I've used FTE's search a lot for the last couple of days, and spent considerable time reading in the Towing Forum.

Seems I always come back here to get the straight stuff from those really in-the-know.

I've done my homework over at the other forum and other sites, and know the pros and cons of the features of various controllers (aligning, leveling, etc), but there's not much for personal recommendations. Besides, there's a lot of posts from those with later-model trucks with integrated controllers.

Most-common wisdom usually just says the Prodigy P2.

However Tekonsha now also has a P3.

Kelsey-Hayes also has their new G2.

I likely won't ever use it for "electric over hydraulic".

If you were buying a new controller today, what would it be, and why?

Please don't just tell me what you use, but also tell me WHY.

I'll also need to use this unit in a first generation Honda Pilot with a lighter trailer (3500 lbs max), as well as my F-350.

So what does The Brotherhood say?

Somehow, that image of Franko and his trailer full of cement igloos comes to mind......

Pop

 

Definitely the Prodigy!
In fact, I switched out my prodigy from my '98 Chevy 3500 into my '02 F250 when I got it! No way was I selling the Chevy with the Prodigy in it!
I like the digital read out, and ease of adjustment with the Prodigy. It works great and has yet to fail me! Knock on wood!

 

Wow this is like the first time I can actually HELP out another FTE member rather then asking questions about my 7.3!

Pop I have the prodigy p3. My brother and a good friend of mine also have the P3. We all love it. My brother uses it to tow a 6000 pound trailer 6 days a week, my friend uses it to tow his 7500 pound boat, an open trailer, and a 9000 pound enclosed trailer. I tow my land scape trailer, a dump trailer and my buddies enclosed trailer.

We all absolutely love the P3. My truck had a cheap U-haul in it, and it seemed like no matter what I was always adjusting it so the tires didn't lock up, same problem my buddy was having. My brother didn't bother with a cheap one since he would be using it so often.

Since putting the P3 in I have no issues breaking at all what so ever, and the brakes never ever lock up if you set it right the first time. I also like how if I am towing the dump trailer empty I will have the brake controller set on I believe 6.0, but if it has a little bit of a load in it all you have to do is hit the boost button and it will set the brakes to 6.0 plus boost level 1. It really is a nice unit, it will tell you the volts that your truck is making, it will tell you if there is a light out on the trailer as well.

What I also like is that it comes with almost a cradle that it mounts in, so I believe you could buy 2 of the said cradles, put 1 in each vehicle. That way the brake controller just unclips out of your truck and can easily just clip into the pilot. I am not sure where you can buy a 2nd cradle from though.

Tekonsha P-3 Trailer Brake Controller - Proportional Tekonsha Brake Controller 90195

I think thats where we all bought em from, it was a while ago.

All in all it works well for all 3 of us, and we haul 5 different trailers with it, all of them are 2 axles, but the p3 and do up to 4 axles and electric or hydraulic.

If you want to know anything else I would be glad to help

 

hey pop I found the extra mount for the prodigy, that way you have 1 mount in each truck, plus the correct wiring in each truck. Unplug the wire, and the controller just unclips and you can put it into another vehicle.

Tekonsha P3 Brake Control Plastic Mounting Pocket and Metal Bracket - RV Trailer | eBay

 

Good post Dennis. Lots on information. I mit just have to switch.

Chet

 

Wow! That's eggs-act-lee the kind of reviews I'm looking for!

Brothers and sisters, send that man some real REPS!

Now that I'm already truly convinced that it could walk on water, can somebody convince me I should get something different?

Thanks for the links, too, Dennis!

Pop

 

Prodigy P-3, just like the DP Tuner, you can adjust it on the fly.

 

I'm not much help as I don't have one, but if I was in the market for a new controller to replace my Tekonsha Voyager, which serves me well for nearly being antiquated, I would be getting a Prodigy P3, installed one in my brothers truck and really seems nice, aside from every towing or RV forum it seems to be the "winner".

 

Very happy with my P2... Has worked great for over 5-6 years...

 

I chose the Dexter axle company Predator DX2. It is a inertia activated brake controller. That can be mounted at various angles. But it only handles up to 2 axles.

 

Pop: My truck came with a voyager, and it served pretty well. But I switched to a P3 and am very happy with it. You can set it at different levels for small or large trailers as well as the degree of braking force you need 1 to 12
I believe it also works for electric over hydraulic.
And if you check around you can find one for a little over $100.00

 

I chose the P2 since it has a tri-axis acceleratometer and can be installed in any vertical position (360 degree vertical rotation). Automatically levels itself and adjusts to changing terrain. Also has reverse battery protection and proportional control in reverse, or can easily be disabled in reverse if needed. As far as I know, the P3 does not have these same features...at least they are not listed on the Tekonsha website.

For years I simply used Tekonsha's basic Voyager and it worked good for me once I set the level. However when I got my F450, the Voyager didn't work as well in that truck...not sure why, maybe because the brakes are so much larger
So I picked up a Tekonsha P2 and it performs so much better, and much easier to use.

 

I guess I'm the odd man out. I have a Brakesmart. Absolutley love it. Unfortunately they are no longer in business. Should I have to replace it, I'll probably go with the MaxBrake. very similar to the Brakesmart. It uses actual brake pressure to signal the trailer brakes. Trailer brakes are applied with the same force as the vehicle brake. no leveling, no hassle, works in reverse, no lock up when going down or uphill.
automaticlly checks the trailer when you plug into it, so it knows how many axles, and what type of system its hooked to.
link here:MaxBrake™ - Hydraulic over Electric Variable Brake Controller


Barney

 

I think you may have accidentally missed those features on the website...listed below.

Features:

• Applies power to the trailer brakes in proportion to vehicle's deceleration when brakes are applied
• No level adjustment necessary - it adjusts itself to varying terrain as you drive
• Works proportionally in reverse - great for backing into tough spots

Specs:
Dimensions: 3-5/8" (W) x 4-5/8" (L) x 1-3/8" (H)

• Boost levels increase power up 0%, 13% and 25%
• 180 degree vertical plane operating range
• Can be mounted between -90 degree (straight down) and 90 degree (straight up)

Having one, I also know that it can be disabled easily for reverse.

Pop, like another member, I switched from a basic U-haul to the P3 and love it. The ease in which it adjusts, how it's adjustable for different sized trailers, and how smooth it applies the brakes is great. I also find the "boost" feature very nice. I've used it on everything from small twin axle trailers to a 30' goose neck where I was grossing 26K, and it works great every time.

 

WOW--jtharvey is in the house!!! man, I haven't seen you here in ages. So good to see that little green light on!

Barney