Tekonsha Prodigy - anyone have one?

[tlippy]

Probably should have waited till I have this unit installed and working before I pestered this board, but it's in the mail and I wanted to get a jumpstart on the information curve. I purchased this unit online - and I hate to admit this - because of the advertizing hype that Tekonsha sent me. I'll be removing a Kelsey that has been just OK. The Kelsey doesn't seem to have enough adjustment between lock-up and just stopping. Also I like to have a lot of trailer braking when I'm cruising down the byway - and little trailer braking when I get to town. If I understood the information Tekonsha sent me, the Prodigy has a simple pushbutton to give me these options. I am kindaofa technogeek and the feature of a digital display of the voltage being applied during brakeing is a turn on. Just thought that I surely can't be the first here to try this unit. Preinstall advice please!!!!!!!

 

[Ninearrow]

Sorry, tlippy, I don't have one, but I'm really interested in knowing how yours turns out. I have the sentinels on 3 different trucks, but I hear the prodigy is an improvement.



I pull a lot of different trailers with different trucks and find it is always necessary to adjust the sentinel when I change. No big deal but always takes a couple minutes.



Let me know how you get along with the prodigy.

 

[WYD]

I recently installed the Prodigy and feel that it works great. The only adjustments on the unit are to hook up the trailer and apply the manual lever to its fully opened position and adjust to voltage to 6 volts. Then pull the trailer approximately 25 mph and applying the truck brakes recognizing if the trailer brakes lock up or not, and adjust accordingly. There is no leveling which is nice and it contains a boost feature that at level one immediately applies 13% braking and a level 2, 25% braking which is used for heavier loads. I removed a Sentinel and replaced it with this and I think it is easier to operate and a better unit.



I remember a couple weeks ago someone replied on here that it didn't work for them on a very heavy travel trailer. I only tow livestock trailers and flatbed goosenecks and utility trailers probably no more than (12,000 lbs)



How this helps and I feel that the $40 extra dollars that I spent for the Prodigy over the Sentinel was a good choice, as the Prodigy doesn't need leveled and is easy to set.

 

[Millfly]

The user with the prodigy you are referring to is Komik. He purchased the Prodigy and found it did not work well on his 15K, if I remember correctly, 5'er. After talking to the engineers at Tekonsha, he found out the unit was only designed for trailers up to 10K. They sent him two additional units with different software and he was going to test them when he got home from one of the truck rallies and report back to us. I am waiting to hear from him as my 5'er weighs about 16K.

 

[tlippy]

I don't know if it works any better tha my old Kelsey but the install sure was easy. I did buy the Dodge specific wiring haraness which made the install total plug-in. Also the Southwest Wheel Co. , in Dallas. @ httptp://www.brakecontroller.com/

sold me the unit for $125, freight PP AND supplied the model with the pocket mount that allows you to remove the unit from the truck for theft prevention. The direct plug wiring harness was an additional $8. 50. Real anxious to try it out.

 

[Komik]

Seen the subject about the Prodigy so I thought I'd jump in. Well after getting two Prodigy controllers from the company along with the one I purchased I set out for testing. The two units that were sent to me were modified from the original units. One was set to be about 15% (med) heavier with the other at about 30% (high). I hooked up to my 17,500 fifth wheel and set out for a 800 mile round trip. I first tried the med controller. I found that this unit had much more braking and much faster action. After about 150 miles I pulled into a rest area and installed the "high" unit. I finished out the day with this controller. It's the controller everyone would appreciate. It worked like a dream, when braking soft I could feel the trailer pulling down just to the point where I felt comfortable. I did some hard braking and the unit made the trailer brakes respond just as one could expect with great braking. When we got to the campground I never touched the controller, while backing the controller was not to aggressive and with slow driving no locking of the trailer wheels. I found that with the setting at 6. 5 - 7. 0 was the most comfortable and had the best braking.

During our return trip home and several exchanges in controllers I still found the "high" unit to be the ultimate controller. Then again I done more testing. I offered to deliver a 33 foot travel trailer for our local dealer. Upon doing so I again exchanged controllers several times. I again found that the "high" controller responded the best, even though the travel trailer was much lighter in weight.

During this testing I talked with the company engineer several times explaining my findings and trying different setting. I really believe that they have the promise of a good unit here. Simple to operate, once you have it set , it ' s a hands off controller. I have a call into the company now waiting to hear what their plans are. I believe that they are going to be changing the software in these units. For you that have already purchased them. I have no answers as to whats going to take place. When I get the return call I will post as to what they recommend for you. I expect something to be done very shortly as they are on top of this and are working on it. They do realize that a problem is out there and will take care of it. I also suggested on packaging a metal mounting bracket with the unit for more flexible mounting.



I do not work, nor do I have any part or interest in this company. These are my findings and thoughts along with expectations.



Komik

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

I ordered a Prodigy a week ago and installed yesterday. Replaced a Kelsey. Tested the unit today with my 11,000 lb, 2 axle, fifth wheel.



I found I had to set the full voltage at 9. 5 v (9. 7 v locked up a wheel). The best performance was with the "Boost 2" setting that starts the voltage out at 25% of the max you set. Boost 1 is 13%. No boost starts at 0 v. The boost 2 gives some trailer braking lead as it starts 25% voltage as soon as the brake light comes on.



The unit is better than the Kelsey I replaced. I was operating the Kelsey manually. The Prodigy with "Boost 2" provides lead trailer braking a little less than I was used to providing manually. It appears that the existing design is good up to 10,000 lb trailer weight as mentioned before. A boost of 30 or 35% might make it near perfect. This might be the reprogrammed unit mentioned for potential future release.

 

[Ramboy]

I called Tekonsha today and talked to the Engineering Dept. (Marsha Albright) and she said they didn't know anything about replacing units and denied having anyone outside the company test anything for them. She said they had heard of some discussion on a "bulletin board out there" but they were not involved with it.

 

[tlippy]

PRIOR to buying my PRODIGY, I had several email contacts with their engineering dept - they were real quick to respond and tell me what a wonderful unit it is. AFTER I sent them an email that I wanted to be included on their list for an updated unit - no more contact. I do like the Prodigy and I think it is going to be just fine for what I tow. The Kelsey I replaced must have been on the edge of it's useful life. I couldn't get the jerk out of stopping no matter how I adjusted it. The PRODIGY is MUCH smoother than the Kelsey - no jerk and buck at all. And being able to push that right hand button to get more stopping power while on the open road is a real nice feature. Have not tried a panic stop yet - really hate to jumble all the stuff in the trailer. I'm happy with the PRODIGY and would do it again.

 

[illflem]

I have a Prodigy and have been happy with the job it does stopping 26k loads, but it could be better. Next time I need a controller it will be a Jordan.