Brake controller

1stgenxxx

1stgenxxx

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2005
Location
Hudson
A brake controller is a brake controller right? What is the big difference between the 50 brake force from Northern and say..the prodigy? I have to buy one for Sunday but I don't want to spend the extra money if the high dollar ones don't do much more than the cheap ones.
 
Couldn't answer this fairly all I've ever used is the Prodigy.
 
Spend the extra couple dollars and get the prodigy. You get what you pay for and with brakes $100 is cheap insurance. Some of the cheaper controllers are particular how they are mounted as well. I got roughly $120 in my prodigy and harness.
 
I have used two different ones.
First was a redline, from redneck trailer supply. Little testy to adjust just so, but worked well.
Second and current is a prodigy. I love it. Easier to adjust.
 
upnover said:
I have used two different ones.
First was a redline, from redneck trailer supply. Little testy to adjust just so, but worked well.
Second and current is a prodigy. I love it. Easier to adjust.
Click to expand...

Chip is 100% right! I too have had a cheaper one. All I can say is that it activated the brakes. Sometimes easy, sometimes not so easy, and was most of the time jerky. Got a Prodigy, installed it, and haven't had a complaint since.

Here's where I got mine: http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog/prodigy-brake-control-by-tekonsha-17-0101.html

Good Luck! :)
 
Prodigy is where it's at, not finicky about mounting angle like the older/cheaper boxes. Picked my prodigy up for $85 shipped from an rv shop in tn off ebay.
 
I had a bad experience coming back from Tellico a few years back with the Redline. I listened to Don (Granny) and ordered the Prodigy as soon as I got home. Prodigy is the best by far and the $10 dollar direct plug is well worth the money. You can install in about 5 minutes. Once you set the Prodigy, you don't have to worry messing with it anymore.

To me, it is the "Toyota" of brake controllers. Tekonsha is the only brand of brake controller I will ever buy again!

JB
 
John B. said:
I had a bad experience coming back from Tellico a few years back with the Redline. I listened to Don (Granny) and ordered the Prodigy as soon as I got home. Prodigy is the best by far and the $10 dollar direct plug is well worth the money. You can install in about 5 minutes. Once you set the Prodigy, you don't have to worry messing with it anymore.

To me, it is the "Toyota" of brake controllers. Tekonsha is the only brand of brake controller I will ever buy again!

JB
Click to expand...
Quoted for truth! I love my Prodigy.
 
Anyone on here using a Hays? It's along the same lines as the Prodigy and it looks pretty cool with the blue leds and such.
 
Never used a prodigy but, I have towed with alot of old dial controllers that are in our farm trucks. I dunno if its truly worth the money cause I've never used one but the older units are extremely sensitive, much like Chip said. When I get a new truck, I'm putting in an $ one for sure.
 
John B. said:
I had a bad experience coming back from Tellico a few years back with the Redline. I listened to Don (Granny) and ordered the Prodigy as soon as I got home. Prodigy is the best by far and the $10 dollar direct plug is well worth the money. You can install in about 5 minutes. Once you set the Prodigy, you don't have to worry messing with it anymore.
To me, it is the "Toyota" of brake controllers. Tekonsha is the only brand of brake controller I will ever buy again!
JB
Click to expand...
I've got a Prodigy "Toyota of brake controllers" in my old truck and love it. I also have the new Prodigy P2(?) in my new truck and it is the "Jeep" of brake controllers. It's awesome and only like twenty bucks more. Both are pricey for a reason.
 
I'm going to order the P3 :Rockon:
 
The P3 is nice... gives you some good mounting options since all the controls & display is up front.

I have mine mounted in a pocket in the center console.. VERY easy to get to.
 
1stgenxxx said:
A brake controller is a brake controller right? What is the big difference between the 50 brake force from Northern and say..the prodigy? I have to buy one for Sunday but I don't want to spend the extra money if the high dollar ones don't do much more than the cheap ones.
Click to expand...


To answer what the difference is, it ius basically digital control versus analog.

Your average tractor supply company $40 brake controller will have a single pick up point and supply 12V to the magnets at that point. Now you can adjust how "soon" or "late" in the pedal progression it picks up but it is either ON or OFF

The Tekonsha uses a solid state processor that has a variable output based upon the intensity of the brake pressure. IOW it may pick up at 10% and output 3v and progress up to 12v output.

It is less jerky on you, easier on your truck, and more pricey.

Either is better than no brake controller at all
 
I used the Prodigy analog in the past with good success. I had a factory digital on my F350 and it worked great. Didn't really notice the difference between the two though.

eBay has the analogs for VERY cheap
 
I had the Prodigy controller in my last truck and the person that bought it demanded the Prodigy as part of the deal (pushy northerner).
The new truck has one of the the delay-type analog controllers and it's nowhere near as smooth, but it does work effectively.

If I ever have to buy another, it'll be a Prodigy.
 
lbyota85 said:
So its the Prodigy P2 case with all the internals replaced or am I missing something?:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Now Landon play nice. I have you to know my Jeep is all factory parts. We've ridden together and you've probably seen my driving style. I'm not to easy on things. At last weekends ride I heard atleast twice "I can't believe Kenneth doesn't break." That said my chewed up front R/P will probably give this weekend or maybe somethin worse. Just being biased cause that's what I wheel. Toyota's are tough as hell too.
 
I'm ordering a P3 in about 10 minutes. I got the harness from a Bumgarner's Camping center for 15$ but they wanted 160 for a P3 when they go on ebay for 99-116$
 
lockedup5 said:
Now Landon play nice. I have you to know my Jeep is all factory parts. We've ridden together and you've probably seen my driving style. I'm not to easy on things. At last weekends ride I heard atleast twice "I can't believe Kenneth doesn't break." That said my chewed up front R/P will probably give this weekend or maybe somethin worse. Just being biased cause that's what I wheel. Toyota's are tough as hell too.
Click to expand...

Just being funny.:bounce2:
 
Back
Top