Brake Controller - Prodigy vs. Voyager

[lbffl]

Had our PDI last week and are set to pick up on April 5. During that time, we will have a final walkthru while the service department will be installing the brake controller, WDH and sway control. The WDH is an equalizer. The brake controller will be a Voyager unless I want to upgrade to a Prodigy which is an additional $60 US. Is it worth it?

[chasd60]

I have a Voyager and it works fine. I think one of the biggest advantages to the Prodigy is that they work in reverse.

[JonesFamilyJayco]

I have a Prodigy for my travel trailer and it is very smooth. Every thing about it is automatic and it does a great job adusting the necessary brake pressure.  We also dry camp in our pop-up, but it is small enough not to need a brake controller.

Just from my experence, I would recommend the Prodigy.

[PopupSgt]

We also have the Prodigy and would highly recommend it, you can get the controller from camping world instead of thru the dealer, you might want to check their price.  Also //www.etrailer.com has the controller for $129.95 so you can compare prices.  We really love this controller and the way it stops our camper, we've set it 1 time and have not touched it again.

Regards,

[brainpause]

Somebody help me here...I'm living up to my Name/Handle:

You can get the prodigy for $99.00 or thereabouts at a website that is escaping me right now. I keep thinking it is RVWholesaler.com, but that website isn't working right now.

HELP

Larry

[gsm x2]

I had another type of brake controller, then upgraded to the Prodigy after reading its praises on this board.  Never looked back.  For $60.00, I would upgrade in a second.
 
 Biggest disadvantage of the other controller.  The setting that worked on the highway would jerk the trailer and tow vehicle as I moved around the campground.  I would just turn it off...which isn't terrible, but for $60.00, why not get something that works better and doesn't need to be turned off and on.
 
 gsm x2

[PopupSgt]

Somebody help me here...I'm living up to my Name/Handle:

You can get the prodigy for $99.00 or thereabouts at a website that is escaping me right now. I keep thinking it is RVWholesaler.com, but that website isn't working right now.

HELP

Larry

Larry you are correct, here is the website:  http://rvwholesalers.com/catalog/home.php  the price is $99.99

[/b]

[chasd60]

www.rvwholesalers.com You left out the "s"

[brainpause]

Larry you are correct, here is the website:  http://rvwholesalers.com/catalog/home.php  the price is $99.99

[/b]

oops. forgot the "s", I guess.

Larry

[GeneF]

I have had three controllers and the Prodigy is the one I like the most.  Set it and forget it.  On our long trip, I adjusted it one time when we were going through some mountains.  I wanted a bit more aggressive braking going down some of the long grades.

The other feature I like is that it will give you some diagnostic codes or at least alert you to some types of problems.

Try the link below for more info on it.

http://www.tekonsha.com/prodig.html

[hoppy]

One vote for the "Voyager".

 My dealer installed this model, and I have never had any problems with it since the day it was installed.

 I never had the "Prodigy", so I don't know what I am missing.

I can say that when I step on the TV brake, the trailer brake engages also very smoothly. (This was the main reason for the purchase of a controller to begin with)

 When I travel to and from the campground using the interstate, my speed range is between 55-70 MPH. In the campground my average speed is around 15 MPH, and back up the trailer into the sites that have a steep down hill grade. This controller works perfectly in all these situations.

[mikeyork]

rjays.com has it for $99.99 as well.

I've had both, no problems with either one.  But the Prodigy is the simplest.

http://rjays.com/Tekonsha/prodigy-01.htm

[Steve-o-bud]

Need some Advice. We have got a new (actually used) tow vehicle...89 Suburban, 3/4 ton, 7.4L V-8 motor.
 
Today, I installed the 7 pin plug. I purchased a Voyager brake controller. Hooked it up as follows:
 
Black Wire, Connection to 12 Volts supply (via circuit breaker).
White Wire, Ground.
Red Wire, Connection to brake switch.
Blue Wire, output to trailer brakes.
 
Without hooking it up to the trailer (which is not readily handy right now), I tested it. It is producing a constant, full 12 volts output to the trailer brake. This is without the manual control lever being activated.
 
Also, when the manual control lever is activated, it does not activate the vehicle brake lights.
 
Any thoughts as to what might be the problem? I'm thinking the unit is bad.

[griffsmom]

I had another type of brake controller, then upgraded to the Prodigy after reading its praises on this board. Never looked back. For $60.00, I would upgrade in a second.
 
 Biggest disadvantage of the other controller. The setting that worked on the highway would jerk the trailer and tow vehicle as I moved around the campground. I would just turn it off...which isn't terrible, but for $60.00, why not get something that works better and doesn't need to be turned off and on.
 
  gsm x2

Ditto what Scott said!  I don't know what we had before the prodigy, but my DH was forever messing with it and jerking the TV and trailer around something awful until he was able to get it just right.  The prodigy has been "Fuss-and-jerk-free"  I'd go with the prodigy, if it were my $60.00.
 
 Steve-O--you might also check the connection wires.  We had some trouble intially when our prodigy was installed and IIRC, I think it was in the wiring.  Just a thought, but I really know nothing about these things.  Wish I could hlep you more.

[Steve-o-bud]

Need some Advice. We have got a new (actually used) tow vehicle...89 Suburban, 3/4 ton, 7.4L V-8 motor.
 
Today, I installed the 7 pin plug. I purchased a Voyager brake controller. Hooked it up as follows:
 
Black Wire, Connection to 12 Volts supply (via circuit breaker).
White Wire, Ground.
Red Wire, Connection to brake switch.
Blue Wire, output to trailer brakes.
 
Without hooking it up to the trailer (which is not readily handy right now), I tested it. It is producing a constant, full 12 volts output to the trailer brake. This is without the manual control lever being activated.
 
Also, when the manual control lever is activated, it does not activate the vehicle brake lights.
 
Any thoughts as to what might be the problem? I'm thinking the unit is bad.

Ok, I figured it out,and will share what I learned for others' benefit...
 
The unit will not work correctly unless the trailer brakes, or some other load, is connected to the brake controller.
 
The instructions state that when the trailer is connected, the LED should shine green. So, I took a 12 volt test lamp (bug lamp), and hooked it up to the brake output (blue wire) of the controller. The bug lamp essentially substituting for the actual trailer brakes. Viola! LED on the unit went green! Next test, the test lamp glowed in porportion to the the amount that I moved the manual slide control! I repeated the test at the connector at the hitch, and it works AOK.
 
But... I think I'm going to attempt to trade the controller for the Prodigy model, I think I will appreciate the digital indication of how much power is being applied to the trailer brakes.