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  1. Trailer Brake Controller
  2. CURT
  3. Electric
  4. Electric over Hydraulic
  5. Proportional Controller
  6. Up to 4 Axles
Curt Spectrum Brake Controller w/ Custom Harness - Dash Mounted Knob - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

Curt Spectrum Brake Controller w/ Custom Harness - Dash Mounted Knob - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

Item # C69QV
Our Price: $252.94
Trailer Brake Controller
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Mount the control knob of this proportional brake controller on your dash for a from-the-factory look, and install the main unit out of sight behind the dash in any position or angle. Adhesive backing gives you the option of a drill-free install. Great Prices for the best trailer brake controller from CURT. Curt Spectrum Brake Controller w/ Custom Harness - Dash Mounted Knob - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional part number C69QV can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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CURT Trailer Brake Controller - C69QV

  • Electric
  • Electric over Hydraulic
  • Proportional Controller
  • Up to 4 Axles
  • CURT
  • Dash-Mounted Knob
  • Hidden
  • Automatic Leveling
  • Up to 360 Degrees
  • Indicator Lights

Mount the control knob of this proportional brake controller on your dash for a from-the-factory look, and install the main unit out of sight behind the dash in any position or angle. Adhesive backing gives you the option of a drill-free install.


Features:

  • Brake controller activates trailer brakes in proportion to your vehicle's braking action
    • Automatically adjusts trailer's braking based on deceleration of tow vehicle
  • Dash-mounted knob keeps your vehicle interior looking sleek while giving you easy access to the brake controller
    • Lets you adjust braking output and sensitivity with the turn of a dial
    • Gives you a manual override at your fingertips
    • Offers simple diagnostics with colored LED indicators
    • Mounts to dash with included screw, or you can use the included adhesive pads for a drill-free installation
  • Main unit installs out of sight behind the dash in any position, direction, and angle
    • No more banging your knee on a bulky controller
    • No interference with airbags or other vehicle accessories
    • No complicated wiring - custom-fit harness lets you plug in and go
  • Compatible with ABS brakes, cruise control, low-voltage wiring, multiplex wiring, and PWM systems
  • Assembled in the USA


Specs:

  • Application: trailers with up to 4 axles (8 brake assemblies)
    • Compatible with electric or electric-over-hydraulic trailer brakes
  • Main unit dimensions: 3" long x 3-1/2" wide x 7/8" tall
  • Control knob dimensions:
    • Extension: 1-1/2"
    • Diameter: 1-3/4"
  • Cable length: 4'
  • Warranty:
    • Limited lifetime on brake controller
    • Limited 1-year on wiring harness


The Curt Spectrum brake controller is all about easy installation and keeping the interior of your vehicle clutter-free. With the main unit mounted out of sight behind the dash, all you need is the control knob to operate the settings on the brake controller. You won't be banging your knee on a bulky controller or ruining the sleek look of your interior.


Curt Spectrum Operation

The Spectrum's dash-mounted knob puts control of your trailer's brakes at your fingertips. In addition to giving you fast, simple power adjustment and a manual override, it has colored LED indicators to offer diagnostics and let you know what the brake controller is doing at a glance.


Curt Spectrum Dash-Mounted Knob

The Spectrum has a full menu available in the control knob so you can get your settings just right. To switch between modes, press the control button in the center of the knob. Each mode has its own distinct LED display with several different colors and patterns to eliminate any guesswork as you cycle through.


Curt Spectrum LED diagnostics

Output: Braking output is the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. How much braking output you need is determined by the weight of your trailer; a heavier trailer will need more power to bring it to a stop. You want to set the braking output as high as you can without locking up the brakes. Adjust the braking output by applying your brakes and turning the knob clockwise. Once you've set up the brake controller the first time, you shouldn't need to adjust the settings until the trailer load changes, you switch trailers, or road conditions change.


Sensitivity: This controls the aggressiveness of your trailer's braking, meaning how quickly the brakes reach the set output level. This is a great adjustment to make when you're towing a heavy load and the trailer will need more umph to bring it to a stop so it doesn't push your vehicle forward. If your vehicle takes too long to come to a stop, increase the setting. If it stops too abruptly, lower the setting. You may also need to adjust the sensitivity based on your own preferences, or when the trailer load or road conditions change.


Manual Override: The Curt Spectrum keeps the manual override within easy reach. The manual override functions as time-based for a slow reduction in trailer braking, great for stopping sway or controlling your trailer's momentum in an emergency. To engage the manual override, just press and hold the button on the control knob. This will activate the trailer's brakes and brake lights without you having to apply the brakes on your tow vehicle, perfect for limiting trailer movement while you're cruising.


Curt Spectrum review

Simple, Out-of-the-Way Installation

Unlike many proportional controllers on the market, the Curt Spectrum has almost no mounting restrictions. It comes in 2 pieces: the main unit and the control knob. Because the only part that you need to be able to access is the control knob, the main unit can be mounted out of sight and out of the way. You don't have to worry about banging your knee on a bulky brake controller or interfering with your vehicle's lower airbags.


Curt Spectrum Dash Knob

The dash-mounted control knob can be installed in any convenient spot that's easy for you to see and reach. This can be a blank switch panel, an open spot on your center console, or wherever there's space on your dashboard. Because the knob sits flush against the dash, you don't have to worry about clearance behind the dash when you're installing it either. You can either use the included screw to mount the knob or use the adhesive pad for a drill-free installation.


Curt Spectrum Install

Once you've decided where you want to put the control knob, you'll need to find a good place to install the main unit. Your only restriction is the 4' plug-in cable that has to be able to reach between the main unit and the control knob. Thanks to the 3-axis accelerometer, the main unit can be positioned at any angle or position. No matter how you install it, the unit will sense the direction of travel and its orientation.


The included custom-fit adapter plugs into the port on your vehicle's built-in brake control wiring harness, which you'll find underneath your vehicle's dashboard, to the right of your steering wheel. Once you're plugged into your factory port, just plug the other end of the adapter into the main unit. No hardwiring needed!


Note: If you don't already have a 7-way plug at the back of your vehicle, take a look at our exclusive 7- and 4-way brake controller installation kit (ETBC7 - sold separately).


Proportional Braking

What is proportional Braking

The Curt Spectrum brake controller comes equipped with proportional braking to give you the best towing experience. Proportional braking means that your trailer brakes mimic your tow vehicle's brakes. If you slam on the brakes in your vehicle, your trailer brakes will activate with the same intensity; if you brake lightly, your trailer brakes lightly too. The trailer's braking is in proportion to your vehicle's braking. This saves wear and tear on the tires and the brakes on both your vehicle and trailer.


The Spectrum uses an internal 3-axis accelerometer to sense how your vehicle is braking so it can send the right amount of braking power to your trailer. It measures the inertia of your tow vehicle and activates the trailer's brakes to ensure that your trailer slows at the same rate. The result is uniform braking across your towing setup. No push-pull action - just smooth, proportional braking every time.



51170 Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller - Dash Mounted Knob - Proportional - 1 to 4 Axles

51459 Curt Quick Plug Brake Control Adaptor Harness

Installation Details C69QV Installation instructionsAlternate Instructions C69QV Installation instructions



Video of Curt Spectrum Brake Controller w/ Custom Harness - Dash Mounted Knob - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.




Video Transcript for Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller Installation - 2020 Chevrolet Colorado

Ryan: How's it going Ryan here at etrailer.com. Today on our 2020 Chevrolet Colorado, we're going to be taking a look at and showing you how to install the Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller. The main thing that really separates this brake controller from many of the traditional style brake controllers like this is a couple of things. One, it's going to be really small and two, you're going to be able to pretty much mount this anywhere that you want and on a lot of today's newer modern vehicles, that dash space is really limited and can be really challenging to find a good spot to mount a brake controller like this that's out of the way, but yet still easy to use.There are other brake controllers that are similar in the design of this one and most of our customers specifically compare this one to the Redarc. I personally like this one a little bit better than the Redarc and that's because behind our knob here, there's going to be nothing behind it as compared to the Redarc, behind the knob, there's going to be a connector that comes out quite a ways. So, you're still somewhat limited on where you can mount that Redarc because you're going to have to have room behind the panel for that connector to fit.

And if you choose not to, this one doesn't require any drilling or anything like that. In our case, where we mounted it, we did drill one small hole to run our wire through. But if we chose to mount this a little further down or if you want to see a wire coming, all you'd have to do is stick this to the dash.Another thing that makes this really easy to use is the fact that it has automatic leveling, so what that means as soon as you plug into a trailer, this is going to automatically calibrate. You're not going to have to scroll through settings or go through the menu and select which trailer that you want. It's just going to do it for you.

The brake controller is going to work with trailers for up to one to four axles and it's also going to be proportional. What proportional means is the trailer brakes are going to apply at the same rate as how hard you apply the brakes inside the truck. That's just going to provide us with a smooth and predictable stop.The knob is going to have multiple modes as well as indicators that'll let us make some changes and let us know what's going on. For example, whenever you hook up to your trailer, it'll flash green letting us know that the connection has been made. Once it's done flashing green, that also lets us know that it's been calibrated.

Then whenever we disconnect from our trailer, it'll flash blue letting us know that we're unplugged. We're also going to have a few different settings. If we turn our knob, you'll see the LEDs go green to orange to red, and that's going to be the output control. And what that does is determine the maximum amount of power that's going to be available to the trailer brakes whenever we're braking. If you push the button down and hold it, that's going to be the manual override.

So, if you want to apply the trailer brakes manually, say in the event of a sway situation, you'd simply hold that down.That can be adjusted by holding it down and turning the knob and that'll control how hard the brakes will be applied. If you push the button again, we will get some blue lights that turn to purple and then red. That's going to be able to control the sensitivity and that's going to adjust how aggressive the trailer brakes are applied. If you push it again, it'll then be white. What that's going to do is to allow you to adjust the brightness. Here it's on full power, you'd probably use this setting whenever it's sunny outside that way you can see a little bit better, and then at nighttime you could always turn it down if that light's bothering you.So overall, a really simple, easy-to-use brake controller. It allows us just to hook up to our trailer and more or less be ready to hit the road since it automatically adjusts, but it's still going to give you that capability to fine tune it a little bit if you want to. And since it is so compact, it's going to help keep that nice, clean, factory look inside of our truck. We're not going to have to worry about the traditional style one that's big and bulky, taking up space, banging our knee on it. As far as the installation goes, it's just going to be a handful of wires that we have to hook up and it's really straightforward. You should have no problem doing it at home in the driveway or even your garage. Speaking of which, let's go ahead and put this on together now.Let's begin our installation. We're going to need to first locate our factory brake controller wiring. We're over here on the driver's side, in the front seat, and the brake controller wiring should be right here in this location, underneath this little threshold. We'll go ahead and pop that off and to do that what you can do is grab the end of it here and just pull it up. Just work it up and it'll pop off and we can just set it off to the side. If we follow some wiring up right here. With that panel out of the way, now we can see our factory brake controller wires. They're going to be just right here by our emergency brake pedal. There's going to be four of them. They're going to have some heat shrink on the end. They're also going to be taped to this thicker wiring harness. What I'm going to do is just cut that tape off.We're able to pull the wires further out to give us a little more room to work. Something I do just want to point out, if your truck doesn't have these factory brake controller wires, you are going to need to pick up an ETBC7 to get your install completed. However, chances are pretty good yours will have these as most of them on the road, at least in my experience, do. I went ahead and tested our wires here to make sure we know how each one functions. The black wire, that's going to be the ground. The red wire, it's going to have a little green stripe on it, that's actually going to be our 12 volt power. The blue wire, that's going to be the output, the brake controller. And then the white wire that has a thin blue stripe on it, that's going to be our brake signal. Now what we can do is cut this heat shrink off and get these prepared, that way we're able to hook up our adapter. I'm just going to trim off that heat shrink with a pair of snips.Then we can come back with a pair of wire strippers to strip off some of this insulation to expose the wiring underneath. Now what I'm going to do is take some heat shrink butt connectors, which you can find here at etrailer.com, and I'm going to crimp one of these on each end of our wire here. Twist them, slide that butt connector on, and crimp it down. I'm going to repeat that same process for the three remaining wires. Now what we're going to do is take our wiring adapter for Curt brake controllers and get these wires hooked up to the factory ones. You might think, naturally, that you would just hook these up color for color, but that's actually not the case. So, we'll run through which color goes to which wire right now.We will start with the blue one from our Curt adapter. That's going to go to the factory blue one, so those will actually match up. We'll grab the white one from our Curt adapter and that's going to connect to the factory black wire, so those two will go together. Then grab the black wire from our Curt connector and that's going to get connected to the factory red wire. And then we'll grab the red wire from our Curt adapter and that's going to get connected to the factory white and blue wire. These are going to get connected the same way that we put these butt connectors on. We'll just slide the wire in and crimp it down. I'll do that same thing to get our remaining wires all hooked up. Here's what our wiring is going to look like once we have it connected. Since I used heat shrink butt connectors, what I'm going to do is come in with a heat gun and shrink those ends.At this point, we need to figure out where we want to mount our knob. You want this out of the way, yet easy to see and easy to get to. A spot that I think is good is right here to the right of the steering wheel, on this panel. I'm thinking somewhere in this location. We are going to have to drill a small hole, that way we're able to run our wire through the dash and get it all connected. But before I just start drilling, it's a good idea to see what's behind this panel that way we don't accidentally drill into something of importance, so I'm going to lower this panel down to check that and on the bottom edge there's going to be two 7mm screws that's holding it in place. Once you have the screws out, what you can do is grab that panel and work it out.With it pulled back, there's nothing on the backside of the panel and there's really nothing in the way here that we have to worry about. There's also going to be a gap here that I think would work pretty good to run our wires through. I went ahead and marked the spot where we need to drill out a small hole, so I'm using a bit just a little bit bigger than the wire, that way we won't have any problem getting it pushed through. Once our hole is drilled, since we're using the adhesive to connect our knob to the dash, it's a good idea to really make sure this is nice and clean, that way it'll stick really well. I'm just going to use a little bit of rubbing alcohol to get that area really clean and nice and dry. Now we can take the wires here at the end of our control knob, we're going to feed those through the hole that we drilled.What I'm going to do before we actually mount our knob, is run these wires down by our brake controller adapter harness, down along through the dash here, and I'll do that and show you the path that I took to get there. Here's how I ran the wire. It comes out of the back of the knob and through this little opening here behind our panel and if you push it through there, that'll actually allow it to start to drop down here underneath the dashboard. Here's where our wiring comes down underneath the dash and I ran it along, ending right here where it'll be nice and easy to get everything hooked up. For the time being, we're not going to worry about completely securing our knob just yet, what we're going to focus on doing now is hooking up these wire ends to our plug connector. The way you're going to do this is take the wire and simply push them into those corresponding slots to get them all hooked up.The one that we're going to do first is this white wire and that's going to go into slot two, so more or less we're not going to be using the very end slots on each side. We'll take the white wire and push it all the way in and then just lightly pull back on it to make sure it's completely seated. There's going to be a little bit of movement, but that's not really a big deal. The next one after the white wire will be the green wire. Again, these are all going to work the same way. They are a little small, so you have to finesse it a little bit, get that plugged in. Now moving on from the green wire in that same direction that we're going, we're then going to plug in the brown wire. After that, the blue wire. Following that, will be the black wire and after the black one we'll plug in that red wire.This is what the wires are going to look like once they're all plugged into our connector and once we have them all plugged in, we can just flip it over and take this cap and close it down like that. Now we're going to grab our main module here and get this plugged in, that way we can figure out a spot to mount it. One end of it will simply plug into our wiring adapter. The other end we'll plug in our wiring that comes from our knob. At this point, you can look underneath the dash or somewhere out of the way that we're able to secure our module box. Here's where I mounted our module box and I did that using the included two-sided tape as well as a zip tie. From there, I just took all of our extra wiring that we had and tucked it off to the side and secured it to help clean up our install look. At this point, we can go ahead and resecure our dash panel and then we can go ahead and put back in place our threshold here.The weather stripping is supposed to go over the threshold, so you might have to work it up with your fingers. At this point, we can secure our knob to the dashboard, so we'll take the included two-sided sticky tape, pull one side back, put it in the center there, make sure it's pushed down, peel that other side off, and simply we'll just line it up how we want it, nice and straight, then push down to get it stuck to the dashboard.With everything hooked up, it's a good idea to test it to make sure it's working properly. You could either just hook up to your trailer or use a tester box like we have here today. Once you do plug it into your trailer, what you should see is some green lights that ramp up, and that'll indicate to us that the brake controller is calibrating itself to your trailer. Just to verify that this is sending a brake signal back to our trailer, what I'll do is manually override it and apply the brakes. To do that, we'll simply just push down and hold the center button. You can see it lighting up. We now have power to our brakes. That'll finish up our look at and our installation of the Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller on our 2020 Chevrolet Colorado.


by:

This is my 2nd purchase of Curt spectrum brake control. When installing the first device, I accidentally broke one of the 6 wires (wiring the plug connector to the led display knob). I tried to fix it but it didn't work for long. That's why I had to order a 2nd device. For the installation of the 2nd, I was very meticulous because the 6 wires are very fragile. I succeeded by taking my time and everything works very well. The Curt company would do well to manufacture this device more robustly. For looks, it's ok in my 2019 Honda Passport.

Ceci est mon 2e achat de Curt spectrum brake control. Lors de l'installation du premier appareil, j'ai par accident brisé un des 6 fils (wiring the plug connector to the led display knob). J'ai tenté de le réparer mais il n'a pas fonctionné longtemps. C'est pourquoi j'ai dû commander un 2e appareil. Pour la pose du 2e, j'ai été très minutieux car les 6 fils sont très fragiles. J'ai réussi en prenant mon temps et le tout fonctionne très bien. La compagnie Curt aurait intérêt à fabriquer cet appareil de façon plus robuste. Pour l'apparence ,c'est ok dans mon Honda Passport 2019.



by:

Works great. (Better than any standard brake controller ive used in the past) Easy plug and play operation
I chose to not drill into my dash rather just ran the cord up by the steering column



by:

After knocking my knee into my brake control for the last 20 years with the new GMC Savana I wanted something a little different. Technology has moved trailer brakes forward quite a bit and Etrailer has an immense amount of information!
I original looked at the Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Trailer Brake Controller but it would take up a valuable power outlet with the control unit but it's kind of trailer specific as the control mounts to the trailer you never know when you might have to tow another trailer and was leery of the control wandering around the console, Next up was the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Trailer Brake Controller but did not like the control mounting options. Then ran across the Tuson DirecLink Lite Trailer Brake Controller crazy amounts of technology in this unit but again concerns over the remote so after lots of head scratching the Curt Spectrum seemed like the best choice. Easy install very small control box mounted easily with the included double stick tape under the dash. I moved my traction control button to the left where a blank filler was you have to cut a little piece of it off to get it into the hole as the are "keyed" to specific locations I guess but worked perfectly! I left enough slack in the connection so I can simply disconnect the harness if I am not towing for awhile as the blue indicator lights come on every time you hit the brake if its disconnected. Just installed it so I will send an update after our first trip with the new rig but I'm thinking it will work as described. Thanks again etrailer fast shipping great information!!!!



by:

I knew I wanted to have something like this due to the look, function and size. The package was small. Installed pretty easily with minimal headaches. I just watched the videos online to see how others did it and how to steer away from making damaging mistakes. The booklet was also very helpful to make everything fit as it should while putting the steps in order.

As I pull a trailer 90% of the time, I wanted something to have the easy manipulation for the brakes yet have an aesthetically pleasing look. This does just that. Brakes on one setting. Adjustable on two other settings. Very quick.

Although I did have to play with the settings to make sure it wasn’t jerking me in my seat every time I pushed the brake pedal, after a day, smooth sailing.

I do recommend you seriously think about this brake controller. Ease of install and the application is perfect.



by:

I ordered the Curt Spectrum trailer brake controller after much research. I was looking for a brake controller with a clean looking install (I didn't want an underdash mount) for my 2020 Chevy Blazer. My Blazer had the tow package from the factory which made the install fairly easy. All the wiring for a brake controller is there behind the driver side kick panels. The Curt Spectrum once installed and adjusted works flawlessly. Just follow the enclosed instructions to adjust the Spectrum for the load you are hauling. I could not be any more pleased with the way this product works and highly recommend the Curt Spectrum brake for your auxiliary braking needs.



by:

2019 Honda Ridgeline RTL AWD—
The Curt
Spectrum C51170 controller and harness C51392 was exactly as I had read it would be! All connections hooked up as described and all connectors fit! The knob works as described but I have yet to hook up trailer to get response from the accelerometer! I’m sure the quality shown it will work fine! Only problem I had was access under the dash. Thanks Bill and etrailer! Pictures attached!



by:

Looks great and works well. Only gripe I have is that I don't use it enough to remember what all it does at the different light colors. More of an issue for me, not the product. Matches my 2020 Ford Explorer interior and other dials. Looks factory.



by:

I was looking for a simple, clean looking, brake controller to add to my 2008 Dodge Ram with the OEM 7 pin. The Curt Spectrum fit the bill perfectly! With the supplied adapter harness, I had the controller installed in minutes. I had no idea it would be this easy. Thanks ETrailer!



by:

Works as advertised. Looks good but install was a little difficult placing controller.



by:

I bought this because I wanted a factory look. This was easy to install and looks great. You have to learn what the different colors and settings do but it’s not that difficult. Overall I am very happy with this brake controller.



by:

The compact remote control knob feature is a good plus for this product. Installation was really easy with the interface harness on the second generation Tacoma. I haven't had a lot of towing time with it but can offer the following insight.

The control lights are easy to use and adjust. They appear to be dimmed with pulse width modulation so if your eyes are sensitive to it you might look at one before you buy. Hopefully they can go PWM-free at some point. The "white" color lamps appear as a mix of flashing red green and blue. Indicator lights are plenty bright in the daytime but the lowest dim setting is too bright. Perhaps this was done to minimize the PWM flashing at the dim setting. I had to locate the knob in the shadow of the steering wheel to keep the light out of my eyes at night.

I've also noticed a single artifact light on many occasions after brake release (see pictures). So far the lamp color has been red, green, and blue however I have not yet seen a "white" one. One of these lights often come up in random positions on the dial. This lamp will continue to burn after I get out of the truck, and won't go out until I press the brake pedal again or push the knob. If I push the knob the output or sensitivity adjustment mode arc comes up briefly and it goes out after a bit (as it's supposed to). OEM brake control harness and grounding were sound with typical resistances around a milliohm or less.

This controller is a considerable parasitic draw on the battery even with the lamps out and the ignition switch off. This could be an issue particularly if an artifact light is not noticed and the truck sits for more than a week(which mine sometimes does). A depleted battery made me look into this with a Fluke ammeter. You might consider pulling the fuse if the truck will sit or hook up a trickle charger.

I tried to make contact with the manufacturer to see if they had any free convection requirements for air flow around the main module (air cooling at 100% duty cycle), and to understand what is going on with the controller and if there was something that could be done to fix the lights, perhaps a firmware update or something but never got any replies. The folks at etrailer maintained good communication and were excellent to work with but I don't feel the manufacturer is willing to support their product. This could be an excellent product if they can address these issues.



by:

This brake controller works perfectly for my 2014 Audi Q7! The instructions were easy to follow thereby making the installation a straightforward process. The hardest part was deciding where to install the dial. The dial has a solid and deliberate feel when turning and numerous options for fine tuning.



by:

Great product, plug and play. Slowest part of install was figuring out how to safely remove the dash panels w/o breaking tabs.



by:

I really like the finished look of this controller after it is installed (see before and after pictures attached)! I also like being able to finely tune it to my need using the power output and sensitivity adjustments. I do have a minor issue with connecting a trailer to my 2020 Jeep Gladiator, though. If I connect the trailer while the engine is running, the electronic stability control and engine start/stop services on the truck disable themselves. Turning the ignition all the way off an on again resolves the issue, as does having the engine off when I connect the trailer. Aside from that minor inconvenience, this controller works admirably and I would buy it for other vehicles.

Installing was simple with the adapter for factory wiring. The most difficult part was identifying the location for the knob and taking the dash apart to install it properly. The finished appearance is clean and the only visible aspect of the entire system is the control knob.

With the sensitivity and power controls on mid-level, the trailer tires were skidding on quick stops. Tuning the settings to have less sensitivity and less power quickly corrected that issue. I am quite happy with this controller!



by:

I chose this controller as the main module fits out of sight and does not have to be aligned or leveled. I attached it to the parking brake bracket on our Pilot. The LED rotary control knob fits nicely on the dash and after inserting the cable through a small hole in the dash, connecting the plug was simple with the pins that were attached to the cable. What was confusing was the instructions do not mention there are two base plates - one for adhesive mounting to the dash and the other for drill mounting (what I did). I tried to snap the rotary knob into the base plate I mounted, but it would not fit. I found out that the rotary knob actually comes with the adhesive mount already attached and you have to use a small screw driver to pry it off so you can use the other base plate. Luckily Curt has an installation video on their web site that showed removing the adhesive plate. I generally do not start taking apart precision gear without some hint of what should be done. Curt also has a custom cable that plugs into this unit and the port on my Pilot.

When I get our trailer I will be able to review the performance of this controller.



by:

Worked well in my Infiniti 2017 QX60 but install was not that easy.
First unlike other etrailer products, I could not find an install video for my car. For other Infiniti owners out there, the brake controller connector is located along the wiring harness connected to the OBD connector. You cannot see it as it is lightly taped up, you just need to feel for it and pull it down. Secondly it is *capped*. The cap looks very much like the plug itself so don't be confused. Remove the cap and you can install. Make sure you get the right Curt adapter for your car.
Secondly the install requires the user to insert the crimped controller wires into a connector for control module. There are videos on how to do this however it did not go as easy as shown. Maybe I had a defective part, but there is clearly only one way to insert the wires but I had to insert with significant force to get them in all the way.
Once installed the unit worked fine with my 3,800lb RV trailer. A few nits: Occasionally the control knob will leave as one of its lights on after the car is turned off. Its happens occasionally and can be reset by pushing the brakes again but seems like a bug? Also the knob will *always* light up if you press the brakes even if you do not have a trailer attached. There is no way to turn this feature off and can be kinda annoying if you do not tow that much.
Overall, works as advertised and like how it can be tucked away, but wish the install was better explained for my vehicle and didn't bother if there was no trailer attached.



by:

This controller is a really good concept but kind of challenging to get dialed in correctly for each load. When braking in a straight line it performs as expected but when braking while turning or on bumpy roads it often times surges the brakes making them lock up.

I have been using this product for 1 year and am now figuring out ways to work around the surges. Best way I've found is to keep the sensitivity on high and only adjust the power setting.

The 4 star rating on this product is for how small and sleek the adjustment knob is vs standard brake controllers installed In the dash it feels almost factory.
Install took about 5 -10 minutes

Overall I am happy with this purchace
it's just not quite as user friendly as I'd hoped.



by:

Great product. Easy install in under 45 minutes to integrate into factory OEM harness. 2017 Land Ro er Discovery Sport with factory trailer tow package will be plug and play with this controller, and Curt custom wiring Adapter C51322. The factory brake controller integration harness is directly behind the OBDII connector on the driver’s side. Everything else is in place. Note: your factory OEM tow connection MUST be dealer activated in your vehicle. Without that activation, the body controller will not pass power to the brake module.

There is ample space inside the dash on the left side, behind the left knee bolster to place the control module in a securable and protected location. This requires only 3 easy to remove panels, and 2 screws to reach. If oriented properly, the DIP switches are accessible in future by removing the dash side panel (zero tools required).

There are multiple locations for the control knob. The look and style of the control knob fits perfectly with the design of the interior. Love the ability to use a drill or no-drill installation method.

We haul our Forrest River travel trailer with this vehicle and previously used a time-based controller that “fought” with the vehicle’s integrated trailer stability control and anti-sway detection. This controller has solved this issue and gives complete control while integrating seamlessly with factory stability systems.

Even with the output or sensitivity at high levels, this system still works perfectly with the vehicle trailer stability control. This was a vast improvement over our old time-based controller.

Great function and fantastic look. For a non-OEM product, this truly does have an OEM look, function and ease of installation. Curt did a great job with this.

My only nit is that both Curt and etrailer do not recognize the factory connection adapter harness as an option on the Discovery Sport. TIP: If you select the Land Rover Evoque (shares the same platform as the Discovery Sport) the options become correct for your Discovery Sport as far as factory adapter harnesses.

Super fast delivery. Would be better if drop-ship items included an actual tracking number instead of only the user login web based tracking option. The web based tracking required logging in to monitor for delivery times. Some kind of automated text or email shipping updates for drop-ship items would make a great buying experience into a fantastic one.



by:

Great break controller! I stalled it in a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. Followed a video of the installation which walked me through most of the steps and had to improvise a few more. But all in all it's a great looking and great working controller. It's appearance makes it look like it is just another part of the car.



by:

Perfect for installation in my 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Control knob installs perfectly on the center console.



by:

The installation went very quickly and the end result was very satisfying. The location of the switch on the dashboard makes it hard to spot as an aftermarket add on. The whole installation took 1 hour start to finish. I can't wait to tow a trailer so that I can get the Cuurt Spectrum Brake Controller calibrated and dialed in. Thanks etrailer! Thank Curt!



by:

Honda Ridgeline 2019 Install
Plan to
tow an RPOD 195 Travel Trailer as soon as I pick it up
Simple Installation
Didn't need to remove dash to install, as free space behind this location.
Knob on lower left of Dash.
Module Tie Wrapped to the Parking Brake Bracket under the Dash.
Used the C51392 Wiring adapter to connect the Brake Controller to the Truck.

Pictures of Dash Install only.
Haven't functionally tested yet as I am waiting on Delivery of the Trailer.



by:

Everything installed great. The overall look of the knob if excellent. The direct plug in to the Ford OEM brake plug is excellent. Have not towed anything yet.
P.S.: The screw-in base with well nut - which is the more secure option (not the adhesive option) for the knob... the screw prevents the knob from seating perfectly square... the base bottoms out just slightly on the screw. It does click in, the screw is a very flat pan head... perhaps there is a flatter screw or the there is more space in the knob undercarriage, but another 1/16" of space probably gets it just right. If the seating gets weird (i.e in cold weather may shrink cause plastic to contract slightly and lose seating, I can always use a machine screw and nut washer to clean it up... plenty of space to access the fastener from mounting place. 2008 Ford Expedition.



by:


I've had the brake controller in use
for over a year in my 2012 Nissan Frontier. The install was easy and took about an hour. My truck is a 2WD model so I mounted the controller in the plug that is used to select between 2WD and 4WD on vehicles equipped with 4WD. So the install look like factory.



by:

This is our second purchase from etrailer. Their delivery was very prompt and the items were exactly what we needed. The Trailer Brake Controller was simple to install and works absolutely great!


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  • Brake Controller for 2008 Dodge Durango with Factory Wiring Harness for Tow Package
    You need to purchase both the Curt Brake Controller # C51170 and the Curt Wiring Harness # C51332 for your Dodge Durango as they are sold separately. This allows you to plug directly into the port that comes with the tow package and is located directly under your dash.
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  • Will The Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller Plug and Play In 2010 VW Touareg?
    That is a great question Andy and I can understand your confusion as we do have the Technical Bulletin which I have linked near the bottom of the page next to the instructions. You will be able to connect the Curt Spectrum # C51170 to your 2010 Volkswagen Touareg using the Pigtail # C51522. There is a chance you will have to add a relay to get a more consistent power to the controller which is outlined in the Technical Bulletin but you will not need the parts outlined in the beginning of...
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  • Parts Needed To Install Curt Spectrum Brake Controller On 2022 Jeep Gladiator
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  • Which Connector Is Needed To Install Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller On a 2018 VW Atlas?
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  • Recommended Trailer Brake Controller For a 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe w/ Factory Tow Package
    I recommend the Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller # C51170 for your 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe. This will plug and play with your factory wiring using the Adapter # C77BR. The small control knob allows you to position it on your dash where it is most convenient. This is much better than having a large dash mounted control box which often gets in the way.
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  • Recommended Brake Controller and Wiring for 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
    I do have a recommendation for you but we do not have a Redarc brake controller available for your 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee. However, the similarly designed Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller, # C51170 is great option and its installation is made easier using the Curt Custom Wiring Adapter for Trailer Brake Controllers, # C51446. The Curt # C51170 is a proportional brake controller installs anywhere in your cab and at any orientation. The push-button rotary control knob mounts on...
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  • Can Curt Spectrum Brake Controller Install 2018 Chevy Colorado
    You can use the Curt Spectrum brake controller part # C51170 in your 2018 Chevy Colorado. This will wire directly to the brake controller wiring you have under the dash of your vehicle already without needing any additional harnesses. I attached an install video for this controller on a similar 2020 Chevy Colorado as well.
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  • Comparing Redarc Liberty and Curt Spectrum Brake Controllers For a 2023 GMC Sierra 1500
    Personally, I have seen a lot fewer issues with the Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty # RED24FR than with the Curt Spectrum # C51170. The Spectrum was released in early 2018. Currently Redarc only offers the one size control knob. To install the Redarc Liberty # RED24FR in your 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 you will need the Tekonsha Pigtail # 3064-P and the Redarc to Tekonsha Adapter # 331-TPH-017. This will support up to 2 braking axles or 4 brake assemblies. If you go with the Curt Spectrum # C51170...
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  • Is There a Plug and Play Brake Controller Installation Harness for 2019 MB Sprinter 3500
    I may have a solution for you to install a different brake controller using a plug and play harness to avoid hard-wiring, but Curt does not have a brake controller adapter plug for the 2019 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 3500. If you wanted to use the Curt Spectrum # C51170 then you'd need to hard-wire it into the vehicle. However there is a comparable brake controller to the Spectrum that does have a plug and play adapter with the RedArc Tow Pro Elite # RED44FR, which can use the Tekonsha adapter...
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  • Parts Needed to Install Curt C51170 Spectrum Brake Controller on 2007 Lexus GX470
    For a 2007 Lexus GX470 with the factory 7-way installing the Curt # C51170 Spectrum brake controller would be a plug and play installation. Other than the # C51362 brake controller wiring harness, no other parts would be needed. The connector for the brake controller is located under the dash near the top of the emergency brake pedal.
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  • How To Install The Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller In A 2022 Subaru Ascent
    To install the Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller # C51170 on your 2022 Subaru Ascent without factory tow package you'll need to first install a wiring harness. I recommend the Tekonsha OEM Replacement Vehicle Wiring Harness with 7-Way Trailer Connector # 118290 as it comes with a 7-way and is a simple plug-and-play installation. Once the the wiring harness is installed you can wire the Universal Wiring Adapter for Curt Trailer Brake Controllers # C51515 that came with your # C51170...
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  • What is Needed To Install Curt Spectrum Brake Controller On 2022 Kia Telluride With Factory 7-Way?
    As long as your factory 7-way along with the corresponding fuses were all installed on your 2022 Kia Telluride you will simply need to connect the Wiring Adapter # C77BR to install the Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller # C51170. I have linked an installation video below which discusses the controller and shows the installation process. If you run into issues you can check your owners manual to ensure all the correct fuses are in place.
    view full answer...
  • Is Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller A Good Option For 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500
    The Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller part # C51170 and the custom wiring adapter part # C51525 is a great option for the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 because of its simple out of the way installation. The knob can be installed in any easy to reach location at any orientation. The main unit installs out of the way and utilizes the custom adapter plug for your truck to plug into the factory port. I have attached the measurements of both the main unit and the knob for you to get an idea...
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  • Dimension of Bracket for Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller
    I went out to our warehouse to measure the bracket for the Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller # C51170 that you referenced and found that it has an outside diameter of just under 2 inches (1-15/16 inches to be exact). I have attached the image you sent with this dimension labeled that you can also use for reference.
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  • Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller on a 2019 Subaru Ascent
    You will have to hardwire the Curt Spectrum Brake Controller part # C51170 to your 2019 Subaru Outback Wagon but it is a pretty simple process. You will need to first start with a 4-way confirmed as a fit for your vehicle. For that you'd want the Tekonsha part # 118467 which is a plug and play style of install. From there you would need to convert the 4-way to a 7-way so that you can install the brake controller. For that you will want the Brake Controller Install Kit and 7-Way Adapter...
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  • Can A Brake Controller Be Turned Off So It Doesn't Drain Vehicle Battery
    The fact that the Curt # C51170 has a direct connection to battery is not unique to the Curt Spectrum brake controller, they all install in that manner. This is purposely done as a safety measure, so the user can't forget to turn on the brake controller before they tow. The good news is that after a short period of inactivity (varies from 10-20 minutes) the controller will go into a sleep mode, at which point they only draw a miniscule amount of power. Unless the vehicle will be left unattended...
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Do you have a question about this Trailer Brake Controller?


Info for this part was:

Employee Lindsey S
Edited by:
Lindsey S
Employee Sabrina W
Written by:
Sabrina W

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