Re: [A/S] On the Eve of ....

[Rick Kunath <k9ao@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

We had an interesting discussion about brake controllers here on the 
list a while back. I don't want to crank it up again, but want to make a 
few comments about the Jordan v.s. the Hensley (BrakeSmart) controller. 
If you want more info search the list archives for "brake controller".

The Hensley and it's orange controller are actually a BrakeSmart 
controller re-branded. The BrakeSmart is black in color. They are 
virtually identical controllers.

The really good thing about the BrakeSmart (Hensley) controller is that 
it is a proportional controller that gets it's input from the hydraulic 
pressure in the hydraulic braking system of the tow vehicle. In other 
words, the BrakeSmart knows precisely how much brake system pressure is 
being applied to the tow vehicle brake calipers or wheel cylinders. It 
knows precisely how hard you are braking the tow vehicle because it 
measures the pressure and "sees" you apply the brakes, and how hard. It 
knows when you are applying just a feather of brake, when you ease off, 
and when you come on harder. Because it measures actual pressure, it 
can't get out of adjustment like the Jordan can. The Jordan attempts to 
fake the same kind of reading by making assumptions about the brake 
pedal position. This is not the same as measuring the actual hydraulic 
pressure, and is subject to constantly getting out of adjustment as 
brake pads and shoes wear (or as Joe mentioned, the cable wears) on the 
tow vehicle.

Because of it's ability to know just what is going on with braking on 
the tow vehicle, the BrakeSmart can follow braking changes with the 
trailer brakes. If you apply the tow vehicle brakes lightly, the 
BrakeSmart applies the trailer brakes lightly. If you come on hard, it 
brings on the trailer brakes hard. Because it measures the hydraulic 
pressure there is no long brake delay or mis-application of the trailer 
brakes as is the case with controllers that make positional or other 
guesses as to what is going on with the tow vehicle brakes. (It does 
need to be adjusted correctly, however.)

What you don't want under less than optimum traction conditions is the 
trailer braking coming on either too lightly or too late as the tow 
vehicle brakes are applied.


Imagine yourself on a curve under heavy rain or other poor traction 
conditions. Someone pulls out in front of you and you apply the brakes 
quickly.

Do you want:

A) The tow vehicle brakes come on hard, but the trailer brakes delay in 
application or come on too lightly and the trailer tries to kick the tow 
vehicle's rear end out towards the outside of the curve and into traffic.

or

B) Your BrakeSmart controller senses your tow vehicle brake application 
and applies the trailer brakes proportional to your tow vehicle braking, 
and you come to a controlled stop.

Or another worse scenario... you find yourself in poor traction 
conditions and are attempting to make it to a safe place to get off the 
road. You apply the brakes ever so lightly on the tow vehicle trying to 
make a slow and controlled stop.

Do you want:

A) You apply the brakes on the tow vehicle very lightly, but your 
positional or other brake controller does not sense this and applies no 
trailer brakes, so the trailer kicks at the tow vehicle's rear end, 
trying to kick it out of line. (Your Hensley hitch tries to save you 
here and might if the traction isn't too bad.)

or

B) Your BrakeSmart controller senses the light application of the tow 
vehicle brakes, and applies the trailer brakes lightly too, bringing you 
to a controlled stop.


The BrakeSmart proportional controller does a lot more than might be 
apparent. It's worth the money and the additional installation 
complexity in my opinion.

I've actually found myself in situations like those I described. And, 
while I hope you never are, it happens.

Orange is a strange color for a brake controller, and if you get the 
BrakeSmart it is available in black, but color not withstanding... if it 
saves the day, whatever color it is is a good color. I don't think there 
is a better aftermarket brake controller on the market today than the 
BrakeSmart (Hensley) unit.

The built-in trailer brake controller on the new Ford trucks operates 
like this too.

Brake controllers get to be a touchy subject sometimes, in my opinion 
the brake controller is a poor place to economize.

Rick Kunath
WBCCI #3060