I need a brake controller for a 1996 F250. It has rear ABS. Are some controllers hooked in with the brake lights and just a simple on/off? I know some vary based on how hard you push the brakes but how do they know? My dads 1996 F250 with factory camper package had a teconsha that never worked right so he just unplugged it. My understanding of an inertia controller is that it will not apply brakes until after the truck starts to slow down itself(which doesn't seem good for slick roads). Any one have any reccomendations for good controllers that are easy to hook up? I will pull a 16ft. livestock trailer and 18ft. 14,000 lbs. gooseneck. Both are tandem axle with brakes on both axles. I remember seeing a post about a controller that had a cable going to the brake pedal, is this still available?

Thanks

 

I have a 94 F250 pulling an 8,000# trailer with an older model Tekonsha(Commander?). Works fine. I Forget the two main types of controllers etc, but in general the Tekonsha models are the "good" type. They do work on the amount of decerlation detected by the controller. That is why it is very important to have the controller leveled or adjust the internal leveling, and to have the gain properly set. At least on my older model, the gain needs to be tweaked for different road conditions.

There is a slight delay from when I hit the brakes and you feel the trailer brake. Just a slight bounce you might describe it.

A lot of the guys on this site have good things to say about the Tekonsha Prodigy.

My tek is hooked into the harness plug that is up under the dash over the tranny hump. No muss no fuss, works great. I have driven in dry, wet, snowy and icy conditions. As long as I do my job, the controller mostly does it's job right.

Just my opinions,

Jim Henderson

 

I have a Prodigy and recommend it highly. It's very effective and was easy to install. It takes it's signal from the brakelamp switch. That activates it and tells it you want to stop. From there the Prodigy takes over and there is no perceptable delay. It uses an accelerometer instead of a pendulum, unlike the previous inertial controllers. Prodigy is the only inertial controller that works while backing up, AFAIK.

I know the cable to pedal controller's you are talking about. I think those are made by Reese. I don't have any experience with those but the whole cable thing seems kind of primitive to me. Still, the guys on the board that have reported using them seem satisfied with their operation.

 

AC-MAN

Here's some more info on brake controllers:

An electric trailer brake controller is a device that supplies power from a vehicle to a trailer's electric brakes. There are two types of electric brake controllers - Time Delay Activated ("solid state") and Inertia Activated ("pendulum style"). Although the controllers' methods are different, both types of controllers are very similar. Both allow the user to adjust output or braking power. Both have a pressure sensitive manual override trigger that can be used to apply the trailer brakes independent of the vehicle brakes. Both have the same wiring configuration.

Time Delay Activated
Solid state controllers are "enabled" by the brake pedal switch and apply a gradual voltage to the trailer's brakes using a Time Delay Circuit.
Advantages : Time Delayed controllers are inexpensive, have a low profile, and can be mounted on any angle (very user friendly).
Disadvantages: When towing (in most applications) with Hazard flashers on, the Digital Display will flash with the Hazard Flashers. If the Brake Control is set aggressively, pulsing may be felt in the trailer brakes. However the Pulse Preventer will isolate the Brake Control from the flashers and eliminate the flash/pulse situation.

Inertia Activated - Proportional
Pendulum Style Controllers are "enabled" by the brake pedal switch and "activated" by a Pendulum Circuit that senses the vehicle's stopping motion and applies a proportional voltage to the trailer's brakes. When properly adjusted the trailer will decelerate at the same speed as the tow vehicle. This increases braking efficiency and reduces brake wear.
Advantages: Pendulum style controllers operate well under adverse braking conditions and have a smooth braking action.
Disadvantages: Most inertia-activated controllers are bulky, more expensive, and must be mounted and calibrated level. The Tekonsha PRODIGY™ and Valley Odyssey™ inertia-activated brake controllers are the exceptions to these disadvantages.

Steve

 

Mine is neither of these. I have a Jordan.

The Jordan has a cable from the controller to the brake pedal. As the pedal is moved down the cable applies the trailer brakes. With this system the trailer braking is proportional to the truck's braking. I feel that it works much better than either of those types.

There is also BrakeSmart. Instead of a cable it has a pressure sensor that is installed in the truck's hydraulic system. This one applies the trailer brakes in proportion to the pressure in the truck's brakes.

 

Jordan's website says its controller "provides smooth, reliable, safe full time proportional trailer braking". Apparently the cable takes the place of the brake stoplight switch and pendulum.

Steve

 

[QUOTE=horsepuller]I have a Prodigy and recommend it highly. It's very effective and was easy to install. It takes it's signal from the brakelamp switch. That activates it and tells it you want to stop. From there the Prodigy takes over and there is no perceptable delay. It uses an accelerometer instead of a pendulum, unlike the previous inertial controllers. Prodigy is the only inertial controller that works while backing up, AFAIK.

ACman, I totally agree with the Prodigy controller, I had one until I bought my new trailer which has electric over hydraulic brakes, and it will not work with that type of brake system. But on the standard electric brake systems on most trailers you will not find a better brake controller than the Tekonsha Prodigy. I now have the Tekonsha Voyager which will work with the electric/hydrauliic brakes and have had no problems with it. I did like the boost feature that the Prodigy had which compensated for the size of the rig.