A Straight Answer Please!

[northwad]

Hey all-

Ok, we did it.....if you remember from my first few posts,  I thought I could tow a Fleetwood Bayside with a Honda CRV when I first started my research online and then I found this site...Boy, did you guys set me straight!!!!

So, we took the plunge, bought a 2007 Nissan Xterra with a tow capacity of 5000lbs (with the tow kit installed) and now are the proud owners of a 2002 Fleetwood Bayside!!!!!  We are very excited but of course a bit confused with some questions....

The couple that we purchased it from said that I will not need a seperate brake conroller inside of the Xterra as the 7 pin hitch on the Xterra already has the brake controller built in....I was all set to go and buy the Prodigy (thanks to your recommendations) but now I am REALLY CONFUSED and can't get a straight answer from the Nissan dealership....Can you please help this NEWBIE??!!!!!

Thanks- (im sure I'll have more Q's in the near future

Dave

[popupduncan]

Hey,
the fleetwood comes standard with electric brakes and the 7 pin connector has the connection for the brake controler! but it will do nothing without a brake controler installed in your car. Only if your car has an integrated brake controler do you not need to insatll a brake control and i dont think that your car does. Prodigy is the way to go and should cost around $100 to install. I do these everyday so if you have anything else just post it.

[northwad]

PopUpDuncan-

Outstanding!!  I will go and get it...I think I can install it without too much problem as long as I can get the right wiring harness......Do you know if the Xterra already has the connection for the harness under the dash?  If its there, I just connect and find a good spot on the dash for the controller itself right?   If the connection is not there then I will have to pay to have it installed....

Any thoughts?

Dave

[popupduncan]

im not sure really. I dont think that you have a brake control built in but you might call nissan and you should have the connection but again im not sure.

[brainpause]

I checked the Nissan website, and, as I suspected, there is no built-in controller. I think Ford's TowBoss is the only one that has it. So, PopupDuncan gave you a great recommendation: The Prodigy. Don't be tempted by other Tekonsha models, such as the Voyager. You will eventually get the Prodigy anyway.

Makes you wonder if the folks you bought it from, sold it because they felt it was unsafe to tow and the trailer brakes didn't work well enough, and pushed on them in their vehicle. They were sadly mistaken.

Larry

[AustinBoston]

I checked the Nissan website, and, as I suspected, there is no built-in controller. I think Ford's TowBoss is the only one that has it. So, PopupDuncan gave you a great recommendation: The Prodigy. Don't be tempted by other Tekonsha models, such as the Voyager. You will eventually get the Prodigy anyway.

Makes you wonder if the folks you bought it from, sold it because they felt it was unsafe to tow and the trailer brakes didn't work well enough, and pushed on them in their vehicle. They were sadly mistaken.

Larry

Or the newer version, the P3...

Austin

[cmack98]

Lucky you,

The XTERRA is so on my list of new vehicles to purchase (the other being the Toyota FJ Cruiser).

But I am about 2 years away from a new car.  But I envy you, good luck with it, and the camper!

[northwad]

Thanks for all the "Straight Answers!!!"   I will be installing a Prodigy as soon as possible!!!!

Thanks again..this site is truly invauable!!!!!!!!

Dave

[curryp]

Because my truck didn't have the tow package I wasn't able to use a  wiring harness. I had to have my Tekonsha Prodigy hardwired to the vehicle. Two Toyota dealerships I called would not install it. I called a few other places and the best price I got was with UHaul for $120. They did a nice clean job placing the Prodigy in a convenient spot and hiding the wires.

You should be able to find a Prodigy for less than $100 now that the P3 is on the market. Checkout the Bargain Hunters Emporium thread here. There is a posting there for a Prodigy with a rebate to make the total price around $80. I got mine from eBay for about $80.

The Tekonsha website indicates there is a wiring harness for the Xterra. You might want to check out the Xterra forum for some assistance. http://www.xterraownersclub.com/forums.html  Good Luck!

[tlhdoc]

Congratulations on the new camper and TV.  It is always good to check if the information you receive does not sound correct.

[grcooperjr]

I have a P3 for a controler... WORKS GREAT. it cost a bit more than the Prodigy though. When I was looking for a new controler for the new truck I called Tekonsha and asked what P3 stood for...Prodigy third generation