Brake controller

Badbird2000 · 01-25-2018, 11:03 AM

Hey guys, I am still looking for my first camper. Looking at a Jayco hybrid. I have a 2012 Silverado Crew Cab Z71, with towing package, but it didn't come with a brake controller. What is your favorite aftermarket and where did you mount it?
Thanks!

DocBrown · 01-25-2018, 11:37 AM

Prodigy P3. I actually have the P2 and it's 12 years old. The P3 is the newer version. It's been flawless. And they have a lifetime warranty. Mine is mounted under the right side of the dash just to the right of the steering wheel for easy access.

Iraqvet05 · 01-25-2018, 11:52 AM

Prodigy P3. Had it mounted in my 2007 Silverado and my current truck in the same place...lower right had side of the dash.

repacs0103 · 01-25-2018, 12:03 PM

Lower right is always going to be the spot. Until trucks started coming with factory brake controllers all my work trucks always had Reese Activators and Activator II’s. They get the crap beat out of them with 3 grown men riding in a regular cab truck and I’ve never had one fail. I’m sure the newer units have a lot more features.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sundancer330 · 01-25-2018, 12:10 PM

I currently have the P3 but have not had good luck with them. All three have had the same problem, the up/down power setting buttons stick. Tekonsha has great warranty service and has replaced 2 of them. I am sitting on the broken third one waiting for the new style to come out, the rep told me they are changing the P3 buttons since this has been a problem. Otherwise it has been one of the best brake controllers I have used, very easy to fine tune to the TT weight.

stevenl · 01-25-2018, 03:48 PM

I have the Primus IQ. Close to 10 years old and still going strong across 2 vehicles. Don’t forget to order the appropriate wiring harness. For an extra 11.00 dollars it will make your life so easy. The harness will plug into the electrical panel on the firewall behind the emergency brake. For the record my controller is left of the steering column. But then again I am left handed.

**Midnightmoon** · 01-25-2018, 05:55 PM

I have a P3 in my van. Great controller so far. It has lots of bells and whistles and really is probably one of the best out there right now.

If you want something that still works very well but is a little more conservative, take a look at the Tekonsha Voyager. Nothing fancy, but works great and is stone reliable. The one that is currently in my 2007 ram has been in a couple trucks and has literally hundreds of thousands of towing miles on it.

mammut · 01-25-2018, 06:00 PM

I used a P3 and had zero issues with it. Decided after having the p3 stolen out of my truck I wanted more of a permanent install that was not as easy to remove. I went with the Hopkins Insight. Has an easy to read display and controls you can mount wherever convenient.

InSIGHT Flex-Mount Brake Control

https://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-47297.../dp/B00C5THYIK

vcbice · 01-25-2018, 06:41 PM

I also use the Prodigy. P2 on previous truck, P3 on this one. They work well for me.

Badbird2000 · 01-25-2018, 07:35 PM

Thanks for the real world evaluations guys. Still new to this, so trying to research before I purchase anything.

Scott_Trailer_Newbe · 01-25-2018, 10:25 PM

P3 👍👍👍

ShawnR · 01-26-2018, 07:49 AM

I have a P2 mounted near my right knee. It was a huge improvement over my old controller (which was 20 years old). The instructions were very straight forward so installation and setup were easy. I really like the boost feature. I use boost 1 for most driving since that's what my weight ratio requires, boost zero for stop and go traffic (less grabby).

vcbice · 01-26-2018, 08:40 AM

In case you are not aware, do NOT buy a time based controller. I had a truck accessories shop claim they were just as good as the expensive ones so do not rely on a shop's advice either. A camper dealer (smaller RV's) also tried to tell me I didn't need one of those 'expensive' controllers for a 7000lb trailer.

Badbird2000 · 01-29-2018, 09:47 PM

How does a time based controller work? I have vague images of the one dad had on our 1975 Suburban when we had our Starcraft tt. Lower left side of the dash, had a lever that moved with the brake pedal..

vcbice · 01-29-2018, 10:36 PM

The time based are like it sounds. You press on brake. The controller starts increasing brake current. Over a period of a few seconds it gets to max. They work ok for general use, but, in a panic stop they are near useless.

Many people who had them learned to use them manually, ie, they would operate the lever as they applied vehicle brakes. Problem is in a panic stop you still don't have trailer brakes during the critical period.

You may also like: