Brake Boosters (trailer controllers).

[mike_beecham]

Hi All,
Thinking of installing this in the Defender.
Anyone got one?
Thoughts?

eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300844438063'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649)

Mike

[Marty110]

Hi Mike, I have this in my Defender - it is an excellent and easy to use item. I tow my work trailer and a small off road van both with electric brakes and this unit does the job well - the only adjustment is the knob - quick, easy. The red over-ride button works well too. I installed on the panel to the left of the steering wheel - see pic.

[justinc]

Very good reliable and cheap. They haven't the features of Tekonsha etc and The Tekonsha P3 is supposed to be the bees knees but the EBRH is so simple and functional it is hard to beat. I have one but not had time to fit it etc etc...

JC

[sniegy]

If your towing anything over 2200kg, I would opt for an inertia version, something like a Tekonsha Prodigy P3.

These have progressive braking as the Red Arc unit does not.

Saying that I have a Red Arc in my D4 & have not had any issues at all.

Cheers

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hi Mike

To back up what sniegy suggests, the ones with the advanced decelerometer technology will apply increasing current to the trailer syncronised with the G forces in the car, the greater the braking G force the more current.

Simple controllers only apply the same braking current each time you apply the brakes depending upon the setting of the knob.

Most of the time it does not matter which type, however in emergency stops it makes a lot of difference. An example was one day cruising along the highway at 100KPH with about 3 ton on a float behind when I crested a rise only to find traffic stopped just in front of me. Without braking on both trailer axles and a Prodigy I would have been into the rear of the line of traffic.

When considering the type, the Tekonsha Prodigy and Prodigy 2 have a shape with the display and control wheel on the top, that lends itself to mounting on top of the dash or centre console of some models, where the Tekonsha P3 model which has the display plus all controls at one end is ideal for mounting under the dash where you can see it through the steering wheel.

Diana

[mike_beecham]

Thanks for the replies.
The Tekonsha Prodigy P3 is $159 on eBay. Same price as the other unit l posted.

eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/281074540351'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

I get the feeling people think the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 is the better option.

Mike

[sniegy]

The P3 is a great unit, but again depends on what your towing & experience towing.

As said I have a RedArc remote head unit & I know how my vehicle tows & it does the job fine, if I had a dual axle trailer the P3 would be a must as the RedArc doesn't do multiple axles.

Cheers & good luck.

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[justinc]

The P3 is a great unit, but again depends on what your towing & experience towing.

As said I have a RedArc remote head unit & I know how my vehicle tows & it does the job fine, if I had a dual axle trailer the P3 would be a must as the RedArc doesn't do multiple axles.

Cheers & good luck.

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Pete, it actually does up to 3 axles , i have seen them used with big tandem vans succesfully, apart from the lack of g force sensitivity like the p3 etc, they are ideal for defenders etc as they don't add to any clutter on / in the dash:)

jc

[SimonM]

I have the redarc remote unit as well, has served me well.

[Epic]

I've been trying to research the options for my D4 and have been totally confused. It stems from who you talk too I think.
I have a bloke at a shop today tell me that they all do the same thing and that none of them have a progressive braking action. Reading this thread tells me otherwise.
Most on this forum suggests that the P3 is the way to go where as a very shop I've spoken to in Adelaide, including the LR dealer suggest redarc.
I am only going to be towing a Jayco camper. That with gear should be under 1.5 tonne.
I'm steering towards the prodigy or P3 mounted above my left knee. Unless someone tells me otherwise.....

[Epic]

Adding to that, I also was told today that with a light van, the redarc, even on its lowest setting appears to be too aggressive.
They also said that the P3 has a second or two delay for it to squeeze the van brakes.
They recommend the prodigy (which they call P2???) for my light setup.

[Ferret]

Fitted a RedArc unit to a D4 yesterday and towed home a light (850kg) camper trailer today. I would not say it was aggressive at all. Not really experienced at towing but I had no complaints about how it performed.

Edit: - I bought from that eBay seller also.

[Gillie]

I have one in the hilux and tow a camper with it. I bought it from the same bloke off ebay. Easy to install, easy to setup and I have been very happy with it. I did the research and opted for this over the P3. The father inlaw has just installed one in the jeep. He has a two tonne van. I rang the bloke at Bairnsdale and he was very helpful. His comment was they are great for the lighter trailers but he would go the P3 for the heavier vans.
for ease of install and looks this is a great unit. I run mine around setting 2 or 3. The only problem I have had with it was once when fiddling around I knocked the button and the cruise control cancelled. The button is a microswitch as well to apply brakes. The other problem was trying to change the volume on the uhf. It does not change the volumeon the uhf no matter how much you turn it. :D

[POD]

I have the P2 mounted on the small shelf above my right knee in the 130. It is a brilliant setup, progressive braking with selectable levels of initial braking before the inertia kicks in. I believe the P3 is incompatible with electric -over-hydraulic brake setups (which is what I have on my camper, using Range Rover front discs and calipers). Haven't had a chance to test it since changing over to the defender, but with the Rangie, the vehicle stopped better with the fully loaded trailer than when not towing.

[sniegy]

Pete, it actually does up to 3 axles , i have seen them used with big tandem vans succesfully, apart from the lack of g force sensitivity like the p3 etc, they are ideal for defenders etc as they don't add to any clutter on / in the dash:)

jc

Hmmm!
Will do some research then !

My bad!

I was to the understanding that it didn't do multiple axles at all, maybe should of been "as well?" Instead of "at all?"
I have 3 to fit this week so will do some reading.

Thanks JC.

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[Lotz-A-Landies]

Adding to that, I also was told today that with a light van, the redarc, even on its lowest setting appears to be too aggressive.
They also said that the P3 has a second or two delay for it to squeeze the van brakes.
They recommend the prodigy (which they call P2???) for my light setup.There are a number of controllers in the Tekonsha Prodigy range, the original unit was called the Prodigy, the upgraded model became the Prodigy P2, there is also the Prodigy RF in the USA but unfortunately it does not comply with ADR because it does not apply the trailer brakes when manual override is used.

The P3 controller on the other hand is not named Prodigy in any of the Tekonsha literature. http://www.tekonsha.com/content/products.aspx (http://www.tekonsha.com/content/products.aspx?lvl=2&parentid=1400&catID=1435&part=0)

Diana