The DashControl OBDII display controller offers Silverado owners a customizable way to monitor vehicle parameters, but it has its drawbacks. Unlike the UltraGauge, customizing DashControl display pages requires a PC. Changing pages also proves cumbersome, relying on the Silverado’s door lock button which often requires multiple presses. Furthermore, a nearly inaccessible DIP switch controls configurations, making adjustments frustrating. This switch, located in the OBD port, is easily dislodged.
Using an OBD extender or splitter improves accessibility by allowing placement flexibility. However, less expensive splitters often lack necessary connections, necessitating a pricier option. The UltraGauge, in contrast, utilizes a 30-inch cable for convenient placement in the console or on the windshield with a suction cup.
UltraGauge also offers OBD code reading and resetting capabilities. Resetting trip gauges is straightforward with dedicated buttons, providing three separate trip meters. One tracks total mileage, while the other two are resettable, ideal for daily and overall trip tracking on long journeys. UltraGauge further provides lifetime and maintenance interval readouts, retaining mileage, average speed, running hours, and dates after each oil change reset. DashControl’s trip gauge reset process involves a complex combination of radio buttons.
Price-wise, UltraGauge sits around $70, while DashControl commands a significantly higher price of $300. DashControl’s ability to display performance metrics like 60′ and 0-60 times is appealing, but for practicality and ease of use, UltraGauge arguably takes the lead.
While DashControl provides in-depth customizable data for your Silverado, the UltraGauge offers a more user-friendly experience at a lower cost. For those seeking both comprehensive data and convenient functionality, using an OBD splitter to run both devices simultaneously might be the optimal solution: UltraGauge for essential information and DashControl for performance tracking.
