 |
|
04-06-2019, 09:21 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 1,465
|
best brake controller
Sorry for yet anther thread on this well worn topic. This question sort of dove-tails to my epic "no trailer brakes" thread. Although I think my brake controller is operating normally, it does have some tech features like self-calibration that brings into question whether it is compatible with the Lippert self-adjusting brakes on my Surveyor TT. The controller I installed is a Curt Triflex model #51140. It is plugged into the factory tow wiring harness using the correct adapter.
In the event my controller is suspect in my no trailer brake problem, what do others use for a controller? Are there any favorites or features to look for?
My past experience with brake control goes back to the analog days with simple manual controls and settings. Is simple better?
__________________
2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman, CTD/CC/SB/4X4/Equalizer WDH
2019 Forest River Surveyor Legend 19BHLE
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 09:26 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Southern Illissouri
Posts: 802
|
I've got a Tekonsha (sp?) Prodigy on my truck. I use this controller with several different trailers, and it works WONDERFULLY!
If I had to buy another controller, this would be the one. I think Tekonsha also makes another unit with more features than the Prodigy, but this Prodigy superb. 110% satisfied with it.
__________________
Brian & Becky
2018 Avenger ATI 27RBS
Champion 3500
Weber Q2000, Blackstone 22", and a whole herd of flamingoes
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 09:42 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 1,465
|
Thanks BriaBeck, there are 4 proportional controllers on the Tekonsha website, Voyager, Primus, P2 and P3.
__________________
2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman, CTD/CC/SB/4X4/Equalizer WDH
2019 Forest River Surveyor Legend 19BHLE
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 09:50 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Southern Illissouri
Posts: 802
|
OK.. I guess I'm a little behind the times on Tekonsha's product line LOL
The Prodigy was the 2nd from the top of the line when I bought mine...
If it says Tekonsha on it though, I think you'll be pleased.
__________________
Brian & Becky
2018 Avenger ATI 27RBS
Champion 3500
Weber Q2000, Blackstone 22", and a whole herd of flamingoes
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 09:55 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Southern Illissouri
Posts: 802
|
Had to look at the Tekonsha website
the Prodigy is still there, just updated and listed as the Prodigy P2. It is under "Proportional Controllers"...
Looks just the same as mine, except it's now in a grey case and blue LED's... mine is black with red LED's.
Get yourself one, you'll be happy I'm sure.
__________________
Brian & Becky
2018 Avenger ATI 27RBS
Champion 3500
Weber Q2000, Blackstone 22", and a whole herd of flamingoes
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 10:10 AM
|
#6
|
Mopar Guy
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 190
|
Tekonsha prodigy here also. P2 in all of my tow vehicles
__________________
Dave
2019 Grey Wolf 24JS
2012 Chevy Suburban z71
reese strait-line
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 10:29 AM
|
#7
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Sonoran desert, south of Tucson
Posts: 7
|
I went with the Prodigy RF. The controller is pluged into the 7 pin trailer cable and bolted to the frame. Then inside the Jeep I have the radio transmitter/receiver that I Velcro in place when I tow and store most of the time. It seems to work great.
__________________
Arizona Mike
Flagstaff 21FBRS
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Equal-I-Zer
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 10:57 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
|
The Tekonsha P3 is the best. I had that on my last truck. I had the P2 before that. Neither is as good as the built in one in my F-150 though but for an add on, the P3 is the best you can get. My understanding is the RF one is the same as the P3.
The P3 has an electric over hydraulic mode if you ever decide to go for that someday(disc brakes).
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 01:08 PM
|
#9
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Camano Island, Washington
Posts: 23,897
|
The Tekonsha Prodigy is by far, the most popular brake controller for towables.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 05:20 PM
|
#10
|
Sham183
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 626
|
Tekonsha p3
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 05:37 PM
|
#11
|
Grammar Pedant
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Frederick, CO
Posts: 1,580
|
Tekonsha P3 is the best. Not sure if you need the absolute best, though. Some of the other models by Tekonsha are still good and there are even some other brands that are fine.
In my experience, brake controllers don't wear out. So, saving $30 or whatever wasn't really that interesting to me. I just paid the ~$90 (8 years ago) and bought the best.
__________________
Every time you use an apostrophe to make a word plural, a puppy dies.
TV: 2019 F-350 Lariat 4WD CCSB 6.7 PSD 3.55, 3,591 lb payload
Former RV: 2018 Rockwood Mini Lite 2504S
Former RV: 2007 Fleetwood/Coleman Utah
Former TV: 2005 F-150 King Ranch 4WD SCrew 5.4L Tow Package
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 06:17 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Deland, Florida
Posts: 346
|
I used the P3. Worked perfectly.
__________________
Rockwood 2604WS
Ford F250 Diesel
Blue Ox Sway Pro
|
|
|
04-06-2019, 10:31 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Posts: 137
|
I'm still using the Tekonsha Prodigy that I bought new in 2007. It was the state-of-the-art at that time; it looks like today's Prodigy P2, before it was called a P2. It's simple to use, reliable and keeps on ticking.
__________________
________________________
2017 Cherokee Grey Wolf 25RL
2017 Nissan Titan SV 4x4
Husky Centerline TS
|
|
|
04-07-2019, 10:20 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 1,465
|
Thanks everyone, I ran the exploratory cost of a P2 or P3 install past my dealer and was quoted $400.
Thankfully I can get one (if I need it) on Amazon for $125 and do it myself in 30 min.
__________________
2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman, CTD/CC/SB/4X4/Equalizer WDH
2019 Forest River Surveyor Legend 19BHLE
|
|
|
04-07-2019, 11:16 AM
|
#15
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Camano Island, Washington
Posts: 23,897
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by upflying
Thanks everyone, I ran the exploratory cost of a P2 or P3 install past my dealer and was quoted $400.
Thankfully I can get one (if I need it) on Amazon for $125 and do it myself in 30 min.
|
WOW! $400 for that? What a ripoff.
My P2 cost me $100 from RVW. Took me 30 minutes to install it and that included splicing in the basic wire harness.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
|
|
|
04-07-2019, 11:45 AM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 10,395
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
WOW! $400 for that? What a ripoff.
My P2 cost me $100 from RVW. Took me 30 minutes to install it and that included splicing in the basic wire harness.
|
I've been using a Prodigy since 2004 (whatever model was the big deal that year) and it's performed flawlessly with two trailers.
Hardest part of the installation was finding a place I could reach the manual lever in a hurry if I needed and would be out the way of my knees.
Only thing better, in my opinion, would be a built in unit but that would increase the price by $40-$50k, depending on vehicle.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will."
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2004 Nissan Titan
|
|
|
04-07-2019, 11:26 PM
|
#17
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Southern Illissouri
Posts: 802
|
It's been several years since I installed mine, but I remember it being pretty much plug and play... very easy to install.
If you can operate a screwdriver, you should be able to install the controller. You might need a harness to make the wiring adapt to your truck's system.
__________________
Brian & Becky
2018 Avenger ATI 27RBS
Champion 3500
Weber Q2000, Blackstone 22", and a whole herd of flamingoes
|
|
|
04-07-2019, 11:42 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia
Posts: 137
|
I pulled my Prodigy out of my previous tow vehicle ('07 Chevy Avalanche) and re-screwed the same mount underneath the dash of my '17 Titan. I bought a Nissan-specific electrical harness at Camping World for $12.95. Needed a flashlight to find the brake controller wire module zip-tied up in the bowels of the Titan's dash. Plugged in the two ends of the harness and done. Pretty easy.
__________________
________________________
2017 Cherokee Grey Wolf 25RL
2017 Nissan Titan SV 4x4
Husky Centerline TS
|
|
|
04-08-2019, 09:27 AM
|
#19
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 1,465
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
WOW! $400 for that? What a ripoff.
My P2 cost me $100 from RVW. Took me 30 minutes to install it and that included splicing in the basic wire harness.
|
Yea, with instant price searching available on smart phones, you wonder how a RV dealer can ask those prices.
RV dealers need to offer some "price match" policies or people like me take their business elsewhere.
Paying $400 for a P3 install is nuts.
As mentioned, it's an easy DIY install, especially in this day of factory installed tow wiring.
__________________
2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman, CTD/CC/SB/4X4/Equalizer WDH
2019 Forest River Surveyor Legend 19BHLE
|
|
|
04-09-2019, 09:36 PM
|
#20
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canton, Michigan
Posts: 1,348
|
I got my Prodigy in 2003 when towing a 2000 Coleman popup behind a 1997 Chrysler minivan. Used it for 7 seasons for the popup, and going on the 10th season with the hybrid (behind our 2006 Mountaineer). It has no moving parts, and I don't think it will every stop working.
The current "P2" is functionally the same as the original Prodigy, just different color housing, and blue characters instead of red.
The "P3" is functionally nearly the same as the "P2", although it may handle more axles than the "P2", and may also handle electro-hydraulic brakes. Most of us don't have those, nor do we have more than 2 axles. What you really pay for in the "P3" isn't function, but the better screen. It's an LCD screen that will show you actual wording, instead of diagnostic codes (for a lost ground, or other issue). I think you can also change the color.
So, it depends on what you want. If you want the best function at lower cost, get the P2. If you want that same function with a bit more flare and easier to read, get the P3. I think P3 cost is around 30-40% more than P2. Honestly, if my Prodigy ever goes bad, I'm not sure which I would get, but I guarantee it would be 1 of these 2.
PS - The Prodigy RF is nice if you intend to tow the same trailer with multiple tow vehicles. But you end up with hardware mounted to the trailer that could be stolen by someone who knows what it is. But it is very nice for someone that does not have brake wiring in their tow vehicle. If you have brake wiring already, stick with the P2 or P3.
__________________
thebrakeman ('70), DW ('71), DD ('99), DD ('01), DD ('05)
2004 Surveyor SV261T (UltraLite Bunkhouse Hybrid)
2006 Mercury Mountaineer V8 AWD Premier
Equal-i-zer WDH (10k), Prodigy Brake Controller
|
|
|
 |
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|