Redarc just announced a new Brake controller

[Brad.Clarkston]

How does it know it's a sway incident and when sway is over?
The truck calculates that using the 4 wheel sensors, steering wheel angle and other data, but this just plugs in - how does it know?

I assume it's getting it from the USCAR plug, it sets between it and the trailer harness so it should be getting the data from the truck.

Sponsored

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I assume it's getting it from the USCAR plug, it sets between it and the trailer harness so it should be getting the data from the truck.

On which line? There's no data at the trailer plug - it's simply power sent straight back. Those terminals even have their own fuses
The schematic shows those lines bypassing pretty much everything else and are home run.
Brake power to the trailer normally comes off the harness at the kick panel, through the brake controller in the cab, and then straight out to the trailer brakes. There's no signals on those lines I can see in the schematics.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

"The class leading 6-axis sensor delivers precise motion sensing for unmatched control as well as providing instant calibration."

Apparently they are doing their own monitoring from their own sensor, so..."keep trying until it's not shaking anymore".

That's about the only way - there's no data at the trailer plug. So if you press that and hit a pot hole, who knows? I guess keep all of your tires well balanced.

 

[WILDHOBO]

They have a USB remote with real buttons the phone is optional there's plenty of pictures of it down towards the bottom.

The remote doesn’t have a usb connection to the controller though. It’s just powered by usb. I’ll keep my curt all day. So many say you NEED your phone for the curt. Nope. You only need it to change settings. That’s it. I tow a lot and never use my phone. The one exception is if I turn on my flashers/hazards. The app allows you to enable a bypass so you’re not pulsing the trailer brakes with your hazards. Other than that, I plug it in and it’s working. You don’t even need to launch the app.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I missed seeing the pics somehow. Thanks.

The usb is to power the remote only.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I assume it's getting it from the USCAR plug, it sets between it and the trailer harness so it should be getting the data from the truck.

It’s not getting anything from the truck but power inline with the 7 pin. Sway data is likely from built in sensors in the red arc.

 

[Brad.Clarkston]

The remote doesn’t have a usb connection to the controller though. It’s just powered by usb. I’ll keep my curt all day. So many say you NEED your phone for the curt. Nope. You only need it to change settings. That’s it. I tow a lot and never use my phone. The one exception is if I turn on my flashers/hazards. The app allows you to enable a bypass so you’re not pulsing the trailer brakes with your hazards. Other than that, I plug it in and it’s working. You don’t even need to launch the app.

True it's wireless between the remote and the controller but it does have real buttons.

 

[WILDHOBO]

True it's wireless between the remote and the controller but it does have real buttons.

I guess. But I’m not sure why that’s better. I’ve been towing with my curt echo since 2019 on 4 different vehicles. I have yet to need physical buttons. I have the “emergency” button, but haven’t used it in 6.5 years. If the settings are well chosen for your vehicle/trailer combo, you’re good to just drive. And I tow in the mountains. So none of that flat stuff.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I guess. But I’m not sure why that’s better. I’ve been towing with my curt echo since 2019 on 4 different vehicles. I have yet to need physical buttons. I have the “emergency” button, but haven’t used it in 6.5 years. If the settings are well chosen for your vehicle/trailer combo, you’re good to just drive. And I tow in the mountains. So none of that flat stuff.

Slippery roads and the draft/wake from semis on 2 lanes.
Doesn't matter if I use it once a week or once a decade, it's like insurance - I want that button there. It's when you think it's not important or you'll never use it that something weird happens.

Frankly, though, with good loading tongue weight and the fact the TRUCK helps with sway, it is much less likely to be needed..............
But I also use the button to check the trailer brake gain and force - and other things.
There's times I adjust the braking force/gain based on the roads I'm on. When I get home and pull down my neighbor's gravel drive, I have to set the gain down to 1 or I'm sliding the trailer tires all the way down. I adjust different for different weights and circumstances, road surfaces and weather.

Looking more at the Redarc unit, if I didn't have my current Redarc - I'd be interested in this although having another wire going to USB is a thing since these are SHORT USB ports to begin with.
I like the fact when I got home I could hit the (-) button and relax the trailer brakes, make adjustments on the fly when or if needed, and the trailer brake button is right there.
when you get into some tight spaces off the road with a trailer, it's useful to lock the trailer brakes to drag it around a corner, too.
I did that at a tight grassy ravine when leaving a swap meet - drag it around a corner. Pivot the trailer.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Slippery roads and the draft/wake from semis on 2 lanes.
Doesn't matter if I use it once a week or once a decade, it's like insurance - I want that button there. It's when you think it's not important or you'll never use it that something weird happens.

Frankly, though, with good loading tongue weight and the fact the TRUCK helps with sway, it is much less likely to be needed..............
But I also use the button to check the trailer brake gain and force - and other things.
There's times I adjust the braking force/gain based on the roads I'm on. When I get home and pull down my neighbor's gravel drive, I have to set the gain down to 1 or I'm sliding the trailer tires all the way down. I adjust different for different weights and circumstances, road surfaces and weather.

Looking more at the Redarc unit, if I didn't have my current Redarc - I'd be interested in this although having another wire going to USB is a thing since these are SHORT USB ports to begin with.
I like the fact when I got home I could hit the (-) button and relax the trailer brakes, make adjustments on the fly when or if needed, and the trailer brake button is right there.
when you get into some tight spaces off the road with a trailer, it's useful to lock the trailer brakes to drag it around a corner, too.
I did that at a tight grassy ravine when leaving a swap meet - drag it around a corner. Pivot the trailer.

I have the button. Just haven’t needed it.

Sponsored