RE: OK, I Got the Prodigy.....Now What?

[C. Hains]

 
I got a Class III hitch and the Prodigy Brake Controller installed on my new TV today.  Now I guess I have to hook it up to the camper and adjust the darn thing!  I have the directions -- I ve even read them![]  Any tips for me from those of you who have done this?  If you do have tips -- use the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid.) I am a slow learner but I get there eventually!
 Does it ever worry anyone that there are people out here like me who don t have a clue as to what they are doing hauling a ton and a half or so behind a tow vehicle?!! []  Just curious!
 Thanks.

[tlhdoc]

 C. Hains
Set the Prodgy at the level the directions say
 Find an empty parking lot to adjust the setting
 Warm the trailer brakes up by applying them slightly while driving
 Drive about 25 (or what speed is recommended) and then apply the trailer brakes with the hand lever
 If they lock up lower the setting on the controller
 If they don t lock up raise the setting on the controller and repeat until they do then lower it just a little bit so it is just below locking up
 
 I hope this helps.

[wahoonc]

 C. Hains
I started with a setting of 6  with no boost. It ended up at about 5.2 no boost after the test braking. Be glad you don t have one of the old style I was allways fiddling with it to keep the brakes from locking up in city traffic.[&:]  Once it is set you shouldn t have to mess with it again.
 
 Aaron[]

[Tim5055]

 C. Hains
I m glad you asked this.  I switched out the Voyager with a new Prodigy over the weekend, but have not adjusted it yet.  I ll probably pull it out of the garage this weekend and adjust.
 
 Thanks for the help

[AustinBoston]

 C. Hains

ORIGINAL:  C. Hains
 Does it ever worry anyone that there are people out here like me who don t have a clue as to what they are doing hauling a ton and a half or so behind a tow vehicle?!! []  Just curious!
 Thanks.
 

 Yes, it worries me a little, but there was a point with each of us that we had no clue what we were doing.  The dangerous ones are the ones who don t know they have no clue what they are doing.
 
 It is important to warm the brakes some before setting the controller.  Make some preliminary adjustments (described above), but then drive around for ten miles or so and adjust them again.  Most likely, you will need to turn the sensitivity down after driving for a while.
 
 If your trailer and brakes are new, you may need to adjust them frequently until the brake shoes are fully seated to the drums (I think it s called arcing??).
 
 If, after some time, you find yourself tunring the controller up (for example, if 6.2 was always good enough, but now it s at 7.0) then the brakes themselves may need service.  There are mechanical adjustments on electric brakes that have to be performed from time to time (usually every 3,000 miles or once a year).  And if you tow your trailer a lot, eventually the shoes will need to be replaced.
 
 Switching from a Tekonsha Voyager to a Tekonsha Prodigy was one of the smarter things I ve done.
 
 Austin

[wynot]

 C. Hains
Good advice as always.
 
 In our case, I knew the brakes were rust free, so I adjusted them prior to setting the Prodigy.
 
 I tried to set per the directions, but never achieved lockup, probably because there was an aggressiveness point which I didn t want to exceed.
 
 Long story shorter, my brakes are set where they work just fine and have great braking feel.  Even though it probably isn t true in reality, it feels as though the rig stops in the same distance as without the camper.
 
 I would recommend trying the different Boost settings to decide if you want it or not.  Boost level 1 works well for our Tahoe/Utah combo.