RE: Prodigy brake-controllers... yay? nay?

[CathyAnn]

 
What do you think?
 
 When our tax return comes, we re buying brakes for the camper.
 
 Any advice appreciated.
 
 CathyAnn

[birol]

 CathyAnn
According to what I read, Tekonsha  Prodigy is #1.

[Gamecock Camper]

 CathyAnn
yea.

[Ab Diver]

 CathyAnn
Short answer: Yeah!
 
 Longer answer: " Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"  (Thank You John, Paul, George, and Ringo!)
 
 Still longer answer: CathyAnn, you will be towing with a vehicle that weighs, what, 4200 lbs? And towing a trailer that weighs between 2200 and 2900 lbs, depending on model. When you need to stop in a hurry (notice I didn t say *if*) you will thank yourself for buying a Prodigy brake controller. Smooth braking in all situations, no frying the trailer brakes on long downhill grades, instant full power braking when needed, ease of installation and set-up...  The performance differences between a Prodigy brake controller and a certain time-based controller so often recommended by RV dealers (because they are cheap) are too numerous to list in one post. In fact, they fill up the archives, so don t just take my word for it. Please take advantage of the many, many posts about the Prodigy and click the " search"  button in the top right portion of your screen.
 
 The Prodigy is worth every dollar it costs. I don t get really fanatical about many products, but this is one of them. []

[gsm x2]

 CathyAnn
When I purchased my pop-up the people who installed my brake controller and tow hitch recommended I UPGRADE to the Draw-Tite Activator II.  So I did.
 
 I would set it at 2.5 and things seemed to go well, until I pulled into the campground and manuevered at slow speed.  The brakes would bind and jerk.  I would eventually turn the controller down to 0.0, essentially disabling it to pull into my space.
 
 Then I learned about these boards and heard about the Tekonsha Prodigy.  When we bought our new vehicle, I splurged and brought the Prodigy.  I followed the instructions on how to set it.  I set it and have been braking smoothly and effectively in every situation.
 
 Besides--it looks cool.
 
 gsm x2

[mike4947]

 CathyAnn
While there are serveral brands and model that are " good enough"  only the Prodigy model by Tekonsha is self leveling (meaning you can install it at most any angle and doesn t get affect by going up and down hills like cheaper models) and it s fully proportional (it matches the braking force of the PU to the TV; light touch on the brakes light braking on the PU, lock em up emergency, full braking on the PU) It also has a boost control which allows for a little extra braking when you first hit the brake pedal to prevent the clunk cheaper and non inertial controller have while the PU brake catch up with the TV brakes.
 IMHO there is no other controller to even consider and I ve used a lot of different ones over the years.

[Camping Coxes]

 CathyAnn
I just want to say you guys are the greatest.  We are in the same place as Cathy and I ve been printing out all this advice and giving it to my DH to consider.  It s been so helpful to him to hear it from people with much more experience with this than we have.  We were towing an 8  Rockwood, so the 12  Coleman is changing how we do things.  Thanks so much for helping all of us who had no idea we needed this stuff.[]

[tlhdoc]

 CathyAnn
I had another brake controller for 3 years and it was a pain in the a##.  I bought my Prodigy a little over a year ago and love it.[]

[AustinBoston]

 CathyAnn
Yea.
 
 We used the Tekonsha Voyager for a couple years, when I had the opportunity to get a Tekonsha Prodigy for well below cost.  It s worth many times what I paid for it.
 
 There is only one controller that might be better.  That is the Jordan Ultima.  It works by sensing the movement of the brake pedal instead of sensing the deceleration of the tow vehicle.  The problems with the Ultima are, I believe they are more expensive, they can t be put in all vehicles, and they are difficult to install.  Also, unlike the Prodigy, the Ultima can t be pulled out and plugged into a second tow vehicle.
 
 Ge the Prodigy.  You won t regret it.
 
 Austin

[CathyAnn]

 CathyAnn
Everybody!  Thank you sooo much.  Trina was right, you are awesome.
 
 I think I got my 30 bucks worth just from this post.  Your advice is invaluable.
 
 
 
 
 One happy camper-
 CathyAnn

[birol]

 CathyAnn
They are good

[campertime]

 CathyAnn
Overheard in a test crash facility
 
 CamperDummy1: " Ooooh those guys are in pieces, look at that trailer!"
 
 CamperDummy2: " Yeah the tow vehicle s a wreck too."
 
 CamperDummy1: " It s gonna take that crew hours to pick up all those clothes."
 
 CamperDummy2: " Glad our Test Vehicle had a Prodigy."
 
 CamperDummy1: " Yeah, Prodigy is the only way to go. See ya next weekend."
 
 []

[wynot]

 CathyAnn
Easy to install, set and forget.
 
 IT IS THAT EASY!!
 
 Take everything else and toss it out.

[SheBantam]

 CathyAnn
I get mine next week, well I actually already have it but when I saw wires were spliced for the old controller, I got scared. So I am letting my dealer do it when they do the bearings next week.  I ll let you know on the 19th or 20th, depending on weather, when I pick it up.
 
 Camping world has/had them on sale for $125 w/presid club discount.