I am having a gooseneck plate installed next week and I have been looking for trailer brake controllers. I have a buddy who worked at the Big Tex MFG where I lived, installing plates and wiring brakes for customers who bought trailers from them. He recommended the Draw Tite 5500 saying it has the least problems and you can mount it however you want. I did some research and learned this is a TIMED brake controller and seen many reviews saying these types of controllers are junk. I looked at the pendulum style controllers and see where many people claim they are quicker to apply brakes, but that they are not so good on older trucks, esp if the truck has weak brakes. The last style I am considering is a motion sensor system (prodigy) where it claims it doesnt use a pendulum or brakes just senses vehicle motion. So with all that I figured the best option would be to see what type most of you haulers are using. I will be pulling a 35 ft trailer loaded with anywhere from 7-17000 lbs usually atleast 100 miles one way. Also what is the weight limit on a single wheel 3/4 4x4?

 

Here is my 2 cents, buy a MaxBrake. Its a truly proportional brake controller, ties into your hydraulic brake line. The harder you press on the brake, the harder the brakes are applied. I NEVER knew electric brakes could be so smooth AND powerful. There is a reason I took my maxbrake with me when I traded trucks. Also, the service is incredible. Its a little expensive, but if you tow regularly, even if you don't, you will not be disappointed.

 

I have a Prodigy that I paid about $160 for that I've used for over 100,000 miles and have been very happy with. That MaxBrake sounds even better, but with the size of trailer you're hauling I wouldn't go with less than a Prodigy style.

 

Thanks

 

Go with the max brake ! I have a prodigy and a p3 and a friends got a max brake you cant compare them !

 

the maxbrake or smartbrake is a 100x better than the others

 

My 89 has the one that ties into the brake line, to bad I never tow with it. I do think those styles offer the best feel. The other ones can be jumpy or not apply enough brakes. It seems those styles are either skidding or not working.

 

I have a prodigy on mine and i've pulled 32 footers all over and haven't had any problems. I don't wait until the last minute to stop because sometimes i'm a tad overloaded.....

 

How often will you be towing?

The Smartbrake or Maxbrake are definitely better setups, but they are not cost effective for someone only towing occasionally. If you're towing twice a month or more, I'd spend the $$$ for the better Smartbrake/Maxbrake. Otherwise, I'd look into the Tekonsha P3.

 

Maxbrake is the top of the line. I don't feel it's 100% necessary to have that one, but I wouldn't bother with anything less than the Prodigy. The pendulum units are jerky, somewhat inconsistent, and have moving parts that wear out. The time-based units are at the bottom of the heap.

 

You mean added safety is not cost effective??
One fender bender avoided will pay for the difference in price between the best & second best.
Brake related hardware is not the place to cheap out.

 

Proportional trailer braking is worth the extra money. The first time you get yourself into a shituation remember that...

 

Looks like I will probably go with the Prodigy controller. Stopped by a trailer place today and they recommended that and the P3. The guy told me that he would recomend the Prodigy over the P3 just becuase he has had more positive feedback about it. I also talked to my father in law, who has a 1st gen and uses the prodigy. He hauls often and usually heavy and has been hauling hay and other junk since he was a kid and claims its his favorite of any one he has used. I will only be hauling every couple of months unless I just haul something around town.

 

Well, I bought an old Kelsey Hayes controller on ebay, for about $30 bucks, NIB. It taps into the rear brake line (a "trailer brake tee") at the master cylinder, and works almost as well as a Maxbrake or Smartbrake. Certainly better than any other style of controller. If I remember correctly, they use a metal bellows inside, which I suppose could fail someday, but I have never seen it happen on the three units I've used (two of which are over 50, now). These units won't work on newer vehicles with ABS, as they require just enough fluid volume to effect the ABS sensor readings, but they work just fine on our trucks, even with the rear ABS. I wouldn't bother with a controller that didn't operate off of brake line pressure.

The problem with this suggestion, of course, is finding one.

 

What you have there is good old fashioned proportional trailer braking and that is good stuff. I have that on my 83' D350 right now and have had them on several trucks in the past. $30 bucks is hard to beat for that type of controller. IIRC the last time I looked at hydraulic controllers they were 4-500.00 bucks.

Another good controller for the money is a Jordan Ultima.