Trailer brake controller

[mtb_gary]

What trailer brake controllers is everyone running? Are you happy with the installation and performance? Given the choice to start again which would you choose?

[Stuart02]

Elecbrakes. Wireless so don't need to hardwire the car. Happy camper, literally:)

[mtb_gary]

That sounds ideal

[101RRS]

I just drove from Canberra to Ballarat and back this week towing a car trailer with car - all up about 2.8t with my RRS using Elecbrakes. Worked well but I think the controller on the trailer might have got water in it with all the rain and a few times applied the brakes by itself - turning off power to it (it is powered by the lighting system on the car and trailer) reset the controller brain and was all good - you know when the brakes come on via the app the phone which shows a large red dot when the brakes are on so turning off the headlights and then back on reboots the system and all good.

For my own trailers I just have a portable system which has a standard proportional G force controller. There is a plug/socket that goes between the car trailer socket and the trailer that picks up the brake light signal and in the cabin the controller just plugs into the front 12v socket. I just lay the cable between the front seats and console - across the rear floor, between the split seats and into the boot area and out the bottom of the tailgate door - works fine and I do not have a permanently mounted controller. Takes about 5 minutes to set up.

However if I towed a lot and only used one trailer I would consider the Electbrakes system.

[Tote]

I've got a tekonsha and a breakaway fitted on my trailer and was considering upgrading an elecbrakes unit as the breakaway needs replacing for the second time due to deteroration from the weather. That would allow me to pull the trailer with the RRS without fitting a controller but $650.00 isn't cheap compared to $100.00 for a new battery box.
I've used the elecbrakes unit and it works pretty well. A possible downside is that it makes it easier for random mates to borrow your trailer whereas now the conversation usually ends with "so do you have a brake controller in your car?"

Regards,
Tote

[Stuart02]

Haha yes borrow-ability is an issue! I figured sinking the cost in the trailer was better cos I'm likely to have it longer than the car so would just have to keep wiring up vehicles

[PhilipA]

I am happy with this one.
TEKONSHA PRIMUS IQ BRAKE CONTROLLER 12V 1 - 3 AXLE 90160 CARAVAN BOAT TRAILER 783192023445 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/114714263972?epid=1188743392&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item1ab580c1a4:g:CmUAAOSwKcRgmlZU&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkP rKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSR84A%252FGMxXIqJzFmDq6lDLmuB81x 3Dzn9VDM4TFNTbOpHBo54xcR6H6w5hfnMbytIm6giENzcaCczb rqNOqST4DZlJM1P0Mn7oY1j8bqoZa4Q5WoQI7n8KWv5OgyWqdH if%252Fmnnvpi1tBzyceZgpeOwZaieYqA8%252FRo9h7P3pIkf RPj1vH5pqGNyWD7A%252F4kIMiscspIapCFLjt%252Fy9GsSGt CjqKiCRe%252FYyqUcOsseNQlDPDXSxTZQRAotpYxqMH4Gp13g ySnTRvH%252ByZ51P2N254VAHKLjkLF4RbVYkhNwZ%252Baguk %252F7VxXVXSsXoqKa2898L4cgpEElKCbtCejM9Ta5cHDqAEBO IkrLyw5o71zbY%252FtUo4Opp66y2a20YetEOyQCgmloC53hOP GqLrE7DBCEnAXwJRxlQySatTV5TX%252B5EyKp5%252BehdwRa OmeQXdOxZsjyPbRj%252BuZBZWlFIOX6V0f0PdlsoSNGT5CH2V xIaUeyydBC6467FaciMNhEbK4IcOXMnWPewKqP6LJCPLe2525w RtclbEtYwnP8uWEeqkQn5yBOGmyWtZyq9a9eD9DC8VSenauQpM 2W3OOPrqeKYzWGwGkVKLQy1NuLcWz5fIlqBSeB0fneCeAy4Njc 9e0ZdEAHlutYKlom1LTY0T8V7TcJSD1et3cQAOYyiWBGuNui9C 3ZeDmqyld751Srh3cwOBLRi01J%252FnljhkLGq3au%252BVrS t7sT4ENU8xyvgcFkbyePTFtOc53%252F%252Fk61JI56Hk9r3O NsIzWbH2X3jN%252FSUb6d8Y%252FhhDxjH9uJxxANRkIGbQhd UJ2lO5ymo8uQFoFl%252F0BrVpXH4Aw6u3JrAV9wiFLHDQ1mMb lCQ%253D%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBMwPuY3e5f )
One of the cheapest but effective on my D2, and would be on a P38 as long as you have a position within 30dgrees of horizontal. Mine in under the dash on the LH side of the steering column.

Regards PhilipA

[mtb_gary]

I am happy with this one.
TEKONSHA PRIMUS IQ BRAKE CONTROLLER 12V 1 - 3 AXLE 90160 CARAVAN BOAT TRAILER 783192023445 | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/114714263972?epid=1188743392&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item1ab580c1a4:g:CmUAAOSwKcRgmlZU&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkP rKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSR84A%252FGMxXIqJzFmDq6lDLmuB81x 3Dzn9VDM4TFNTbOpHBo54xcR6H6w5hfnMbytIm6giENzcaCczb rqNOqST4DZlJM1P0Mn7oY1j8bqoZa4Q5WoQI7n8KWv5OgyWqdH if%252Fmnnvpi1tBzyceZgpeOwZaieYqA8%252FRo9h7P3pIkf RPj1vH5pqGNyWD7A%252F4kIMiscspIapCFLjt%252Fy9GsSGt CjqKiCRe%252FYyqUcOsseNQlDPDXSxTZQRAotpYxqMH4Gp13g ySnTRvH%252ByZ51P2N254VAHKLjkLF4RbVYkhNwZ%252Baguk %252F7VxXVXSsXoqKa2898L4cgpEElKCbtCejM9Ta5cHDqAEBO IkrLyw5o71zbY%252FtUo4Opp66y2a20YetEOyQCgmloC53hOP GqLrE7DBCEnAXwJRxlQySatTV5TX%252B5EyKp5%252BehdwRa OmeQXdOxZsjyPbRj%252BuZBZWlFIOX6V0f0PdlsoSNGT5CH2V xIaUeyydBC6467FaciMNhEbK4IcOXMnWPewKqP6LJCPLe2525w RtclbEtYwnP8uWEeqkQn5yBOGmyWtZyq9a9eD9DC8VSenauQpM 2W3OOPrqeKYzWGwGkVKLQy1NuLcWz5fIlqBSeB0fneCeAy4Njc 9e0ZdEAHlutYKlom1LTY0T8V7TcJSD1et3cQAOYyiWBGuNui9C 3ZeDmqyld751Srh3cwOBLRi01J%252FnljhkLGq3au%252BVrS t7sT4ENU8xyvgcFkbyePTFtOc53%252F%252Fk61JI56Hk9r3O NsIzWbH2X3jN%252FSUb6d8Y%252FhhDxjH9uJxxANRkIGbQhd UJ2lO5ymo8uQFoFl%252F0BrVpXH4Aw6u3JrAV9wiFLHDQ1mMb lCQ%253D%253D%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBMwPuY3e5f )
One of the cheapest but effective on my D2, and would be on a P38 as long as you have a position within 30dgrees of horizontal. Mine in under the dash on the LH side of the steering column.

Regards PhilipA

I'm now driving a RRS TDV8

[PhilipA]

I'm now driving a RRS TDV8

No difference as long as you have a mounting point.

While I have powered mine from a piggyback fuse, you may have to source power from a second battery directly.
Regards PhilipA

[hisnhers]

I have a elecbrakes unit. Only used it on a Patrol to tow our caravan, and it works brilliantly!


We bought it because we were in the market for a new car, and not all the cars had electric brakes but we needed to tow our caravan with a borrowed Patrol. I'm glad we did, because I would hate to mess the interior of the RRS up, it's too pretty! Same reason why I'm not getting a UHF installed, will stick with a handheld unit.