Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
Price has gone up and I am not sure there is any value in the product for the return that I would get. It is something that I would use less than once a month. Maybe even less than that. What other quality options are there?
FOMOGO
__________________ 2001 F-250 Lariat, Black, CC, SB, 2WD
304 hp and 627 tq on Dunbars Dyno
2001 F-250 XL standard cab, beater, hauling trash... Stock except for a 60 horse flash...
304hp and 617 tq on Dunbars Dyno
2001 F-250 Xl Standard cab, project truck...
Custom Tunes by DP-Tuner, Custom Fuel System by ITP Diesel, Custom Trans by BTS
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
I would go for second best and get a Jordan Ultima 2020. Of course this depends on what is at stake for those 1/month trailering trips. I pull an expensive horse trailer with $250,000 worth of horse flesh and frequently my children or others are in the cab. To me, the extra expense of the Brake Smart is worth it.
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2002 F350 Lariat CC 4x4 Auto 4.10 DRW, DP-Tuner F5 live tuned stock, quiet, 40dd, 40, 60, 80 tow, 80e and 120r, B&W GN, BrakeSmart, 'pooned tank, tank and pre-pump mods, 2µ Dahl 100 filter, regulated return, BTS dual HPOP, AC singles with EDM 34 lpm nozzles, AIS, H2e, Spearco 6.0 IC, Hypermax 3.5" dp--> MBRP 4" 304SS exhaust, BTS tranny, 203º T-stat, Chevron ELC, coolant filter, Oilguard bypass with Schaeffer 9000, WranglerNW 200 amp alternator & Optima group 31 batteries, Nippon-Denso starter, SPA gauges, SteveRacer mods, Hella 80/100W 9007s, Hella Micro DE foglights, 1000FF driving lights, 220W backup lights, Stancor contactor, Michelin XPS Traction tires, X-Springs, Bilstein shox, custom bumpers but otherwise stock. Nov 30 '99 build engine with 16 K miles, Fluidampr, Comp Cam 910 springs, Melling LPOP and ARP headstuds. Alien-Patrol Customer Service Sucks!
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
I have one and thought it was worth it...BUT...if I was not going to use it too often and thought the price was high I would consider the Jordan as a second choice and the Prodigy as my third choice. The Prodigy works well and most people that use them, and haven't used the other two, have no problem endorsing the Prodigy as very good. I have no doubt that it will do the job. These three controllers use different methods of determining the amount of braking needed for the trailer. I happen to think that taking the measurement directly from the pressure of the truck brake fluid is superior.
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99.5 F350 Dually, AFE Intake, Garrett Turbo, Banks Exhaust Brake, BTS Transmission, Bully Dog chip, Isspro Turbo minder, Air Lift air bags, Bilstein shocks
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
I have the prodigy and I'm pleased with it - at 1/4th the price of the Brakesmart. It provides smooth, effective braking for the less than 10,000 lbs of load in the goose I'm pulling. Of course, its hard to put a price on safety; but I don't know the performance differential, for the truly drastic situation [if there is one] is there between the Prodigy or Jordan and the Brakesmart ....
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2000 F250 4x2 Supercab XLT; Detroit Truetrac ltd slip diff. w/PML aluminum cover; FTVB; BTM; PF pads in the front. DP Tuner stock/60tow/80econ. 203 'stat, Cat ELC coolant, Gauges, Ford AIS, Bilsteins, Michelin LTX M/S, B&W gooseneck in a Line-X sprayed bed; UWS low profile tool box. Towing a 2004 CM Winstar 4 horse trailer loaded with quarterhorses, whenever possible ....
Wife's New Ride: 1999 Mercedes Benz E300 Turbo Diesel Sedan
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
I pull a really heavy trailer with a bunch of fancy disc brakes (Kodiak, powered by MasterBrake actuator). After the thousands of dollars of hardware to make the wheels slow like a proper truck instead of the mickey-mouse crap usually found on trailers, the last thing I am going to do is defeat the entire purpose by using a controller that makes a WAG as to what brake pressure I am using in the tractor.
In case you hadn't guessed, I would say, yes, it is worth it to me.
Pat
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2000 F450 Lariat 4x4 tractor, Air Dog, Reg Mod, HX, bypass filter, Banks Power Elbow w/3.5 dp, no intake heat, CCV mod, AIS (w/extra hole), DI stage IIs, GP indicator LED, custom 4" exhaust, 4" USG exhaust brake, USG 0.8555 aux. trans. (shift switch in knob), custom air susp., custom alum. rear diff cover extension (dipstick & temp), Detroit locker, ESPAR D5 aux. heat, custom alum tow deck and fuel tanks, Bushwacker 1 1/2" flares, 9k winch, gin poles, Bi-Xenon in '03 Crystals, Lightforce Striker 170 (still Halogen, but VERY bright), Hella Micro DE HID fogs, KW (Isspro) instruments, more to come & lots of other diesels
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
I've searched around for it, but it seems that they only sell it direct. I doubt prices will go down.
Rick
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2006 F250 King Ranch FX4 - (Build date Sept. 2005)
6.0L (Engine Build date Sept. 21 2005)
Dark Copper w/ Beige accent
Short Bed, Crew Cab, Sun Roof, Power Rear Window
18" KR wheels, Camper Package, Tow Command
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
[ QUOTE ]
Price has gone up and I am not sure there is any value in the product for the return that I would get. It is something that I would use less than once a month. Maybe even less than that. What other quality options are there?
FOMOGO
[/ QUOTE ]
You ask what return would you get. My answer would be. the safety of you and your family. Brakesmart is the best controller on the market. I own 7 and it is ib the big truck that I use to make a living with and it is air brake. the other trucks with the company have different controller. But the owner is about ready to istall it on all of his trucks, because it works.
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
After the product not being available for around 6 mos, I went with prodigy. I wouldnt change right now, I lost a little faith in brakesmart. What if something breaks, will the company be around long enough to fix it? I know many feel the company is strong, but 6 mos is a long time to be derailed.
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2002 F-250, PSD 6-speed, CC, short bed, 4X4, Toreador Red w/ Silver accent, A.R.E mx cap, Weld Super Single II and 33s in the summer, x-springs, F-350 blocks and badges, AIC, proflaps, ITP intank mod, AirDog with 3 micron filter, isspro guages and TTM, husky liners, alarm, xm stereo,stull 5399-p grille, centramatics, ccv mod, AIS Air Filter, Southbend CON O, Detroit Truetrac LSD, coolant filter, 203 stat with billet housing, blackcloud intake heater plug/boost fitting, reese titan hitch, fabcraft PTO cover/temp sender port, prodigy brake controller, ITP Boost Annihalator, oilguard bypass filter, Mag-Hytec rear dif, bilsteins, hellwig rear stabilizer bar, DP Tuner F5 - no start, stock, 40t, 60t, 80e and 80t, ATS housing, non-ebpv pedistal and exhaust flange, magnaflow 3.5dp exhaust, ITP reg return, turbomaster wastegate controller, and ceramic coated bellowed up pipes, currently 80,100 miles. truck Pictures
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
A big thanks to everyone that replied. I really like the Brake Smart for multiple reasons. I also know that things may be changing for me in the near future and the frequency of use, along with the weight pulled will increase dramatically. I was settled in on the Brake Smart but really wanted to hear the feedback from the people that truly use them in a working/heavy use scenario.
Thanks again
FOMOGO
__________________ 2001 F-250 Lariat, Black, CC, SB, 2WD
304 hp and 627 tq on Dunbars Dyno
2001 F-250 XL standard cab, beater, hauling trash... Stock except for a 60 horse flash...
304hp and 617 tq on Dunbars Dyno
2001 F-250 Xl Standard cab, project truck...
Custom Tunes by DP-Tuner, Custom Fuel System by ITP Diesel, Custom Trans by BTS
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
[ QUOTE ]
After the product not being available for around 6 mos, I went with prodigy. I wouldnt change right now, I lost a little faith in brakesmart. What if something breaks, will the company be around long enough to fix it? I know many feel the company is strong, but 6 mos is a long time to be derailed.
[/ QUOTE ]
The problem was not brakesmart. It was in the rights to make it. when someone uses there mind and produces a product then looses funding and the other poeple have the right to make it is hard to change the minds of others.
Re: Ok is the Brake Smart worth $435.00 in value and performance?
I am with Pat Dolan. I have disk brakes with a master brake actuator on our 5th wheel. The BrakeSmart controller simply works. I have had 2 other controllers and was never satisfied with them. My wife even noticed the difference in how smooth the controller controls braking of the trailer.
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1989 F250 4X2 Super Cab 7.3 idi Sidewinder Banks Turbo and exhaust system 5 speed 4.10 gears, US Gear Diesel Exhaust Brake, Fuel Transfer Main Tank
There are lots of benefits to the Brakesmart and Ford TCM.
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Bruce & Carolyn Wittmeier bruce.wittmeier@cox.net
2001 Ford F250 PSD, Ext cab, Shortbed, Island Blue/Silver, 4X4 Off-road, SOF Auto, Alum Wheels, Chrome Step, Line-X bedliner, Reese 16K slider, Jordan Ultima 2020, AirLift Airbags, Sunnybrook Are you over weight?
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