Alright, I'm getting sick of these lousy electronic brake controllers. I swear I try a new one almost on a 6 month basis. My current one is a Tekonsha Voyager(not the XP) and I can't get enough heat to the rear magnets to lock it up when loaded. I'm looking for a new controller with more heat(up to a 4 braking axle loadability). What do you guys recommend I try next? I'm looking at Ultima 2020, the Drawtite Activator III with hand controller, and the Tekonsha Prodigy. Any of you running these models please chime in with either a thumbs up or thumbs down...
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Brake Controllers
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I tried the Prodigy and Ultima
I posted my experiences with both the Ultima and the Prodigy. If you do a search on my name you'll find them. I settled on the Prodigy. After you read my posts and hear what many other members have to say on the two, you'll be happy with either the Prodigy or the Ultima 2020. Good luck.
Tagalong
I posted my experiences with both the Ultima and the Prodigy. If you do a search on my name you'll find them. I settled on the Prodigy. After you read my posts and hear what many other members have to say on the two, you'll be happy with either the Prodigy or the Ultima 2020. Good luck.
Tagalong
If you go with the Prodigy I hope you have a better experience than I have had so far. I replaced my Tekonsha Sentinel with the Prodigy. With the Sentinel gain set at about 2/3 of max I was just below lockup. With the Prodigy set at max I'm nowhere near lockup. Same trailer, same brakes, same wiring except a new Tekonsha harness with no splices (Prodigy connector on one end and Dodge connector on the other). I've been waiting for a week and a half for a response from Tekonsha support. Should have stayed with the Sentinel.
i remember seeing a brake controller that had a cable that attached to the brake pedal assembly that used that to modulate the trailer brakes. does anyone here know which one i am talking about?? i would like some info on it, but i can't remember the brand that i am looking for so kinda hard to search for it.
the brake controller in my pop's old truck worked real well. it tapped into the high pressure side of the brake master cylinder and controlled the trailer brakes proportionally to the truck breaking pressure. .
the brake controller in my pop's old truck worked real well. it tapped into the high pressure side of the brake master cylinder and controlled the trailer brakes proportionally to the truck breaking pressure. .
Here is a thread that discussed the issue of brake controllers.
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=49019&highlight=jordan
It convinced me to order a Jordan.
There is a special purchase through http://www.wwcd2.com right now for about $99. 00
Good Luck
Craig
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=49019&highlight=jordan
It convinced me to order a Jordan.
There is a special purchase through http://www.wwcd2.com right now for about $99. 00
Good Luck
Craig
My Jordan arrived this evening and I am looking forward to inspecting it tomorrow. I am changing out a Kelsey-Hayes that I have been using for six years. It works OK with my 16 foot flat bed trailer but did not have enough gain to work well with my fifth wheel trailer. WWCD2's efforts are greatly appreciated as the special price for the Jordan is without equal. Thanks Carl!
Prodigy & Lockup
I recently installed a Prodigy and noticed that I cannot manually lock up my trailer brakes by operating the lever on the bottom of the unit, when the "Boost" is turned "off". I have the "boost" set to "b1" and this appears to make a difference. Because of this, I leave the "gain" set to Maximum and the "boost" set on "b1"and the amount of braking appears to be more than adequate.
Since this is an electronic controller, I surmise there might be some other things going on that I don't fully understand. I've noticed the power going to the trailer brakes (indicated by the Prodigy digital display"ramps" up, under normal operation. I think this to to prevent the brakes from locking up.
I have not had a chance to attach an external voltmeter to the Prodigy's power feed lead to see how much voltage is present, when the manual lever is operated. This would provide some indication of the voltage drop caused by the factory wiring. If it was significant, I think I would run separate "battery" and "ground" leads directly to one of the batteries.
I tow a 25' Holiday Rambler Alumascape, which I'd guess weighs somewhere around 6,500 lbs when loaded.
Good Luck!
Frank
I recently installed a Prodigy and noticed that I cannot manually lock up my trailer brakes by operating the lever on the bottom of the unit, when the "Boost" is turned "off". I have the "boost" set to "b1" and this appears to make a difference. Because of this, I leave the "gain" set to Maximum and the "boost" set on "b1"and the amount of braking appears to be more than adequate.
Since this is an electronic controller, I surmise there might be some other things going on that I don't fully understand. I've noticed the power going to the trailer brakes (indicated by the Prodigy digital display"ramps" up, under normal operation. I think this to to prevent the brakes from locking up.
I have not had a chance to attach an external voltmeter to the Prodigy's power feed lead to see how much voltage is present, when the manual lever is operated. This would provide some indication of the voltage drop caused by the factory wiring. If it was significant, I think I would run separate "battery" and "ground" leads directly to one of the batteries.
I tow a 25' Holiday Rambler Alumascape, which I'd guess weighs somewhere around 6,500 lbs when loaded.
Good Luck!
Frank
I have had severl Tekonsha Sentinals ( they used to be the standard) but the new prodigy is much better.
In my experience this controler sends much more amps to the rear brakes. I changed out a Tekonsha in the same truck for a prodigy. Set in on 6 like the book says and had very good braking. Just for kicks I cranked the amps up to max and got 13 going to the wheels. I could slide the wheels on a 7K trailer in REVERSE on dry pavement.
I have since hooked to several other trailers with good brakes and not so good brakes. The adjustablility and visual amp readings really help.
The installation manual did say if braking to more then three axles the power feed wire use by the Dodge direct wiring needs to be upgraded to get the most out of the controler. I did NOT do this and get lots of power out of the controller.
jjw
ND
In my experience this controler sends much more amps to the rear brakes. I changed out a Tekonsha in the same truck for a prodigy. Set in on 6 like the book says and had very good braking. Just for kicks I cranked the amps up to max and got 13 going to the wheels. I could slide the wheels on a 7K trailer in REVERSE on dry pavement.
I have since hooked to several other trailers with good brakes and not so good brakes. The adjustablility and visual amp readings really help.
The installation manual did say if braking to more then three axles the power feed wire use by the Dodge direct wiring needs to be upgraded to get the most out of the controler. I did NOT do this and get lots of power out of the controller.
jjw
ND
I have had severl Tekonsha Sentinals ( they used to be the standard) but the new prodigy is much better.
In my experience this controler sends much more amps to the rear brakes. I changed out a Tekonsha in the same truck for a prodigy. Set in on 6 like the book says and had very good braking. Just for kicks I cranked the amps up to max and got 13 going to the wheels. I could slide the wheels on a 7K trailer in REVERSE on dry pavement.
I have since hooked to several other trailers with good brakes and not so good brakes. The adjustablility and visual amp readings really help.
The installation manual did say if braking to more then three axles the power feed wire use by the Dodge direct wiring needs to be upgraded to get the most out of the controler. I did NOT do this and get lots of power out of the controller.
jjw
ND
In my experience this controler sends much more amps to the rear brakes. I changed out a Tekonsha in the same truck for a prodigy. Set in on 6 like the book says and had very good braking. Just for kicks I cranked the amps up to max and got 13 going to the wheels. I could slide the wheels on a 7K trailer in REVERSE on dry pavement.
I have since hooked to several other trailers with good brakes and not so good brakes. The adjustablility and visual amp readings really help.
The installation manual did say if braking to more then three axles the power feed wire use by the Dodge direct wiring needs to be upgraded to get the most out of the controler. I did NOT do this and get lots of power out of the controller.
jjw
ND
JJW-ND,
Your experience with the Sentinel and Prodigy is the reverse of mine. My Prodigy is providing very weak braking when set all the way to max compared to the Sentinel which provides outstanding braking with the gain setting at 2/3 or less. May be a problem with my unit (seems like it can't be anywhere else as everything else is the same and works very well with the Sentinel). If I don't get a solution from Tekonsha soon, I'm going back to the Sentinel.
Your experience with the Sentinel and Prodigy is the reverse of mine. My Prodigy is providing very weak braking when set all the way to max compared to the Sentinel which provides outstanding braking with the gain setting at 2/3 or less. May be a problem with my unit (seems like it can't be anywhere else as everything else is the same and works very well with the Sentinel). If I don't get a solution from Tekonsha soon, I'm going back to the Sentinel.
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Issue 128 – Digital Version
Digital Magazines
FREE!
TDR Test Drive - Digital Edition
Renew
Subscribe
Gift Subscriptions
Back Issues
Subscription Status
Address Change Form
Buyer's Guides
Ram Diagnostic Trouble Codes
The Perfect Collection
The Perfect Collection Vol. II
TSB Updates
Dodge/Cummins Historical Overview
Cameron Collection
What Makes Us Tick?
Product Showcase
Advertising
