Tacoma_WV
WV
New Member
Joined: 11/01/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hello,
I am new to towing. Work out of town in my TT. Live in it 6 mths or so a year.
*2005 Toyota Tacoma V6(max 6500# tow)
*Keystone Passport 20'TT ~4000#
*I Tow 8000 miles a year
*Dealer installed free brake controller (little roller knob to adjust the brakes and quick manual slide knob to well, manual adjust).
Seems to work ok. Trailer skids in parking lots. I try to adjust, then when I stop it seems to push the truck hard, but no skidding....
Question: Any advantages to upgrading the controller?
Thanks for your help guys/gals
|
luck would have it
Dimondale (Lansing), MI
Senior Member
Joined: 03/14/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Yes,
Look into the prodigy or the p3. Prodigy will run under $100 and the P3 about $140
Prodigy is sufficient but the P3 is pretty darn cool.
check out etrailer.com
Dave
2005 Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab, 6.0L, 4:10 Gears, 2WD
Prodigy Brake Controller • Husky WD Hitch • Dual Cam Sway Control
2007 27' Salem BHBS (Bunk Slide/Super Slide)
|
wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 02/02/2001
View Profile
|
Only you can decide how much you want to invest and what you should have.
Here is some info that might help.
http://members.cox.net/bruce.wittmeier/technical/BrakeControllerSelection.html
To my loving wife, Carolyn:
"I dont love you because I need you. I need you because I love you".
Truck Trailer Scale Calculator Applet
RV MFgs
Brake Controllers
RV Links
|
mkirsch
Rochester, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 04/09/2004
View Profile
|
Classic cheap controller behavior. It doesn't compensate for how hard you stop. Gentle stops result in skidding trailer tires. Adjust for the gentle stops, and you don't have enough brakes for normal stops.
The Tekonsha Prodigy was designed specifically to eliminate that problem, and at around $100 it's a steal for what it does. For 8000 miles per year towing it would be a wise investment.
|
Tacoma_WV
WV
New Member
Joined: 11/01/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
For these prices there is no price limit if it makes a difference. I don't want just to want. I know you guys have weeded out the things that REALLY should be.
I will read the info later, thanks.
|
|
|
wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 02/02/2001
View Profile
|
Based on the description of your equipment I, like others, would suggest the Prodigy or P3. They both work on the same principle of the accelerometer design. You may find them online for less than $100.00 and $130.00 respectively and that should include a harness. They are quite popular.
|
K3WE
Missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I have been leaning this direction on brake controllers.
Safety is first, and you never know when you will need to slam on the bakes.
Thus, turn the brakes up to maxiumum.
Then, for all of your "normal stops", use the slider. (Obviously, this takes some common sense to balance the job of stopping between the trailer and TV brakes, and not abuse, overheat, or cause excessive wear on one versus the other).
|
Tacoma_WV
WV
New Member
Joined: 11/01/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Very smart ideas, as I am sure most you Senior members have been down this road. I just want to have a good brake controller(nothing more),I don't care about looks or options I don't need. But sounds like I will order a different model. I want to be safe for others and myself. These things are huge!! well mine isn't but..lol
|
BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
Moderator
Joined: 10/16/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
I also would suggest either the Prodigy or the Prodigy P3.
Barney
* This post was
edited 11/11/09 01:34pm by BarneyS *
2004 Sunnybrook 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PSD
Check out the RV.net Blogs!
Visit our website here
|
PopsRacer
Okc, Ok
Senior Member
Joined: 06/01/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
I bought my Prodigy from RVWholesalers.com
My reason was because it has great reviews and a vehicle specific harness is available to make it a plug-n-play install. It took me 10 mins to install and 8 of those minutes were spent trying to decide where to mount it. The reviews were right, it seems to be a great controller.
2005 6" Lifted Nissan Armada LE (Offroad Beast)
2007 Jay Flight 29BHS
__________________________
|
|
|
