more than 3000 lbs and be covered without a doubt, even though they are/have been advertising towing IS available over 7k.

So let’s be clear, Jeep is/was advertising you can tow over 7k, but you can’t get one from Jeep or the dealer that way. The difference in your case is the dealer DID install one for your Chevy. Your right though Jeep should have acted like Chevy did and have aftermarket ones at the dealer, and should be able to install them. But they have chosen NOT to.

Not sure why you are making a lot of protective assumptions for a company that has been knowing misleading their customers.

Once again I love my Jeep, but Jeep should have owned this early on and been transparent about it.

Dan, if you don't mind my asking: what part of VA are you in? I'm in Norfolk and recently bought my JT and am looking to find a trustworthy dealer.

 

[danielspivey]

Dan, if you don't mind my asking: what part of VA are you in? I'm in Norfolk and recently bought my JT and am looking to find a trustworthy dealer.

Pearson off broad in Richmond. The service department has been decent to me so far. They don’t have loaners at all which is annoying.

I’m getting the TSB done next week so I’ll let you know how that goes. They didn’t really give me any hassle about it. They just ordered the parts. They said they would set up enterprise to come pick me up and I’d have a rental for a day. They seem pretty straight forward and communicate decently.

Is there no one down there in Norfolk that’s decent ?

 

[brog]

Pearson off broad in Richmond. The service department has been decent to me so far. They don’t have loaners at all which is annoying.

I’m getting the TSB done next week so I’ll let you know how that goes. They didn’t really give me any hassle about it. They just ordered the parts. They said they would set up enterprise to come pick me up and I’d have a rental for a day. They seem pretty straight forward and communicate decently.

Is there no one down there in Norfolk that’s decent ?

There are a few, but wanted to see other's experience if they used them. Hall is the big one down here and The sales side was a little shady with me so I found a good deal in NC and went with them but won't go down there for service. I appreciate the reponse.

 

[atoy74]

FYI, I just got my shipping confirmation for the new controller. Maybe it really does exist??

 

[ShadowsPapa]

FYI, I just got my shipping confirmation for the new controller. Maybe it really does exist??

Like Santa, the Easter Bunny, and M&Ms?

 

[atoy74]

Like Santa, the Easter Bunny, and M&Ms?

Maybe, but I have a FedEx tracking number. Let's see how this plays out...

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