brake controller

[4star]

Just purchased 32 ft travel trailer and would like a panel mounted brake controller, any sujestions?

 

[Mad Max]

Two styles basically, electronic delays and inertia types like the Hayes or Tekonsha.

I installed one of these...
http://www.tekonsha.com/Tekonsha/DOCS/tekcat/tesentinelintro.html

Here's a link to Hayes as well
http://www.hayes-lemmerz.com/products/html/energize.html

Happy Hunting.

Max

 

[JCrawford]

When I bought my 91 I installed a Takonsha controller. I hated it every second for ten years. It was extremely sensitive and required constant adjustment. I was either sliding the trailer tires or had little or no brake. I put one of the Drawtite digitals on my new 2001. I have only made one trip with it so far but like it much better. With the digital read out you always know how much adjustment you have made and can reset for various trailers if you remember their settings. Later.

 

[RAPID RICK]

Brake controllers have come along way since
your '91 Tekonsha. I install controllers &
probably install Tekonsha's 2 to 1 over brand
H. & brand D. Customer satisfaction is very
high with them. I use them in all 3 of my
P. U. 's Hope this helps
Rick

 

[Loren]

My ‘95 has a Hayes Micro Control and my Y2K has a Tekonsha Sentinel. Both are inertia-type controllers, rather than time- delay types. Both will control from one to four axles. Most other inertial controllers are made for either 1-2 or 3-4 axles, and you have to choose which to install.

Among electronic brake controllers, there are two basic types, inertial and time based. Adjusting an inertial controller can be complicated. Time-based controllers are much simpler and easier to set, but they do not provide the versatility of the inertial units.

The time-based controllers simply increase the trailer brakes the longer you have your truck brakes applied, no matter how hard you are pushing on the pedal. I don't want that type, because it will not: 1. smoothly release the brakes and, more importantly, 2. apply full trailer braking the instant the truck pedal is depressed. It should be obvious how this could be a real problem if you need to stop in a hurry.

An inertial controller measures how fast the truck/trailer combination is decelerating and sends a higher current to the trailer brakes when the deceleration is higher. These controllers are adjustable for maximum current (to allow for different trailers) and sensitivity, which sets how much signal is commanded for a given deceleration.

My favorite is the Tekonsha Sentinel. It is easier to adjust for the various trailers I tow (empty flatbed to 14,000 lb. fifth- wheel) as well as providing more sophisticated monitoring. My Tekonsha discovered a problem with one brake on a brand new trailer that would have otherwise gone unnoticed until something drastic occurred. I don't know of a better controller.

Loren

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2000 Quad Cab, 4x4, short bed, six-speed: U. S. Gear exhaust brake, MileMarker Select Drive viscous coupling, Velvet-Ride spring shackles, Painless Wiring circuit box, Optima yellow-top batteries, Super-Glide 5th wheel hitch, Reese folding ball gooseneck hitch, Drawtite front hitch receiver, Tekonsha Sentinel brake controller, Westin nerf bars, Clarion sound system
1995 Standard Cab, 4x4, long bed, automatic: Firestone Ride-Rite air springs, torque converter lock-up switch, 4" cat-back exhaust, Reese 20K 5th wheel hitch, Reese gooseneck hitch, Hayes Micro Control trailer brake controller, 100 gallon bed-mounted fuel tank with 12 volt electric pump & fill nozzle, Swiss Cap fiberglass cap

 

[nickelda]

There is a third type made by Jordan Research but it applies electric breaking pressure proportional to travel of the break pedal. The Ultima 2020 is a little pricy but you have complete control of the load using your break pedal. In an emergency you nail the breaks and the trailer breaks as hard as you have set it ( I set mine for near lockup at full braking). During a long gradual breaking such as coming to a stop behind traffic at a red light you apply light break pressure. I am really happy with mine. It has all the required parts in the package and good instructions. Also has a current readout and circuit test LED. The only thing I don't like about it is that the LED's light for a second each time you hit the breaks without the trailer. I put a switch inline with mine to prevent this annoyance when not towing. I had a few questions about the controller prior to ordering and he was very helpful as well and he takes great pride in his product. Highly recommend. These are a few pics of my installation. http://24. 4. 158. 191/Dodge/Dodge.html

Or Jordans site http://www.go. to/jordanresearch

The time delay type suck unless you are pulling an insignificant load. If you want to stop quick with them you have to turn the gain up high and time ramp down low. You never know when a blue haired old lady will pull in front of you and you don't want the delay set for normal stops. If you do the first 5-10 seconds you are standing on the breaks your load will push you big time.
I've never tried the pendulum types but I have heard good things about them. I just questioned their responsiveness as they must sense the slowing before they could add the required breaking.

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01 2500 QC LB ETH DEE 4x4 3. 54 LSD SLT TOW Fog

 

[Sandmann]

I also have Jordan Research controller. I've had several others and find this one to respond the quickest and the smoothest.
Check out the pic's on my install.
My Pic's

Ron


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2001 2500 SLT+ 4X4 Auto Cummins, 3. 54,Quad cab,Short Bed,Camel Leather, White Exterior, Sliding rear window, Camper Special Group, Towing Group,A. R. E cap with rear door, New 30' Cedar creek 5th on its way.

 

[Rambling]

I second Nickelda's comments on the Jordan. See signature.

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<font color=#990000>~<font color=#990000> '99 2500 SLT <font color=#990000> ~ QC ~ 4X4 ~ LB ~ Auto ~ 4:10 LSD ~
<font color=#000000>*<font color=#990000> BD E-brake<font color=#000000> *<font color=#990000> BD Autolock<font color=#00000> *<font color=#990000> Gear Vendor OD<font color=#000000> *<font color=#990000> Jordan Research 2020 T-brake <font color=#000000> *<font color=#990000> Bullhide spray-in Line <font color=#000000>*
<font color=#000000>*<font color=#990000> 2k Komfort 5'er - 9,700 lbs <font color=#000000> *
<font size=-2>... Lookin' for the 'RE' to go in front of my 'TIRED' so's I got more time to Play!... <font size=-1>

[This message has been edited by Rattlin (edited 02-03-2001). ]

 

[Cooker]

Maybe the Jordan is a good controller, but with a cheesy, unprofessional website it makes me question their quality. I can't believe a company would even try to represent themselves with a website as terrible as it is.

First impressions are everything, and if some of you hadn't raved about the Jordan controller, I would have passed them buy without a blink. OK I'm done b1tch1ng.

 

[WOT]

I have an Accutrak brake controller and love it. It fits nicely into the ashtray with a little velcro so that I can easily remove it if I want. It has a soft and hard braking setting which is really handy.

See: www.tekonsha.com/Tekonsha/DOCS/Accupower/brakectl.htm

 

[Rambling]

Cooker,
Your right on about the Jordan site. It's been moved and reduced in content since I first visited the site.

I've put over 13K miles on it and haven't had a problem.

Jordan is the controller... . for me. If we didn't have different needs, there'd be no need for choices.

We makes our choices and pays our monies. What ever we choose, it's the right one ... for us.

 

[nickelda]

Obviously Jordan puts more effort into his controller than his site. Perhaps he wants to speak to his customers or possibly he is happy with his small business as is. Who knows? You can buy junk from a flashy website just as quick as from a shop with no web site. In fact who needs flash when you have a good product. You always have to do you homework to avoid getting ripped off. Just my 2 cents.

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01 2500 QC LB ETH DEE 4x4 3. 54 LSD SLT TOW Fog

 

[Tibby]

Tekonsha no problems