Trailer brake controllers

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I need to add an electric trailer brake controller to my 98. 5 2500 truck. What is the best controller? Any installation tips? Thanks for your help.

John

 

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There are a number of good brands. Tekonsha (sp) is probably the best seller. some brand/models are for 4 brakes (two axles)only, if there is a chance that you will ever tow a 3 axle trailer buy one which will handle it. Most such controllers are o. k. with 4 or less brakes as well. (I have seen at least one which had a switch, one position for 4 or less and another position for 6 brakes.

One suggestion I would make, based on doing it otherwise once) is insure you mount the controller to the side of the steering wheel which is your dominent (sp) hand. There are occasions when you may want to tweak the "gain" while on the road, (my trailer brakes clamp harder after a lot of use, (I never have figured that out, it seems contrary, more heat, more resistance in the magnet wire) most of us are just better at it with our normally used hand and fingers.

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2001 SLT Auto,White,camper/towing options Line-x over-rail liner, Oem black molded running boards, Powervision mirrors, Black Bug deflector (with eyebrows) Oem CD radio, Dash Carpet, Black louvered tailgate, 5th wheel Hitch. Road ranger 27 ft. trailer, WONDERFUL WIFE of 43 years, (she didn't fuss over the exchange of the '96 for the '01) and two poodles for the back seat. Guages and "real" sheepskin (charcoal) seatcovers coming real soon. No bombing planned, --well maybe -- 275 hp injectors someday.

Yes, Rob I will edit this signature in a few days but, I just had to do it.

[This message has been edited by Nelson Buck (edited 02-05-2000). ]

 

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I have the Drawtite brake controller. Nelson,my trailer does just the opposite. It will brake hard for the first few miles. I know this could be expected after sitting for a while due to moisture but this will happen even in the summer. Also,always check the controller settings before towing. Im always bumping the controller,especially when cleaning the interior.

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1999 2500 Cummins w/4spd auto,Quad Cab,SWB,4x4,Flame red ,all options less leather and radio controls on steering wheel,OEM color matched runningboards,DeeZee bedrails painted black,Power Vision Mirrors,OEM ventshades,Oem sill covers,OEM underrail bedliner

 

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I'm extremely pleased with my Jordan Research Ultima 2020 trailer brake controller. It uses a cable that attaches to the brake pedal arm to sense brake activation, for better, more precise trailer braking. It works better than all other electronic or pendulum type controllers, mirroring the performance of the old hydraulically activated units. Several other noteworthy features of the Ultima 2020 are: the case is made of black anodized aluminum (instead of cheaper looking plastic), it has a L. E. D. readout for gain as well as a L. E. D. to show continuity to the trailer braking system. I mounted mine centered, beneath the steering column on the knee bolster. The installation does not require the use of a mounting bracket; instead, the unit is bolted or screwed through the case at the locations provided. This makes for a very clean looking installation. Mounting the unit beneath the steering column allows me to apply manual trailer braking easier than if mounted below the dash, and to allow full functioning of the knee bolster for its intended purpose. The Jordan is an extremely high quality product... and they are rather proud of it. . it runs a cool $150. If I had it to do all over again. . I'd buy another in a heartbeat!

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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4, (Black) SLT Sport, ISB, LWB, 3. 54 LSD, A/T, Glasstite Vision II canopy, Line-X bed liner, 285/75R16 BFG A/Ts on 16x8 M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares, front and rear NW Custom stainless steel/rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover and trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Mopar tow hooks, Jordan Research Ultima 2020 trailer brake controller, VDO Vision gauges, PIAA Dual Sport 900 auxiliary lights and Super White bulbs, BD exhaust brake and TorqLoc, Prime-Loc fuel filter relocation kit, "Scotty Air System", Hitco/Geno's exhaust blanket, Femco/Geno's EZ Drain oil pan plug, Banks Stinger 4" dia. stainless steel exhaust system, plus many other trick modifications

'00 Polaris 6x6

 

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JENEWKIRK, I have a suggestion for your controler mount. I have the Drawtite unit and it works well but i could not bring myself to drill holes in my new truck. Two sided velcro works great and you don,t have to put any holes in your truck.

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Rattlin' Randy J
1999 Quad-Cab, 2500, 5-Speed, 4x4, Short-Bed, Rhinolined, Limited Slip, Tow Package, Camper Special,K&N filter, staight exhaust with 5 inch chrome tip,diamond tread alu. tool box,Also 1971 Convertible Barracuda Tored 340 4-Speed

 

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Here's some web sites with infromation on different controllers.
http://www.tekonsha.com
http://www.drawtite.com/brake_controls.htm
http://www.jordanresearch.com/

You can find information on them and other usefull information.

Probably Tekonsha is the most popular, I use their Voyager model. I've got mine mounted on the bottom of the knee bolster on the right, within easy reach, bolted in. Don't want it coming loose or moving around.

Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by cdram (edited 02-06-2000). ]

 

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I have a Reese electronic controller ($35 at Wal-Mart), mounted to the left of the steering column on the bottom of the dash. I put it there partly because that's where the hookup for the factory trailer wiring harness was, and also because I could use the small screw holding some of the dash together as my mounting screw (no drilling). I put a piece of doublesticky tape on the bracket to keep the controller from rotating. No complaints so far.

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Craig Sjostrom
'99 2500 4X4,LB,QC,5sp. ,4. 10LSD,camper/tow,Cup Smoothie (to hold the jumbo fries from JITB)
'66 Kaiser CJ5

 

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Thanks to all for the input. Sound like there's no one controller everyone loves. I too don't like drilling holes in my baby, so I'll try the velcro.

John

 

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I think the tokonosha sentinel will control brakes on 4 axles,that is 8 brakes.....

 

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I have the Draw-Tite Activator II - I like the way it gives you a numeric digital readout of braking power, so you can remember settings for different loads and set them without having to do the trial and error thing all over again. I to used velcro to put mine on - works great. It helps to put a small strip of it on the back of the controller in addition to putting it on the bracket. My buddies laughed and said I was a wuss, but I absolutely hate drilling holes in my truck. Another thing I can't stand is wires dangling around, so I put the controller on the ashtray, ran the wires flat through the gap between the ashtray and the panel below it. I just had to drill a couple holes in the back of the cavity in the dash - yank the ashtray out and you'll see what I mean.

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'00 2500 4x4, LB, 5spd. ,
3. 54 LSD, trailer tow,
camper special, plow
prep, Van Aaken CPC,
265/75 cooper's, Line-X,
Activator II, alumasport
diamond toolbox, auto
ventshade, cold front,
cup smoothie, pioneer
custom fit cd, bazooka
bass tubes, SS
convertaball, silencer
ring removed

apprentice BOMBer

 

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FWIW
I had the Activator 2 electronic for about a month and threw it out. I was forever setting the gain and delay without any changes. Either I was roasting the tires off at a stop sign or getting pushed down the hill. The other annoying feature is the way if you are coasting to a stop sign, the ramp builds up and locks the trailer brakes. Try backing up slowly without adjusting the gain!! The brakes ramp on just as if you were going full speed #ad
. .

Also the delay is unsafe, if you hammer the brakes to stop the controller stays on the ramp of low-med-high. This happened trying to avoid a deer, that was the last day it was in my truck!!!
The Techonsha pendulum type is the only way to get the amount of brake proportioned to the amount you give it.
Again its my opinion so please don't send hate mail #ad

Happy Truckin'

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Jason's Lil' Mack - 89 D250LE 2WD 5Spd 3. 55 Reg Cab. K&N,"tweaked pump", 3. 5" Exst straight,E&M Custom seats. Bosch H4, HDI Plasma-white HdLites. Bosch 100W Driving. Bosch 55W Fogs.
210,000 miles