Brake Controllers

[nbscanuck]

I'm buying a toy hauler. Probably under 23' or 8000 lbs (which ever comes first) and I need a brake controller.

 

I'm looking for opinions and experiences.

 

Thanks

[L29er]

i use a HOPPY brand controller, cost 70 bucks had for 3 years and counting, has a single led that changes color with brake pressure applied (isn`t the really fancy one, top of the line has a lcd screen with numbers.) i know my dad, brother, and many other poeple i know run different models of HOPPYs and have never had problems! easy to install! some just plug in!

[pwall]

I had a Tekonsha Voyageur for a while, but for me, could never get used to the signal LED. It changed to green-orange-red based on how much braking force was required.

I've since switch to the Prodigy....it's easier to set and has a digital display that display's how much voltage is being applied to the brakes.

[tigerbait]

+1 on the Tekonsha Prodigy

[jmcycle]

I use a Valley Odyssey controller. It's easy to install and set up (5 minutes). I could put all the cool stuff here, but easier to post a link: http://www.brakecontroller.com/valleyodyssey.htm

[Cableguy]

+1 on the Tekonsha Prodigy

 

Me too. I've used 3 Prodigy's on 3 different truck...They work great.

[gvbhunt]

Another happy Tekonsha Prodigy user. Super simple to setup, and works great.

[mudmaker]

I had a prodigy in my suburban when I bought it. Little did I know that I had one of the best brake controllers for the money.

I started perusing rv.net to get tips/pointers and they have a lot of info on them in the towing thread.

You will find all kinds of info on towing your toy hauler.

[leepounds]

I did ALOT of research before I purchased a trailer brake controller. It was down to either the Tekonsha Prodigy or P3, or the Jordan Ultima 2020. I went with the Tekonsha P3. It is the newest, latest, & greatest. You should be able to find them online for $150 or less (don't believe the list prices). The beauty is that it is highly customizable, makes trouble-shooting a breeze, and actually senses the rate at which you're slowing down and applies more trailer-brake pressure if you're stopping quicker. My 08 Dodge has a built-in exhaust brake, which has been great -- but I installed the P3 as a sort of back-up or extra safety measure. It also has a "reverse mode", which disables the trailer brakes for 5 minutes (or until deactivated) while you back it up. Set up is a breeze -- you drive at 15 miles per hour and set the maximum boost pressure at a setting that does not allow the trailer brakes to lock up or squeal, yet slows both the pickup and trailer down. Once that is set, you're home-free. One thing you need to keep in mind though is that, from what I understood, it needs to be mounted in a horizontal position, as the sensor that detects how quickly you're trying to stop needs to be horizontal to work effectively.

[Ptnomore]

Tekonsha Prodigy. Super easy, flawless operation. Connect it and forget it.

 

Got here: http://www.rjays.com/Tekonsha/prodigy-01.htm

 

got a super sweet solid aluminum drop hitch from them and some other stuff to. HIGHLY recommend them Super cool folks to deal with. Drop hitch looks MUCH better than the usual black steal ones, stronger too.

[onac255]

Tekonsha...it just works

[alaska511]

P3 is awesome, love it.

 

Prodigy was great, and I thought nothing would ever replace it.

[Outbacker]

Tekonsha Prodigy. Hands down one of the best brake controllers on the market.

[Woodcutter]

Journey HD, picked it up for $75 at U-haul. Pretty simple to use, has two thumbwheels and a digital display.

[blankey]

I have the Tekonsha Prodigy and highly recommend it.