Brake controler

[nigelv]

We have a 2016 Jayco 24RDB. We pull it with a 2006 Chevy 3500 van.
Our brake controller is a Draw Tite " Activator. (2006 model) We are thinking we should upgrade the controller. Any Idea's ?
Thanks
Nigel

[WVDusty]

Prodigy P3 is one of the best. I really like ours.


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[Murff]

Originally Posted by WVDusty

Prodigy P3 is one of the best. I really like ours.

X2!

Murff

[DocBrown]

X3! I have the P2 which I bought long before the P3 came out. Lifetime warranty. I've used it on 2 trailers and 3 different tow vehicles. Reliable as all get out, over 12 years ago. Set it and forget it. Smooth braking.

I had a time delay controller like the one you have. It worked but was clunky to use at best. And good braking was hit or miss. Constant adjustments to it also.

[JeremiahM]

P3

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[mike837go]

OK, I know this will cause trouble.... But, I'm good at that.

What's the big difference in brake controllers?

I installed Reese PODs in my first tow vehicle and SWMBO's Tacoma. Montblanc carries some off-brand that I bought then didn't use becuase I wanted the same controllers early on.

Both, I've found, ramp up braking power the longer I hold the TV brakes on. Eventually there is too much braking coming from the trailer. I release the brakes and start the ramping cycle again.

Seriously, what's the big deal? As long as both halves of the tow and trailer handle their own part of the braking, what makes one controller better than another?

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by mike837go

OK, I know this will cause trouble.... But, I'm good at that.

What's the big difference in brake controllers?

I installed Reese PODs in my first tow vehicle and SWMBO's Tacoma. Montblanc carries some off-brand that I bought then didn't use becuase I wanted the same controllers early on.

Both, I've found, ramp up braking power the longer I hold the TV brakes on. Eventually there is too much braking coming from the trailer. I release the brakes and start the ramping cycle again.

Seriously, what's the big deal? As long as both halves of the tow and trailer handle their own part of the braking, what makes one controller better than another?

Well, the big deal is indeed the ramp up time. In an emergency hard braking situation, it's not getting enough juice fast enough to the trailer brakes to stop the trailer leaving it all up to the brakes on the TV. And possibly causing the trailer to jackknife.

The flip side is what you are describing. That got really old, really fast for me. OK on short trips but definitely not on long ones.

The proportional brake controllers apply voltage based on deceleration speed. The faster you decelerate, the more voltage that's applied. Always smooth, always the right amount of braking applied.

In other words the time delay controllers are not truly handling the trailer brakes like you think they are. This is also why for many years the preferred controllers tied directly into the TV braking systems' hydraulics similar to how integrated brake controllers work today.

I've used both time delay and proportional, and will never go back to a time delay controller just to save a few bucks.

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by DocBrown

...snip...

The proportional brake controllers apply voltage based on deceleration speed. Always smooth, always the right amount of braking applied.
I've used both and will never go back to a time delay controller just to save a few bucks.

OK, thanks. This is all new to me.

Not so much on 'how' the controller knows the rate of deceleration, but how accurate is it?
Is there any feedback to the controller?

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by mike837go

OK, thanks. This is all new to me.

Not so much on 'how' the controller knows the rate of deceleration, but how accurate is it?
Is there any feedback to the controller?

The controller has a motion sensor in it. It's pretty accurate. The feed back is the voltage readout on the front panel. Most of the time for normal stops it's only a few volts. Stop hard and the number jumps up. No idea what the actual ratio is, but you do still need to adjust the controller to get the desired stopping power.

[mike837go]

Originally Posted by DocBrown

The controller has a motion sensor in it. It's pretty accurate. The feed back is the voltage readout on the front panel. Most of the time for normal stops it's only a few volts. Stop hard and the number jumps up. No idea what the actual ratio is, but you do still need to adjust the controller to get the desired stopping power.

<<did some Googling....>>

Looks like Montblanc will be getting a brake controller upgrade before we go on our first trip (Memorial Day) this year!

Again, thanks.

[RoyBraddy]

I bought the P2 back in 2008 to use with my trailer and used it until I ugraded my truck in 2010 that had the built-in Brake Controller...

I actually like some of the features the P2 had one being when my truck is moving under 10MPH my brake controller is disabled when just using the foot pedal for control.

Sometime I like to sit at the stop signs on an incline and have the trailer brakes being activated as well. Only way I can do this with my 2010 Ford truck is hold the trailer brakes ON by using the manual thumb slide switch...

Roy Ken

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by mike837go

<<did some Googling....>>

Looks like Montblanc will be getting a brake controller upgrade before we go on our first trip (Memorial Day) this year!

Again, thanks.

My pleasure! I actually helped someone today!

[bedrck46]

Originally Posted by DocBrown

My pleasure! I actually helped someone today!

Sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks

[WVDusty]

I never thought there could be much of a difference between brake controllers and always bought what ever had the "best" price. It wasn't until I I bought a P2 then my current P3 that realized how much difference there really is.


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[mike837go]

Originally Posted by DocBrown

My pleasure! I actually helped someone today!

"Helped"

So that's what you call it? We'll add that to the dictionary.

Helped [verb-past tense] convinced someone to buy a gadget he already owned and spend a weekend afternoon swapping it out.

[M&A]

Lol.

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by mike837go

"Helped"

So that's what you call it? We'll add that to the dictionary.

Helped [verb-past tense] convinced someone to buy a gadget he already owned and spend a weekend afternoon swapping it out.

Persuaded? Arm twisting? Those do sound a little harsh. I like "helped".