Ram Brake control

[sdfarmer]

I have a 2017 Ram 3500 pulling a 5th wheel. Previous truck, 2014 F350 would lock the trailer wheels when manually using the dash controls. 3500 will not. Had F350 set at 5 and worked fine. Have Ram set at 10(Max) and does not seem to have the stopping power the F350 did. Anybody have experience with Ram 3500 integrated brake control?

[FrankG]

Originally Posted by sdfarmer

I have a 2017 Ram 3500 pulling a 5th wheel. Previous truck, 2014 F350 would lock the trailer wheels when manually using the dash controls. 3500 will not. Had F350 set at 5 and worked fine. Have Ram set at 10(Max) and does not seem to have the stopping power the F350 did. Anybody have experience with Ram 3500 integrated brake control?

You may want to go to the Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum. There has been a lot of discussions about the brake controller.

First of all there are 4 settings; 1) Light electric 2) heavy electric 3) light hydraulic 4) heavy hydraulic. If you have a 2 or 3 axle with standard electric brakes you need to set up the controller to "Heavy Electric". It's in the manual

The next thing you need to know is the brake controller is programmed to prevent wheel lock-up and clunking when starting or stopping.

I unknowingly started out on "Light Electric" and had the same experience as you. Then switched to "Heavy Electric" and everything is fine. In the 2013 F-250 we had the hitch clunking at every stop/start, the electronics in the Ram break controller all but eliminated the clunking. Yes it is the same hitch.

[donniedu]

You might also check your trailers brakes. Improperly adjusted brakes will do what you describe.

[brookstone345sa]

Had similar issue. Pulled hubs and had 2 bad bearing seals. Grease all over brake pads. Something to check

[Ortep]

We have a 2017 Ram 2500 CTD CC and I believe I have the brake control set at 6.5 and don't have a problem stopping. I also use the TOW/HAUL mode and REALLY don't have a problem stopping. When in the TOW/HAUL mode all you have to do is let off the gas and the truck starts the braking process automatically. I'm pulling a Flagstaff T21TBHW AFrame, I know the truck is overkill for the size trailer but I didn't want to know/feel the trailer back there while pulling thru the mountains.

[m2kamp]

For whatever reason, Ram changed the software on the factory HD truck brake controllers (around 2013?). I believe they only apply full voltage above certain speeds and conditions (highway, panic stop, etc.). Slow speeds, voltage is dropped to 80 percent or less. My braking performs no different when in Heavy or Light setting.(my trailer falls under Light). Trailer brakes are adjusted correctly.

My Ram 1500 factory brake controller performs like any other and can lock up the brakes at slow speed with the right gain setting/manual application.

[TheWolfPaq82]

I was able to lock the brakes on my 2007 Jayco (6500 lbs) with my 2003 F150 and my 2013 Silverado. Now with my 2014 GMC 2500 and my 2018 Cherokee (11,060 lbs.) I can no longer lock them up. They stop just fine and I can slow the entire rig just with the trailer brakes. After some thought, locking up the tires is NOT a good thing...hence the development of ABS systems. You have better control if your tires do not lock up in the event of an emergency and you can stop in a shorter distance if you're not skidding.

[m2kamp]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

I was able to lock the brakes on my 2007 Jayco (6500 lbs) with my 2003 F150 and my 2013 Silverado. Now with my 2014 GMC 2500 and my 2018 Cherokee (11,060 lbs.) I can no longer lock them up. They stop just fine and I can slow the entire rig just with the trailer brakes. After some thought, locking up the tires is NOT a good thing...hence the development of ABS systems. You have better control if your tires do not lock up in the event of an emergency and you can stop in a shorter distance if you're not skidding.

Very good points! I think most of us are used to being able to lock the brakes up with the controller (a lot of aftermarket brake controller instructions actually state to adjust them to lock them up, then back off gain just a bit). My 2500 factory controller stops the trailer just fine like yours, but most are used to linear performance of this system. Progress.

[BandJCarm]

If you lock the brakes with most trailers electric brake systems, unless it's a tiny trailer, that trailer is going to push you and the brakes will not surge or lock up. You're going to go forward.........you need to match your truck brakes and trailer brakes. Both need to be able to stop.

And this discussion of how well these things stop, is the main reason I come down on BIG in the truck/towing discussion. I don't care what the truck will 'tow'. A Yugo will tow the space shuttle.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

If you lock the brakes with most trailers electric brake systems, unless it's a tiny trailer, that trailer is going to push you and the brakes will not surge or lock up. You're going to go forward.........you need to match your truck brakes and trailer brakes. Both need to be able to stop.

And this discussion of how well these things stop, is the main reason I come down on BIG in the truck/towing discussion. I don't care what the truck will 'tow'. A Yugo will tow the space shuttle.

B & J,

I get what you are saying... but...
Properly sized trailer brakes in good working condition coupled with a properly functioning brake controller should be adequate to stop the trailer without having to rely heavily on the truck's braking system.
If they don't, one needs to figure out why.

A Yugo could stop the space shuttle if the trailer brakes work correctly.

[thebrakeman]

The tow vehicle's brakes are designed to stop the tow vehicle (without trailer) loaded up to it's GVWR. They are not designed to handle trailer weight, unless your trailer is so small that the combined weight does not exceed the truck's GVWR (that is, the trailer's weight is less than the truck's payload, you could say).


Likewise, the trailer's brakes are (or should be) designed to stop the trailer, loaded up to it's GVWR.


Each vehicle's brakes should be stopping that vehicle. The brake control system and the hitch system, keep the 2 working together.