TRAILER BRAKES, NOW I'M REALLY CONFUSED

ARCWINSTON

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Oct 21, 2003
Messages
80
Hello all,<br /> Thanks to everyone who has offfered advice on trailer brakes. I am strongly considering electric drums and that leads to...THE CONTROLLER! so far I have found BrakeMaster,TAP,Tekonsha, Hayes and Jordan. Then there are brake light activated, inertia activated, time delayed, Blah Blah. <br />I would now REALLY appreciate some feedback on the controller side of this issue along with anything you may have to say about brands of electric drum brakes to avoid. Thanks again...W
 

datawire

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 10, 2004
Messages
103
Re: TRAILER BRAKES, NOW I'M REALLY CONFUSED

Hi there,<br />I'm totally ignorant as to brands of drums to use or avoid. <br /><br />I do own a variety of types and sizes of trailers from 5 to 30 feet, and all BUT the boat trailer have electric brakes on at least one axle. The boat trailer has surge brakes on the front axle. Of the 10 to 20 Brake Controllers I've used over the years, the Tekonsha "Prodigy" is the very best. <br />It must be set for the trailer you are pulling, and it is rare for any setting to behave properly for more than one trailer. It takes only a few stops and starts to set it though - and afterwards you can just forget it. Our camper is only pulled with my wife's vehicle, and that is all that is pulled by it. I have yet to have to re-adjust her controller. My trucks and vans pull everything imaginable, and it seems we are always re-adjusting for the differing loads.<br /><br />Having said all that - I LOVE the "Prodigy" Controller and certainly wouldn't go back to using anything else.<br /><br />Just my opinion - hope this helps :)
 

JasonB

Lieutenant
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Messages
1,455
Re: TRAILER BRAKES, NOW I'M REALLY CONFUSED

I use the Tekonsa Envoy and love it. This is one of those areas where you get what you pay for as I was warned that the $30-$50 low end controllers can operate somewhat "clunky". My Envoy was $75 and has enough power to operate 2 axles. It was very easy to calibrate. From getting it wired in to completely ready to go took me 30-45 minutes. <br /><br />There are others that are good as well, but I have always heard nothing but good on the Tekonshas.
 

JasonB

Lieutenant
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Messages
1,455
Re: TRAILER BRAKES, NOW I'M REALLY CONFUSED

BTW, what tow vehicle are you using? If it is a mid 90's or above, it may be wired for the controller already. Mine uses an inertia switch.
 
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