Electric brake controllers

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Aug 26, 2012

I had to borrow a friend's pickup to pull my camper home and having the factory installed brake controller was awesome. Question is do any of the aftermarket companies make anything that performs like the factory installed systems? I have a Drawtite Activator 2. It easily applies the trailer brakes, but it doesn't ease up when you ease up on the pedal.

rustyfarmall · Aug 27, 2012

I don't remember what brand I have in my truck, but it does react easily with either increased or decreased pressure on the brake pedal.

souNdguy · Aug 27, 2012

i think it's called maxi brake or something similar that is tied tot he hyds portion of the brake.

you can also get a smart pendulum controller like a prodigy.. they work a lil beeter thant he cheaper 'timed' controllers.

that said. i have a timed hoppy and a couple drawtight activator 2's they 'work' fine.

i do have a prodigy in my 450.. it's nicer... etc.. cost more.. etc..

Dodgeit · Aug 27, 2012

(quoted from post at 21:48:43 08/26/12) I had to borrow a friend's pickup to pull my camper home and having the factory installed brake controller was awesome. Question is do any of the aftermarket companies make anything that performs like the factory installed systems? I have a Drawtite Activator 2. It easily applies the trailer brakes, but it doesn't ease up when you ease up on the pedal.

You might want to look at the tab on the brake pedal arm that engages the brake light switch. sometimes they are bent just enough that they don't fully disengage the trailer brakes right away, when you release the pedal.

JD PHIL · Aug 27, 2012

MAX BRAKE Is the best controller I have ever used it's not cheep but if you want too stop your truck and trailer the price won't hurt as much as the wreck your going to be in with out it!!!!

Anonymous-0 · Aug 27, 2012

I had a new controller put on my truck. They put a Pro Series Tekonsha Pilot brake controller for one to three axles. This controller has the adjustable voltage and you can over ride it if you need to. It will also let you know if you hve a ground problem. I picked up my new 24 foot low profile deckover and once you get the brakes dialed in you don't feel like you had a trailer behind you.

mkirsch · Aug 28, 2012

I have a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller.

It's an accelerometer-based brake controller, so it lets up on the trailer brakes automatically as you come to a stop.

The Prodigy is VERY sensitive to the movements of the truck. It seems like it knows how hard you're pushing on the brake pedal.

Usually when you're sitting stopped with the truck in gear, the harder you press on the brake pedal, the higher the voltage goes. Letting off the brake pedal causes the voltage to drop. About the only time this does not happen is if you're on perfectly level ground.

The controller has no connection to the brake pedal; it senses the truck's slight movements as you adjust how hard you press on the pedal.

cd1 · Aug 28, 2012

I use the Reese POD in my trucks. they are cheap and pretty nice for a timed unit. Smooth too. I never got around to liking the prodigy I had. Yes in a panic stop a pendulum type would probably be better. I don't think you can buy the ones anymore that tie into your brake lines, they were the cats a55

souNdguy · Aug 30, 2012

i love my prodigy as well. I makes my 450 and that gn work like 1

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Aug 31, 2012

That's how the factory installed controllers work. They have a pressure transducer on the master cyl so it actually sees what you're doing on the pedal.

Ken Macfarlane · Sep 5, 2012

Ugh, my father in law has a timed controller in his truck. Drives me nuts after using my prodigy.

Skyhighballoon(MO) · Sep 5, 2012

Brian - I have the Prodigy in my 2000 Expedition and it works great. I've used it with Rick Corder's 7K car hauler and I just installed brakes on my 5X10 3.5K box trailer for the balloon. Easy to adjust and has 3 boost settings for heavier loads. Mike

cd1 · Sep 5, 2012

some suck, ones that don't come on soft suck. I put it this way, if these that I use didn't work good you think I would own more than one?

JD PHIL · Sep 6, 2012

I must be the only person that uses the MAX BRAKE control no other commets about it, I still really like it best, so somebody blast me!!! HA HA !!

kossuth · Sep 24, 2012

(quoted from post at 12:46:41 08/27/12) i think it's called maxi brake or something similar that is tied tot he hyds portion of the brake.

you can also get a smart pendulum controller like a prodigy.. they work a lil beeter thant he cheaper 'timed' controllers.

that said. i have a timed hoppy and a couple drawtight activator 2's they 'work' fine.

i do have a prodigy in my 450.. it's nicer... etc.. cost more.. etc..

URSE YOU soundguy.

I just spent about 1/2 a day racking my brain trying to figure out what those hydraulic style controllers were called and it just popped in my head. Kelsy-Hayes is the company that made them. They quit making them about 30+ years ago, but they worked darn good. Basically when trucks started having ABS on them the old style controllers went away. Guys that have them won't give them up either (can't blame em)

souNdguy · Sep 25, 2012

they aren't gone.. er.. at least.. there is a new company out.

maxbrake
max brake hyd over electric

Electric brake controllers

Brian Jasper co. Ia

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rustyfarmall

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souNdguy

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Dodgeit

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JD PHIL

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Anonymous-0

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mkirsch

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cd1

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souNdguy

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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Ken Macfarlane

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Skyhighballoon(MO)

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cd1

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JD PHIL

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kossuth

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souNdguy

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