Max Brake Problems!

[Tosch88]

So I bought one of them high dollar Max Brakes a month ago and loved it for about two weeks. Then it took a shit, called them & they had me do a few things over the phone. I then had to send it to them because something in the manual brake control got messed up, this happened a lot by the sounds of it. I asked them to overnight things but that didn't happen. I also asked them if they could just send me a new one so I wouldn't be down for a couple of days waiting for my 2 week old one to be fixed and they said I should go buy another brake controller to get me on the road until mine was repaired (what!) Anyways, 4 days later ($140 out on another Prodigy) my Max brake comes back. I put it in the truck the following weekend & it worked for an hour then quit. I messed up the cheap mounting bracket while pulling it out & putting the P2 back in. They wanted me to send it back in to be repaired again (cost $80 to overnight). I asked them to replace the unit & they said no. So I asked for a refund on the product of which they said okay. I sent it in & they said because of the messed up $5 bracket they wouldn't refund the money. I haven't spoke to them yet this week but I'm not happy with the customer service & the fact that I have a $400 brake controller that doesn't work so I bought a $140 P2 to get me by & $150 into shipping. So if your thinking about buying a Max Brake make sure you have a replacement controller with you just in case. These things look cheap & mine performed that way. Good thing I have a big truck to stop my trailer as I was in NJ rush hour when it quit working & had no trailer brakes.

[bayou hotshot]

Hold on now who have you been talking to?this is a family owned comany and thay are super nice and would do anything to make it right you must be talking to a middle man.
I went to there shop thay had to build a wiring harness for mine and i have never had one problem with mine thay build everything there at there shop i seen it myself
I can give them a call for you if you like im 100% sure thay will make it right 337-542-4050 is the shop number there mom and daughters are the ones that answer the phones
http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv1/PROBLEMCHILD1/030-3.jpg

[Tosch88]

I have no doubt they are a mom & pop shop. I never said they were rude, just said I don't have time to send a $400 brake controller in every week for repair & carry a spare. It may have been a faulty controller (it happens), I just don't have the time or patience to deal with it right now. I lost a day on the road due to this, which cost a lot more than their brake controller. I bought it threw Southwest, which is who has to okay the refund (which they did not as of yet). I will be on the phone with them tomorrow as my wife has been dealing with it this week because I've just been to busy & irritated about the deal. I spoke to the engineer (John?) at the number you posted the first time the controller messed up. When one of our electronic loggers messes up on a customers race sled we replace it with new one until theirs is repaired & working properly (we don't sell hundreds of these maybe 20 a year but that's customer service). I was also told the President of the company was going to call me but never heard anything. Hopefully everything will be worked out. I don't care if they keep $100 for the messed up bracket. Never had a $100 brake controller break, so I would think a $400 dollar one wouldn't mess up twice. I hope they make it right.

[bayou hotshot]

thay told me thay sale almost 400 a month i called Southwest thay didnt know sh!t about them and gave me there number and are about 60 miles from me so i just went over and got it

[bth9461]

I have no doubt they are a mom & pop shop. I never said they were rude, just said I don't have time to send a $400 brake controller in every week for repair & carry a spare. It may have been a faulty controller (it happens), I just don't have the time or patience to deal with it right now. I lost a day on the road due to this, which cost a lot more than their brake controller. I bought it threw Southwest, which is who has to okay the refund (which they did not as of yet). I will be on the phone with them tomorrow as my wife has been dealing with it this week because I've just been to busy & irritated about the deal. I spoke to the engineer (John?) at the number you posted the first time the controller messed up. When one of our electronic loggers messes up on a customers race sled we replace it with new one until theirs is repaired & working properly (we don't sell hundreds of these maybe 20 a year but that's customer service). I was also told the President of the company was going to call me but never heard anything. Hopefully everything will be worked out. I don't care if they keep $100 for the messed up bracket. Never had a $100 brake controller break, so I would think a $400 dollar one wouldn't mess up twice. I hope they make it right.

So Tosch, how did this work out?


Brian

[Tosch88]

I have a new dust collector. They said its fixed but it isn't. Works for a few minutes then takes a crap. Nice Company to deal with, not, never again, nor would I recommend them to anyone. They act as if its not possible that an electronic device could break. I have my prodigy in there right now & no problems in a month. They might be nice people but that's as far as it goes.

[bth9461]

Expensive Dust Collector, I got some of my own. So I feel your pain. Some of these companies just think we are made of money. I am shocked they did not just send you a new one. You hardly had it at all. that is real poor service on their part. Guess I will stick with the Prodigy also. Hell with the tandems, I don't really need the trailer brakes, except to keep our DOT buddies happy. Or rather so they don't make me SAD.

Any Company can look good when things go right, It is more important on how they deal with things when things go wrong.

[Dorsey]

If it makes you feel any better Tosch I just bought a brake controller today and it wasn't a Max Brake because of this post. I figured you might get some self satistaction out of that.

[bayou hotshot]

I loved mine didnt get to use it much "few months" im going to take mine out one day to sale it
hay Tosch if you still have yours wired up i will send you mine to use for a wile to see how it should work. Im not useing it!!!

[pmmjarrett]

Cool, I was searching for this thread earlier this week and couldn't find it.

Has anyone tried the Warner Air to electric brake controller. (http://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Controller/Warner/1300-80.html)

[Tosch88]

Its still a paper weight in my office. I'm gonna give it one more try here some day. Just can't stand the thought of completely giving up on it. Freaking $400 paper weight. Thanks Dorsey. I appreciate the offer Bayou but I'll stick with the junk I have for now.

[Tosch88]

A little update on the junk controller. After looking at it on my desk for over 7 months I decided to put it in the truck again to give it another shot. The Prodigy has been working great but when working properly the Maxbrake does work really nice with an airbrake tractor. It lastes 3 weeks this time before it completely went dead, nothing, nada. Gotta use the old faithful P2 again.

So my final opinion is, I must have gotten a junk controller and they will not replace it (or would not). $400 dollars wasted. If you buy a Maxbrake it may work great but if you have problems plan on buying a new one or having a cool paper weight.

[Haul-A-Round]

we have replaced so many of those for people and it's the same thing every time time. we have yet to hear of anyone that got them warrantied or even got them to consider warranting there brake box.

[haulin rv]

Yep I'll also stick my P3. Lifetime warranty too, used it twice with NO hassles. Even let me pay a few bucks and upgrade from the original prodigy to the p3.


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[Tosch88]

Well I don't have a cool paper weight anymore, had a case of rage today and took it out on the Max Brake with a hammer. Best $400 venting device I've had!

[cosgo]

OMG.... should post pics!!! LOL