JTMJT
Active Member
- First Name
- JT
- Joined
- May 9, 2021
- Threads
- 3
- Messages
- 34
- Reaction score
- 16
- Location
- Auburn, CA
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 Gladiator Rubicon -
- Occupation
- Emergency Management
- Thread starter
- #1
I searched before I posted this but probably not enough. I found a lot of discussion about tow capacity but not much of anything on trailer brake controllers.
While I have towed a lot, I have never needed, or known that I needed, a brake controller. I just bought an Opus OP2 and the seller (XGrid Campers, Nevada, who I highly recommend) was adamant I need a break controller for this camper, especially off-roading with it. I can see that you wouldn't want your trailer in a steep downhill, pushing you off the trail and possibly cliff.
So, I start researching trailer brake controllers for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Of course, the newly released Mopar controller shows up for $350.00 ish. Umm no thanks. But then I get schooled on the breadth of break controllers out there. Dang! What did I learn?
1. Never use a time delay brake controller - mainly because with the technology of proportional brake controllers out there, why would you use an inferior product?
2. Of the proportional brake controllers, some must be mounted with a specific orientation - and it's generally somewhere inconvenient. This is because of how the accelerometers are mounted in it. They also have multiple buttons to mess with. Others can be hidden away under the dash or somewhere because they do not require the specific orientation. And I am not sure why they're different but they only have one knob to mount somewhere conspicuous and that is all to controlling the trailer brakes. I like simplicity.
3. There is also a wireless Bluetooth controller out there, CURT Echo but some reviewers have issues with it braking when it shouldn't and others have fears because there is no hardwire. I suspect the first group probably suffer from an initial improper configuration issue. Basically garbage in/garbage out. I read from more than one review that when they erased and started over, it worked fine. And it has a failsafe for loosing Bluetooth connection with your phone. But yeah, its wireless - I see lots of perks.
3. The countless hardwire solutions all seem to involve some level of invasiveness, whether it is drilling a hole in your dash for the knob or brackets, or poking wires through the firewall enroute to the battery and the other direction to connect to your 7-pin. Not a fan.
All this to ask one simple question.
Does anyone know of a "plug-n-play" trailer brake controller? There are plug-n-play harnesses out there but they talk about the Ford F150 or Chevy, no mention of Gladiator. I know I'll still have to poke holes in my Gladiator for the bracket and possibly knob if I go with that type, but I want a direct connect for the wiring. If I cannot get a plug-n-play controller, I'll probably go with the Echo and see how it is.
While I have towed a lot, I have never needed, or known that I needed, a brake controller. I just bought an Opus OP2 and the seller (XGrid Campers, Nevada, who I highly recommend) was adamant I need a break controller for this camper, especially off-roading with it. I can see that you wouldn't want your trailer in a steep downhill, pushing you off the trail and possibly cliff.
So, I start researching trailer brake controllers for the 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Of course, the newly released Mopar controller shows up for $350.00 ish. Umm no thanks. But then I get schooled on the breadth of break controllers out there. Dang! What did I learn?
1. Never use a time delay brake controller - mainly because with the technology of proportional brake controllers out there, why would you use an inferior product?
2. Of the proportional brake controllers, some must be mounted with a specific orientation - and it's generally somewhere inconvenient. This is because of how the accelerometers are mounted in it. They also have multiple buttons to mess with. Others can be hidden away under the dash or somewhere because they do not require the specific orientation. And I am not sure why they're different but they only have one knob to mount somewhere conspicuous and that is all to controlling the trailer brakes. I like simplicity.
3. There is also a wireless Bluetooth controller out there, CURT Echo but some reviewers have issues with it braking when it shouldn't and others have fears because there is no hardwire. I suspect the first group probably suffer from an initial improper configuration issue. Basically garbage in/garbage out. I read from more than one review that when they erased and started over, it worked fine. And it has a failsafe for loosing Bluetooth connection with your phone. But yeah, its wireless - I see lots of perks.
3. The countless hardwire solutions all seem to involve some level of invasiveness, whether it is drilling a hole in your dash for the knob or brackets, or poking wires through the firewall enroute to the battery and the other direction to connect to your 7-pin. Not a fan.
All this to ask one simple question.
Does anyone know of a "plug-n-play" trailer brake controller? There are plug-n-play harnesses out there but they talk about the Ford F150 or Chevy, no mention of Gladiator. I know I'll still have to poke holes in my Gladiator for the bracket and possibly knob if I go with that type, but I want a direct connect for the wiring. If I cannot get a plug-n-play controller, I'll probably go with the Echo and see how it is.
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