I've towed lots of trailers with no brakes or surge brakes, but never with electrics.

I'm about to buy a 14' or 16' tandem axle trailer with electric brakes. I'll obviously need a brake controller, but I have no idea how they work or what to look for. I won't blindly trust the salesman, and figured that you guys would know far more than he does.

What should I look at to learn the most?
What brands are the ones to use/avoid?

The sales guy quoted me $160 installed, but wasn't sure what brand it was. He claimed it's "one of the good ones".

Also, ant good trailer dealers in Southern Oregon near I-5?

Thanks,
Tackett

 

If you do search in this heading for "brake controllers", you will find threads ad nauseum concerning controllers. Everyone has their own idea, but try a couple threads and you will find out everything you ever wanted to know about controllers. There are really only three to consider.

Here is a thread to get you started.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ake+controller

Have fun,
Bob

 

Bob, you got all over that one right quick.....

"Brakesmartless Bob" thinks you should get a Jordan, Other threads will try to sell the Brakesmart as the best. Jordan 2020 is also a great controller. Both are proportional controllers. If those are both out of range for your budget, the Prodigy is also a very good controller. Bottom of the barrel are the simple time based controllers (cheap controllers but far better and safer than nothing).

Good luck.
-Trey

 

I ran a Prodigy in my 96' and my 06'. Very please with the performance. Never ran the Jordan. It should be plug and play. Might be 1/2hr of your time for total install if you order the model specific pigtail with the Prodigy.

 

1. Brake$mart if you want to pay the $$$ for the best

2. Jordan Ultima 2020 for a reasonably priced alternative

3. The rest aren't worth installing - and, yes, I've run the ramped time-based and inertial controllers

Rusty

 

Thanks for the replies - the Jordan looks like the way to go.

Tackett

 

I guess Ill be the first to chime in and say that a Primus or Prodigy from Tekonsha are very, very excellent brake controllers.