Brake controller needed

[Hoagie]

I have ordered a 24 foot aluminum deck over style trailer to haul two Suzuki Samurai's for off roading. I have looked over and searched to find out if i need to install an electric brake controller in my 05 Dodge Cummins auto. the truck has the factory towing package w/7pin round plug. The trailer has two axle electric brakes. If I need one I would appreciate your suggestions for which model to buy and why?

Thanks

Hoagie

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Did you use the search function? You can find ALL kinds of info on those things! I went to U-Haul and bought the cheapest one they had. Dodge already had the plug wired up.



I like those easy projects.

 

[Hoagie]

Thanks for the reply. I found stuff on breaksmart (over $400) which was much more than I wanted to spend. the Uhaul idea sounded better to me. I wanted to know how it performed for you and how hard the install is? On the internet there seems to be a lot of different companies trying to sell them and I didn't want to have a bad experience by "choosing one " at random based on the manufacturer's write up vs getting input from someone who had actually used one.

Thanks

Hoagie

p. s. more input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BrianJ]

The most popular controller, and what I use, is the Tekonsha Prodigy, which can be found for about $100 on the internet or low hundreds at trailer/rv shops.



I tried a cheap controller the first go around and it definately makes a difference having a good controller like the prodigy. The trailer brakes much smoother and there is great adjustability. Other than potentially the brakesmart, which to me costs too much and is not worth the price, there is not another controller I would use.

 

[wcjp]

If the trailer already has electric brakes go for it. One panic stop and the brake controller will pay for itself. I'm using a Tekonsha Prodigy. I noticed they now have a new upscale version. The Prodigy is all plug-n-play. No splicing into vehicle is required. I did have to extend the wiring that came with the Prodigy. The plug in is near the emergency brake pedal on the floor. Try search here or check your owners manual. Don't mount any brake controller on the panel below the steering wheel. Unless you don't care about walking. Watch one of those insurance/gov't video's of a crash. You're knees will immediately find the panel. Always place the controller in easy reach in case of emergency. Brake controllers have an emergency override switch. One example of its use is black ice. If the trailer starts to jacknife use the trailer brake overide. This will cause the trailer brakes to lockup. The trailer will then track straight behind the tow vehicle. In this scenario if you used the vehicle brakes the trailer would continue it's arc into a full jacknife causing complete loss of control. Here's my 06' SLT. Not sure about your dash configuration. Install shouldn't take long. No cutting of the dash is required. I fished the wires through an existing hole.



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[CRuth]

Plug and play depends on what options your truck came with. On my stripped down model, I still had to run a brake wire to the rear of the truck. Was still nice not to have to wire the hot, brake pedal and ground though.

 

[Hoagie]

Thanks for the help. I just ordered one off of eBay after the replys you gave. Ordered the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 + Dodge harness.

Hoagie