MOPAR Trailer Brake Controller - Tazer

[freebird_78]

I've searched, but can't seem to find an answer.

I have a Tazer, and I just installed the MOPAR trailer brake controller. I tested with and without enabling the brake controller option in Tazer. Perhaps I missing something, but I saw no difference.

What exactly does the Tazer option do? What doesn't work if you don't enable it?

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[mdyucca]

I installed the Mopar controller and found that it functioned properly after install. I also have the Taser and noticed an option to check for tow within the settings. I haven't programed the Taser to include the tow setting. Hope someone can clue me in also. Great question!

 

[freebird_78]

There seem to be two similar settings, also.

First, there's "Trailer Tow" in the Lighting Menu.

Second, there's "Trailer Brake" in the Off-road Menu.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I've searched, but can't seem to find an answer.

I have a Tazer, and I just installed the MOPAR trailer brake controller. I tested with and without enabling the brake controller option in Tazer. Perhaps I missing something, but I saw no difference.

What exactly does the Tazer option do? What doesn't work if you don't enable it?

Ignore that option - it's has no impact on Gladiator because the MOPAR and other brake controllers do not integrate. It's not a tazer issue, it's an issue with people believing a brake controller integrates with the truck. It does not. Install the brake controller and move on. Nothing to change and in fact, I'd not make any "system" changes.

In short - install the brake controller and use it. Do not make any changes to the system related to brakes, towing, brake controller.

NO trailer brake controller integrates - the truck was not made for such things. Those settings are likely there as something left over from other Jeep/RAM/Chrysler vehicles.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I installed the Mopar controller and found that it functioned properly after install. I also have the Taser and noticed an option to check for tow within the settings. I haven't programed the Taser to include the tow setting. Hope someone can clue me in also. Great question!

Ignore those settings! The truck comes ready to go. There's nothing to change, nothing to fix, nothing to integrate.

 

[mdyucca]

Ignore those settings! The truck comes ready to go. There's nothing to change, nothing to fix, nothing to integrate.

Thanks for the confirmation. I thought I was missing something.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks for the confirmation. I thought I was missing something.

There was a ton of "conjecture" 2 years ago - before the brake controller came out and then shortly after it was released for sale that since it was integrated into the cluster display in certain RAM trucks that it must also be that way for the Jeep Gladiator. That's not the case, and the MOPAR brake controller is actually the equivalent of a third party brake controller and doesn't integrate with anything other than looks.
4 leads -
power,
ground,
lead to the trailer brakes (at the rear plug)
and connection to the truck's brake light circuit (why I don't know unless they had plans to make it conform to CA laws and didn't actually do that)

There's no integration into anything (bummer) and I've towed my car hauler with car with mine and it works just fine, no settings changed. Truck towed like a champ.

 

[jsalbre]

There was a ton of "conjecture" 2 years ago - before the brake controller came out and then shortly after it was released for sale that since it was integrated into the cluster display in certain RAM trucks that it must also be that way for the Jeep Gladiator. That's not the case, and the MOPAR brake controller is actually the equivalent of a third party brake controller and doesn't integrate with anything other than looks.
4 leads -
power,
ground,
lead to the trailer brakes (at the rear plug)
and connection to the truck's brake light circuit (why I don't know unless they had plans to make it conform to CA laws and didn't actually do that)

There's no integration into anything (bummer) and I've towed my car hauler with car with mine and it works just fine, no settings changed. Truck towed like a champ.

The brake light connection is how the controller knows you’ve stepped on the brakes.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The brake light connection is how the controller knows you’ve stepped on the brakes.

Yes and no....... depends on the controller and mode of operation. That's not all that it does, but one thing it does, especially in user mode or on some specific controllers that don't have the electronics to detect changes in speed/direction (some still exist)

In the case of the Redarc TowPro Elite, in user mode it detects truck brake lights and applies trailer brakes based on the dial setting. Great for trail or off-road.
In proportional mode, t's inertia sensing in that it detects subtle changes - or large changes - in speed and direction and applies trailer brakes based on the severity of the braking action.

 

[jsalbre]

Yes and no....... depends on the controller and mode of operation. That's not all that it does, but one thing it does, especially in user mode or on some specific controllers that don't have the electronics to detect changes in speed/direction (some still exist)

In the case of the Redarc TowPro Elite, in user mode it detects truck brake lights and applies trailer brakes based on the dial setting. Great for trail or off-road.
In proportional mode, t's inertia sensing in that it detects subtle changes - or large changes - in speed and direction and applies trailer brakes based on the severity of the braking action.

The RedArc TowPro Elite is what I’m using. Even in proportional mode it still uses the brake light signal to know you’ve pressed the brakes. Witgout that signal it will never engage them, otherwise it would hit the brakes if you downshifted.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The RedArc TowPro Elite is what I’m using. Even in proportional mode it still uses the brake light signal to know you’ve pressed the brakes. Witgout that signal it will never engage them, otherwise it would hit the brakes if you downshifted.

Yes - I was way over-simplifying it for sure.

The Redarc controller is really a fantastic controller. There are times I wish I had left it in my truck instead of swapping to the mopar controller but I do like the looks of the mopar controller "dial".

 

[jsalbre]

Yes - I was way over-simplifying it for sure.

The Redarc controller is really a fantastic controller. There are times I wish I had left it in my truck instead of swapping to the mopar controller but I do like the looks of the mopar controller "dial".

Agreed. I went with the RedArc because I couldn’t get a hold of the Mopar. it works great, though I do wish it blended in better.

 

[Dougstdig]

Yes - I was way over-simplifying it for sure.

The Redarc controller is really a fantastic controller. There are times I wish I had left it in my truck instead of swapping to the mopar controller but I do like the looks of the mopar controller "dial".

So are you saying that the Mopar controller is not proportional?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So are you saying that the Mopar controller is not proportional?

It's not dual mode.
It would be proportional.

User mode means when the truck's brake pedal is pressed so that the lights are triggered, the controller applies the brakes according to the dial setting no matter how hard you are braking the truck.
That's handy for pulling trailers around really tight places off-road, trails, etc.

 

[Dougstdig]

It's not dual mode.
It would be proportional.

User mode means when the truck's brake pedal is pressed so that the lights are triggered, the controller applies the brakes according to the dial setting no matter how hard you are braking the truck.
That's handy for pulling trailers around really tight places off-road, trails, etc.

?? I went back and watched a couple of videos. …forgot about trailers digging in if their tires lock up in the soft stuff.

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