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 Regular
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Location: Tamarack, PA, USA | We are in the process of buying a new-to-us 2010 Dodge 1500 and I'll need to have an electric brake controller installed for pulling my stock combo trailer. Can you provide recommendations on what I should be looking for in a brake controller? Do they offer digital display for settings? Any suggestions on a particular brand that has a good rep? Would love to hear any tips you might have! Thanks in advance. We pick the truck up on Wednesday - I"m so excited!  It has the hemi engine and 392 rear so pulling my little stock trailer will be a breeze in the mountains now! |
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Expert
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Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | This is the one that I would buy.... http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-hitches/tekonsha-p3-brake-control.htm http://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90195.html |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
Location: Vermont | Ditto that... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391
Location: Columbia, KY | I just got the Tekonsha P3 brake box and really like it- it has all these fun settings- you can even change the display languages and color to match your mood- ha ha. BUT, when I took my trailer in for inspection they told me the brake box wasn't working properly because when the trailer was jacked up and I applied the truck brakes the trailer brakes didn't stop. it works fine on the road... I said WTF?? it's a brand new box! long story but I ended up calling the company. The guy explained the box has a chip that's motion sensitive. when the trailer is stopped the chip dosn't see any need to apply additional power to the brakes. (I think it applies 25 % power) made sense to me but the mechanics doing the inspection hadn't heard of such a thing. they said when you put your foot on the truck brake the trailer brakes should activate, whether the trailer is on the road or stopped. interestingly w/ this box you can see the battery voltage too and when the truck is in motion and brakes are applied the voltage is much higher than when it's sitting. what we ended up doing is taking the brake box out of it's holder, applying the truck brakes w/ trailer still jacked up and all I did was move the box a little and voila the voltage #'s went up and the trailer brakes activated, so the trailer passed it's inspection. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
| i would buy a maxbrake controller. i swear by it for electric brakes. it makes stopping much more smooth. No more clutching. Down side is that its about $300. |
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Expert
Posts: 1416
Location: sc | Originally written by acy on 2010-11-01 8:56 AM I just got the Tekonsha P3 brake box and really like it- it has all these fun settings- you can even change the display languages and color to match your mood- ha ha. BUT, when I took my trailer in for inspection they told me the brake box wasn't working properly because when the trailer was jacked up and I applied the truck brakes the trailer brakes didn't stop. it works fine on the road... I said WTF?? it's a brand new box! long story but I ended up calling the company. The guy explained the box has a chip that's motion sensitive. when the trailer is stopped the chip dosn't see any need to apply additional power to the brakes. (I think it applies 25 % power) made sense to me but the mechanics doing the inspection hadn't heard of such a thing. they said when you put your foot on the truck brake the trailer brakes should activate, whether the trailer is on the road or stopped. interestingly w/ this box you can see the battery voltage too and when the truck is in motion and brakes are applied the voltage is much higher than when it's sitting. what we ended up doing is taking the brake box out of it's holder, applying the truck brakes w/ trailer still jacked up and all I did was move the box a little and voila the voltage #'s went up and the trailer brakes activated, so the trailer passed it's inspection. Next time say nothing, just apply the manual lever. That will supply enough power so you don't have to explain to the mechanics what they should already know. How in the world anyone who calls theirself a mechanic and NOT be familiar with a Prodigy type controller, after they've been on the market for nearly a decade, escapes me. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | We also use the P3, our trailers (6!!) vary GREATLY in their loads and capacities, this controller is super at being utilized across the gamut of these loads etc. It protects itself against shorts, and tells you if your connection is good, etc. They are proportional and brake in reverse, as well. I am sure their are other good controllers out there, too; just a note that we have been very pleased with ours hauling loads of hay, cattle, horses, 4-wheeler trailer etc... |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391
Location: Columbia, KY | I did just apply the manual lever and of course the trailer brakes worked fine but they told me they needed to see how the trailer brakes worked when the trailer was jacked up and just the foot brake on the truck was applied. |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | Proportional controllers have been around for years. I am in shock that they haven't run into it before now. |
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Regular
Posts: 50
Location: Tamarack, PA, USA | Thank all. Bought the P3 - should be here in a few days! Appreciated the help once again! |
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Expert
Posts: 1416
Location: sc | Originally written by acy on 2010-11-02 9:30 AM I did just apply the manual lever and of course the trailer brakes worked fine but they told me they needed to see how the trailer brakes worked when the trailer was jacked up and just the foot brake on the truck was applied. The most logical choice is not to fool with those idiots next year, but you can also turn the power all the way up and set the Boost to 3 once you get 'jacked up'. That will give you over 3 volts/amps on initial brake pedal application, and also after the 5 seconds no movment/hold feature. Those 3 volts should stop the wheels and make the yahoos happy. |
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tips on what to look for in electric brakes
