Did the search.....but....
What is your favorite brake controller.

Rig?
2002 Excursion diesel 4x4...
Moderate loads...nothing more than 6000 total...

thanx!

HR

 

If you did the search, you likely found that Prodigy is the most popular because it's available anywhere and is a pretty good control but the Jordan 2020 Ultima is the favorite of those that have tried both. If I had not heard of the Jordan, I would probably still be using a Prodigy but when I tried the Jordan, I knew it was the answer. I wish I had listened earlier.
This topic usually heats up because they are both good but I listen to the owners of both that have actually compared them rather than those that just list features of the one they have.

 

I have a DrawTite Activator II that came with my truck. I have pulled over 15 different styles and weights of trailers from a 3500lb boat to a 10000lb park trailer to a 18000lb 5th wheel and it did an outstanding job on each. It has a digital display and works at all angles without adjustment. I recommend it. It's also sold as the Reese Brakeman Digital.

 

why is the Prodigy better than the Jordan

I'm in the market as well

Thanks

 

Nobody says Prodigy is better then Jordan, in fact I think Jordan is better and I have both. Virtually everyone agrees that have tried them both. I did however say Prodigy is more "popular" because it's mass marketed through Tekonsha and available everywhere whereas Jordan is a small company. Jordan has been in business for over 30 years.

 

Well let me rephrase my question. Having both, what advantages does the Jordan have over the Prodigy in your opinion?

 

Gunfighter09, I'd like to know why you feel the Jordan is a better unit too. I've not seen or used one before. The only thing I've heard about them is in this forum. Do they really use a cable or linkage from the brake pedal to provide proportional control? That seems kind of primitive to me. With the good reputation they seem to have, there has to be more to them then that!

I have a Prodigy and I would agree, as you say it's the more popular unit. Possibly because of it's simplicity and brand name. There's no way I have of comparing the two controllers. Seeing how you have both, it would be interesting to hear you make a side by side comparison of the two under different types of braking conditions.

My idea of a good controller is one that will not lock up the trailer wheels and plow two long furrows when lightly braking while going downhill in loose soil or gravel. Some controllers work fine when set up to work on a hard surface but don't perform the same when the road surface changes.

 

Redline.

 

I would first offer that there is no “Perfect” controller but this is why I think the Jordan is better and of course it’s just my opinion. If you read other forums, you will find similar responses from those that have both.
The Jordan does use a cable but it's not “primitive” It’s an attempt to replicate the best of the past, which is the hydraulic controllers, that are nearly extinct due to liability issues. The only thing manual about the Jordan is the cable, which sends a proportional signal to the electronics via a linear slide pot inside the display module. Another advantage is the real ammeter, which allows you to read exactly how much current is being delivered to each brake magnet, versus a total voltage output that the Prodigy uses. The Jordan is totally proportional to how much pedal is applied, so in the situation mentioned about loose gravel, if you lock your truck brakes, then I suppose you could lock the trailer brakes too, but it’s all relative, if that makes sense. With the prodigy on an incorrect boost setting, you could deliver up to 25 percent of the total braking immediately after touching the brakes. That seems more likely to cause a jack knife then proportional braking from the Jordan in the loose gravel scenario.
The Prodigy uses an accelerometer to measure deceleration and relies on the brake light switch for initial activation. There is a slight delay until the brake light switch is activated, (barely noticeable on most vehicles but it’s there), before the unit begins to deliver current to the brakes. Also, the boost settings are a preset amount of braking (13 to 25 percent I think) for towing heavier loads that will activate immediately upon brake light activation. I never found the perfect setting with my 9K lbs trailer between highway and town, but a lot of people just set it on two and leave it. Many mention, “plug and play” with the Prodigy, which makes no sense to me at all. I’m not interested on how long it takes to install either but rather which unit is going to give the best overall performance. There are also problems with incorrect fault codes but I think most of those have been fixed with the latest software version from Tekonsha.
The most important comparison comes from feel. It’s noticeable to me (and others) how much smoother the Jordan is overall during use. You can’t tell the difference unless you’ve felt them both.
I do think both are good controllers, however.

 

Thanks for taking the time to do us a comparison. You've given me some insight as to how both of the unit's are designed to work. I didn't know the Prodigy used an accelerometer but it makes sense to me. We us accelerometer's to measure shaft speed of our equipment at work.

My example of light braking in gravel or loose soil is why I was dissatisfied with controller's which work proportionaly to brake pedal travel or hydraulic pressure. The old Kelsey-Hayes hydraulic/electric controller's I've used in the past weren't "smart" enough to know the difference between lightly braking to control downhill speed and braking to a stop. Even with their resistor installed in the line, any way you set up the K-H unit seemed to be a compromize.

If a hydraulic/electric unit could be made today, using the same technology as in the Prodigy or Jordan, it would probably be a pretty good system. But as you say, liability issues and anti-lock braking will probably keep us from ever seeing that again.

One thing about the Prodigy though. The preset "boost" settings only increase the inital amount of current to the brakes and do not affect the total or maximum amount of braking power. It's just to give a "head start" so to speak. If I run my Prodigy in either one of the boost settings, usually the first thing you see is the voltage reduce itself to accomodate for the actual braking necessary.

 

You're correct about the Prodigy backing off voltage after realizing the amount of deceleration needed after boost, and that’s a good feature, but I disagree on the other issue about surface conditions.
Another thing we need to realize is that NO controller can know the surface conditions, therefore it is up to the driver to tell it. Having said that, the Jordan will not lock up unless you brake foolishly on slippery conditions. Worst case, if your on gravel for an extended time, simply readjust but that’s not really necessary if you use common sense. The Jordan is also recommended for use with ABS as he told me himself that there is no problem with there compatibility. I understand many people live on hills with gravel/dirt roads but that is precisely why I prefer the Jordan because you can brake with your brain, instead of a predetermined voltage from the unit. Remember proportional is proportional with Jordan and the braking current will vary from null to full pedal travel. Just don't lock your tow vehicle brakes and the trailer will follow suit (properly adjusted) even on slippery conditions.
As for K-H, I don't own a current one but the old hydraulic models were actually the best of the time.
Just a reminder, I have both and I wouldn’t recommend trading up if you don’t do a lot of towing, but for those that are trying to decide, I’m just one of many that have traded the Prodigy for the better because I thought it was that important to me. I would not hesitate to tow with the either but I did the comparisons for myself. If anybody else has tried both and can give me a reason to go back, let me know.

 

I like mine it's a reese, but my only requirment was that it works when I need it to work.

 

Good point. I ran a Reese for awhile and it worked everytime I touched the brakes just like advertized. With enough truck, you can get by with just about any ramp-up, time based, pendulum style. If you get into a larger trailer or have a hair raising experience, you might see what we're trying to say. There is a difference. Please don't take this wrong, but experience is hard to teach. Get a better controller. Your family will thank you some day.

 

I've sold Tekomsha's for about 15 years now. Never had one fail yet( to my knowledge ). They are all inertia activated which will handle 95 percent of all braking situations and won't brake the bank roll. About $85 for a 4 axle unit.

 

I have used Tekomsha works great with my trailers. The only probably is interference with my cd changer any time you hit the brakes hum comes through radio.