lexman1968
Canton
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Joined: 04/21/2009
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The installation was a breeze. Disconnect 1 brake line from the master cylinder, install fitting into master cylinder then install pressure sensor fitting and run wire from sensor to controller! Plugged controller into factory harness and then calibrate. The whole job took 1-1/2 hours with bleeding he brakes! This controller is amazing! It is so seamless when you hit the brakes that you can't feel the trailer brakes react. There is a gain knob to make the braking more or less aggressive. When I first tried it out the gain was a little aggressive and I could feel the trailer pulling on the truck with slight pedal pressure so I made a few adjustments of the gain knob and dialed it right in. My wife even commented that she couldn't feel the trailer jerking while we braked. Now I should let you know i switched from a cheap $79 pilot so there was a dramatic improvement. To anyone contemplating it? Do it, it made my towing experience a whole lot easier.
2009 Dodge Megacab Dually
5" exhaust, Smarty Jr, Egr Deletes and good fuel mileage!
2010 Heartland 3500rl 5th wheel
Pullrite Superglide 18k hitch.
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jimtoo
Perfectly Great!
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Joined: 10/23/2004
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Hi lexman1968,
I replaced my Prodigy controller with the MaxBrake about 1 year ago. A really great improvement in the braking action of the trailer. Smother, better and faster response to my way of thinking.
I see you have a Heartland unit. If you have not joined, you may join us at Heartland Owners Forum. We have a lot of great people there.
Jim M
Happy Camping
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04 GMC 3500, CC,Dually,Duramax,Allison
CB Radio, MaxBrake, Turboliner, Ride Rites
08 Bighorn by Heartland, 3055RL, Trailair Pinbox, Equaflex.
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Slowmover
Corpus Christi, Texas
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Joined: 11/14/2003
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lexman, your comments are echoed by plenty of other owners private and commercial. This style of brake controller has wide acclaim. Glad to hear of your success . . and may I recommend a helper follow you on a gravel road that the two of you may communicate on when (and which) TT wheels are locking up first so as to make more detailed adjustments?
1990 35' SILVER STREAK Sterling, 9k GVWR
2004 DODGE 305/555 ISB, QC SRW LB NV-5600, 9k GVWR
Hensley Arrow; 15-cpm solo, 25-cpm towing
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RedG
Fort Worth Texas
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Joined: 10/13/2008
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If you didn't do so, I'd recommend securing the pressure sending unit to something for support so it's not waving in the wind. I'd be afraid the brake line would fatigue in time if not tied down. I padded and secured mine to a power steering/brake booster line as in this picture:
Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640x480px maximum size.
* This post was
edited 07/02/11 04:32pm by an administrator/moderator *
2005 Newmar Dutch Star 4024 DP 370 Cummins
Towing my 2012 Malibu w/Blue Ox towbar & Patriot brake system
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lexman1968
Canton
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RedG, that was the 2nd thing I did after the install! Tie wrapped it to a A/c rubber line.
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wittmeba
Virginia
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Joined: 02/02/2001
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Congrats! Hope it is everything it is said to be.
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Yellermanx
NSB Florida
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Joined: 02/18/2007
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lexman1968 wrote: Now I should let you know i switched from a cheap $79 pilot so there was a dramatic improvement. To anyone contemplating it? Do it, it made my towing experience a whole lot easier.
I switched from a P3 with the same exact results. I no longer dread hitting the brakes.
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mikeb9550
MI
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Joined: 11/12/2002
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Upgrading from my prodigy is something I have been thinking about myself. The prodigy works pretty good but there is a bit of a jerk once in a while. Do your trailer brakes come on before your truck? That is big for me.
Mike
2006 Ford E350 Van (standard length)
V10, 3.73, 5 Star Tuner, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Prodigy BC, Hensley Arrow Hitch
2006 Jayco Jay Flight 26BHS
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lexman1968
Canton
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I cant tell. It really feels like there isnt a trailer back there.
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Yellermanx
NSB Florida
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mikeb9550 wrote:Upgrading from my prodigy is something I have been thinking about myself. The prodigy works pretty good but there is a bit of a jerk once in a while. Do your trailer brakes come on before your truck? That is big for me.
I believe they come on at the same time, it's just how much each one is doing. However you can adjust it where the trailer does more than the TV or the other way around. Like the poster above said you can adjust it where it feels like there is no trailer. Adjusting the brakes up where the trailer does more would give you the feeling that the trailer is on first.
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