Mopar factory trailer brake controller - my impressions and review

[Tim Detour]

Yup, it does cost money, but it should at least be a Factory build choice
Tow + Brake controller package or just Tow Package.
hell they force so many other options at consumers,
at least this one makes sense

also for anyone else wondering,
The Redarc is good to go for 2022

https://www.etrailer.com/question-587851.html

That’s rad!

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[Elff]

Thank the person who originally posted it.
Now I can swap it between my JTR and my wife's Ranger as needed.

 

[WetWilly]

There's no sales code stuff to worry about. That was for Wrangler. And the only issues these had were with early 2020. Otherwise, what comes in the box is literally all you need (other than the tool to remove the 12v outlet)

The PDF files here are basically just different versions of the same thing. Disregard any sales code stuff, no cable is needed, no flash is needed (unless built prior to a date in January 2020).

This is an old post, but by doing a search it helped me out greatly. I am looking into setting up trailer brakes. Thanks for the info

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I will be taking the MOPAR trailer brake controller out of my 2020 so I can put it in the 2022 when it arrives. Having learned a few things the first time around, I am hoping to maybe make a tweak or two and end up better the second time around.
The dealer who is taking this 2020 in trade for the 2022 said I was to "take it back to how it was when you first bought it here". That means everything goes except what the truck came from the factory with.
My only 'wondering" on this will be removing the dial from the center of the dash - it wasn't bad putting it in, but I have a feeling when those parts snapped together way back when, when I installed it, the factory intent was "snap together, never come apart."
Not looking forward to uninstalling.
Installing the second time - in the 2022, should be fine.

 

[WetWilly]

I will be taking the MOPAR trailer brake controller out of my 2020 so I can put it in the 2022 when it arrives. Having learned a few things the first time around, I am hoping to maybe make a tweak or two and end up better the second time around.
The dealer who is taking this 2020 in trade for the 2022 said I was to "take it back to how it was when you first bought it here". That means everything goes except what the truck came from the factory with.
My only 'wondering" on this will be removing the dial from the center of the dash - it wasn't bad putting it in, but I have a feeling when those parts snapped together way back when, when I installed it, the factory intent was "snap together, never come apart."
Not looking forward to uninstalling.
Installing the second time - in the 2022, should be fine.

Did you mount the module where directions pointed out, or did you figure out a better position for it ? Back issues for me make under the dash work an even bigger chore .

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Did you mount the module where directions pointed out, or did you figure out a better position for it ? Back issues for me make under the dash work an even bigger chore .

Funny you should mention back issues, I just mentioned my back in another thread. Years of being stupid and lifting things I should never lift, or just lifting and bending anyway, have given me a badly curved spine with almost no disk padding between some areas, and pinched nerves. So I try to minimize that sort of twisting under the dash these days.
I did originally mount this in the "factory, by the book" position, but may rethink it a bit for the new JT.
Funny thing, I recall rewiring cars with burned wires, or dash issues, and moving the driver seat back, and laying with my feet in the air on the seat, head under the dash, working, and never thinking a thing of it. I could lay on the floor of a lot of vehicles and twist and turn. I might get in there now - but it would take a crew of first responders to get me out LOL

 

[tampahoosier]

I will be taking the MOPAR trailer brake controller out of my 2020 so I can put it in the 2022 when it arrives. Having learned a few things the first time around, I am hoping to maybe make a tweak or two and end up better the second time around.
The dealer who is taking this 2020 in trade for the 2022 said I was to "take it back to how it was when you first bought it here". That means everything goes except what the truck came from the factory with.
My only 'wondering" on this will be removing the dial from the center of the dash - it wasn't bad putting it in, but I have a feeling when those parts snapped together way back when, when I installed it, the factory intent was "snap together, never come apart."
Not looking forward to uninstalling.
Installing the second time - in the 2022, should be fine.

It’s was a COMPLETE PAIN IN THE ASS! I tried to take mine out of my 2020 gasser so I could put it into my 2021 diesel and it didn’t work. As you mentioned, the piece of the dial that snaps in was just too much to overcome and was most likely meant as a permanent thing. I spent 2 hours try to see a way to unsnap that ring and it was impossible without breaking something. FYI you cannot order the snap ring separately. I ended up leaving it in and having to buy another from BAM.

A suggestion for you… if everything is the same between the dashes of the two trucks you could consider simply swapping the dash bezels of the two trucks while in the parking lot at the dealer. The trailer break controller is mounted to the bezel on the old one and the new one has that pesky cigarette lighter in it you’ll also have to deal with. Since you’ve already taken out the dash bezel before you know how quick and easy it is. Doing a swap at the dealership and already having the cig lighter installed is a bonus. I didn’t think about doing that myself until just now unfortunately lol.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It’s was a COMPLETE PAIN IN THE ASS! I tried to take mine out of my 2020 gasser so I could put it into my 2021 diesel and it didn’t work. As you mentioned, the piece of the dial that snaps in was just too much to overcome. I spent 2 hours try to see a way to unsnap that ring and it was impossible without breaking something. FYI you cannot order the snap ring separately. I ended up leaving it in and having to buy another from BAM.

A suggestion for you… if everything is the same between the dashes of the two trucks you could consider simply swapping the dash bezels of the two trucks while in the parking lot at the dealer. The trailer break controller is mounted to the bezel on the old one and the new one still has that pesky cigarette lighter in it you’ll also have to deal with. Since you’ve already taken out the dash bezel before you know how quick and easy it is. Doing a swap at the dealership and already having the cig lighter installed is a bonus. I didn’t think about doing that myself until just now unfortunately lol.

Rats, you had to confirm my fears.
I may chat with the sales guy and see how open they are to that sort of thing - or see if they'd even just give me another 200 if I leave mine in, and just buy a new one from Benny or BAM or someone. Might be worth $100 bucks to avoid the hassle.
As for if they are the same or not - that's a great question. The new one will have aux switches, though, so there's a difference there.

 

[tampahoosier]

Rats, you had to confirm my fears.
I may chat with the sales guy and see how open they are to that sort of thing - or see if they'd even just give me another 200 if I leave mine in, and just buy a new one from Benny or BAM or someone. Might be worth $100 bucks to avoid the hassle.
As for if they are the same or not - that's a great question. The new one will have aux switches, though, so there's a difference there.

You could do that too but honestly consider the swap. It wouldn’t take you but 10min to knock out. All you need is the plastic trim piece, and screw driver and a rag to put on top of the shifter while the bezel rests on it so you can unplug everything.

Hell I swapped my bumpers at the dealership lol. Took me 30min, they couldn’t believe I did that.

 

[tampahoosier]

Rats, you had to confirm my fears.
I may chat with the sales guy and see how open they are to that sort of thing - or see if they'd even just give me another 200 if I leave mine in, and just buy a new one from Benny or BAM or someone. Might be worth $100 bucks to avoid the hassle.
As for if they are the same or not - that's a great question. The new one will have aux switches, though, so there's a difference there.

Also, Aux switch pod comes out very easily, so no worries there.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Also, Aux switch pod comes out very easily, so no worries there.

I wondered since that's an accessory you can buy and easily install later (well, the switch pod itself is easy, the wiring can be fun to run)

 

[WetWilly]

Funny you should mention back issues, I just mentioned my back in another thread. Years of being stupid and lifting things I should never lift, or just lifting and bending anyway, have given me a badly curved spine with almost no disk padding between some areas, and pinched nerves. So I try to minimize that sort of twisting under the dash these days.
I did originally mount this in the "factory, by the book" position, but may rethink it a bit for the new JT.
Funny thing, I recall rewiring cars with burned wires, or dash issues, and moving the driver seat back, and laying with my feet in the air on the seat, head under the dash, working, and never thinking a thing of it. I could lay on the floor of a lot of vehicles and twist and turn. I might get in there now - but it would take a crew of first responders to get me out LOL

I have rods in my back.. Just getting to the SGW to unplug and plug in stuff was a major job for me. I am thinking it over for the brake module relocation ideas. I am not sure how much wire there is to play with until I get there.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Rats, you had to confirm my fears.
I may chat with the sales guy and see how open they are to that sort of thing - or see if they'd even just give me another 200 if I leave mine in, and just buy a new one from Benny or BAM or someone. Might be worth $100 bucks to avoid the hassle.
As for if they are the same or not - that's a great question. The new one will have aux switches, though, so there's a difference there.

I wouldn't even hassle with it. See what you can get out of the dealer, since the brake controller is an upsell that they won't even have to install. Maybe you can get them to sell you a new one at cost.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I wouldn't even hassle with it. See what you can get out of the dealer, since the brake controller is an upsell that they won't even have to install. Maybe you can get them to sell you a new one at cost.

That is an option for sure. It would be easier just to install new, fresh, than to remove this one and mess with pulling things apart, hoping the cheap plastic of the dial doesn't break, and so on.

The part that confuses me a bit is that the ones for sale are not listed to fit 2022,
they fit 2020 and 2021 only.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I would hope that is just their delay in doing updates. Since it doesn't integrate with the truck computers, there should be nothing preventing it from working with the '22 models. Unless they have done something under the dash, and there is no longer room for the larger Mopar controller unit.

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