OEM Brake controller / crappy service from local dealer Richmond, VA. (Pearson)

[danielspivey]

I know there are a couple threads out there about the OEM break controller, but I wanted to tell about my experience with trying to get one and dealing with my local dealer who I bought the gladiator from.

I bought my gladiator in Sept. of last year, They said the brake controller would be in by the end of the year 2019. When December came around, they said it would be February. I called in February, and they said it would be July before they got the brake controller in. Now it is the end of July and today I called my local dealer. The guy on the phone told me he had no clue of what they were really going to do and he wouldn’t know anyways because he doesn’t work for “ them” (mopar). He then said someone said it would be December 2020 before they got them in.

I then asked to speak to the service and parts manager, and he told A similar story as above, but in a nicer way. I then asked him if they had any recommendations of what break controller to get to put in the gladiator because none were available. He said he did not know what to tell me because none are made by Mopar. He then said I could look into calling a local shop to see what they would tell me. I asked him if they had installed any break controllers at this dealership in the last year and he said that they had not.

Is it just me or is this whole situation completely ridiculous? The gladiator has been out for a year. They claimed towing up to 7650, but as we know you should really be using a brake controller when towing more than 3000 pounds. The current prediction is the brake controller won’t be out for another five months.

The service manager claimed that Covid messed up things with Them getting manufactured, But that’s a poor cop out as far as I’m concerned because Covid it didn’t really hit here until April. Is anyone else as frustrated as me?

I know several on here have installed aftermarket brake controllers, but I am hesitant because Jeep is saying they won’t back the reliability of the use of these because they aren’t manufactured by Mopar. What is everyone’s thoughts on this?

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[booneja]

definately frustrated....it's even worse here in the north...when the part number was released in the US, Canadian shops didn't even see it in their database....I suspect that here in Canada it will be another year before we get it....

 

[bshillam]

I just grabbed the Curt bluetooth controller. Can take it with me and use it in all the vehicles I own.

 

[eaglerugby04]

The mopar defense they give is total bullshit. Just ignore that completely. My redarc works fine, install was easy except for finding the plug and the pants wetting portion of drilling a hole in my dash. When it comes down to it they all pretty much do the same thing, just some look better than others. The only thing the Mopar one "might" bring is water resistance, but even then I mounted my redarc in a spot that would be hard to get the knob wet.

Because of this and the garbage lights they give on a truck this expensive (how is led not standard in 2020) I will not buy anything mopar. They are honestly overpriced for what they are compared to the aftermarket.

 

[jmdwifi]

Chrysler of Culpepper are great to work with so far.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

Not for nothing but I wouldnt be waiting around for mopar on this topic. A good Curt or Drawtite does the job. Yes, a nice in dash part of the package piece is best but if you need to tow now, no sense in breaking the dealers stones, he's just as over a barrel as you are.

Likely the Mopar unit is a repackaged off the shelf item from Curt or Drawtite or similar, not at all cost effective to design your own. Likely also that the big hang up is having the dash trim made and marrying the two in a cost effective way. This is all code for made in china production issues as a global pandemic has been bothering global supply and logistics as of late.

 

[brianinca]

The Curt Bluetooth is a great solution for occasional towers like me, and thanks to the forum I got it cheaply at Home Depot.

The factory controller takes out the CLA, I need that for the fast charge capable Type-C charger I have. Forget that!

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