This proportional brake controller keeps it simple with intuitive controls that are easy to use. Includes a large digital LED display, fingertip gain control, a slide-bar manual override, and built-in safety features.
Features:
Specs:
The Dexter Predator DX2 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 Predator DX2 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 slow at the same rate. The result is uniform braking across your towing setup. No push-pull action - just smooth, proportional braking every time.
The Dexter Predator DX2 features a large LED display that's easy to see so you can check on your current braking output setting with a glance. This display is designed to keep it simple and not overload you with information. The display will also show you the voltage to confirm that the trailer brakes are receiving power.
During the initial setup process, use the thumbwheel on the front of the brake controller to adjust the braking output. The output control lets you set the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. Typically, the output is only readjusted when you experience changing road conditions or if the weight of your trailer changes. The power output control on this brake controller lets you set the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. Typically, the power output is only readjusted if you switch from a heavy, loaded trailer to a much lighter, empty trailer - or vice versa.
During the initial setup process, you can use the thumbwheel to adjust the power output. To get more power to your brakes, increase the power level. To decrease the power output, lower the power level.
Once you have the overall power set, you can fine-tune the power output by adjusting the sensitivity of the internal sensor. This controls the aggressiveness of your trailer's braking, meaning how quickly the brakes reach the maximum braking level. You can adjust this when you're towing heavy loads and you need more umph to bring your trailer to a stop. Your tow vehicle doesn't need that much power to brake in time, but your heavy trailer does. Boost gets the braking power to your trailer brakes faster and with more intensity so that it doesn't push your tow vehicle forward. To increase the sensitivity for towing heavier loads, move the lever away from you. For a lighter load, move the lever toward you.
The Dexter Predator DX2 comes with a built-in manual override slide-bar in easy reach, great for stopping sway or controlling your trailer's momentum in emergencies. To engage the manual override, just push the slide-bar to the left. 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.
You can also engage the manual override to help you move a sliding 5th-wheel hitch closer to your truck's tailgate for tight maneuvering during slow speed turns. Just apply the manual override to hold the trailer in place while slowly moving the tow vehicle forward.
Because the controller operates with an internal inertia sensor, it must be mounted between -35 degrees and 90 degrees vertically. The Predator DX2 also needs to be horizontally level and parallel with the direction of travel to function properly. During initial installation, the deceleration sensor lever must be positioned straight up and down.
The included pigtail harness provides a great solution for anyone who doesn't want to hardwire into their vehicle, which is just about all of us, right? Simply splice together the ends of the pigtail with those on the controller, and then you can easily plug into the port on your vehicle's built-in brake control wiring harness. This means you don't have to hardwire the controller directly into your vehicle, which makes installation easier and also ensures that you can easily unplug and remove the controller whenever you want.
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).
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today we're going to be taking a look at part number 58-8. This is the Dexter Axle Predator Electric Brake Controller. It's going to come with your mounting bracket and a mounting hardware as well as some detailed installation instructions. This is inertia activated, so the trailer brakes will apply in direct proportion to the total vehicle braking effort. The unit itself is going to control the power output to the brakes of the trailer and it's going to be able to control the braking response from the tow vehicle to the trailer as well. It's also going to help when it comes to setting the controls.
It's going to allow for manual application of brakes with the manual override lever here at the front. This unit is made for up to two-axle trailer brake systems which would be a total of four brakes. It's going to feature a large digital LED display. It's going to display the voltage output and it's going to make leveling quick and easy. The controller display will increase numerically during a stop or when the brakes are applied or more pressure is applied on the brake pedal. Then it's going to decrease or return to the minimum reading when deceleration is no longer detected.
When the tow vehicle brake pedal is completely released, the display will go off, kind of just as it's shown here. You won't be able to read anything on the display when the brake pedal's released. Again, the mounting bracket and hardware is included. This features a versatile mounting range of minus 35 degrees to positive 90 degrees to accommodate a wide variety of vehicle interiors. When it comes to the dimensions of the actual brake controller, it's going to give us an overall width of about 3 inches, an overall length of about 6-1/2 inches, and an overall height of 1-5/8. On this side, you're going to notice this little lever arm here.
This is the deceleration sensor level arm. When the tow vehicle decelerates, the sensor is going to send an electrical signal for the controller to increase amperage to the trailer brakes. This arm is simply going to allow you to set the level of intensity of that signal. Here at the front you're going to have the power adjustment wheel. This is used to adjust the amount of current or power that is sent to the trailer brakes from the tow vehicle. Then, you also have the manual slide lever.
This is used to apply the trailer brakes independently of the tow vehicle brakes, or to override the automatic trailer brakes. Here at the back it's going to expose four wires. Your white wire's going to be your ground. Your blue wire is for the trailer brakes. The red is for the stoplight wire that connects to the non-powered wire of the stoplight switch, or tow package harness. Then your black wire is going to be your power wire. Real quick, I just want to go ahead and connect this to our external power supply. That way you can see the LED display. You can get a good understanding of how bright that is and how easy it'll be to see. So you can see there the reading. That's when we apply our brakes. Then, again, as you press down the brake pedal that number will increase and then as you decelerate the number will go back down to the setting or the minimum reading. Then, when we do the manual override the display's going to come on as well and then when we fully release it, it'll go back to not reading anything. That's going to do it for today's review of part number 58-8. This is the Dexter Axle Predator Electric Brake Controller. .
The staff at etrailer.com are very helpful....they don't finish with you until they've answered all your questions and have provided the proper equipment to do the job. Rush shipping got the brake controller here next day, just in time for my long trip hauling a trailer.
Finally a brake controller that does what I set it to, not what it’s little computer brain, designed by someone who has never pulled a trailer thinks it needs to do.
I am very satisfied with the Dexter Axle Predator Electric Brake controller. I purchased the Dexter brake controller to be compatible with Dexter car trailer axles on a 16 foot car hauler. The braking unit is very useful when towing in very steep and winding mountain terrain. I feel that the braking is a necessary safety item when towing in a hilly or mountainous environment and the Dexter Predator brake controller provides the great control and driver peace of mind knowing that a heavy load can be managed. The unit installs very easily with the proper adapter.
I installed this controller in my 1982 Chevy K20 pickup.
It works perfectly! Etrailer exceeded my expectations with their level of customer service from the time the order was placed to the products arrival at my home. Truly 5-star service!
The video tutorials are straight forward and very helpful.
The universal installation kit literally had everything needed to complete the job.
Side note:
I would have liked to see the (2) 10ga wires in the insulation to be black and blue, not black and white, no biggie, black on black and white on blue.
Thanks again!
My brake controller was a great match for my needs. I have a 4 brake trailer which gets the proper control from my Dexter unit. From empty weight to heavy load the adjustment is just a slight roll of the knob. I like the digital read out so I can glance down to check system operations. It does great f or me and fit right in to the factory wire set up in my truck
The parts I ordered were shipped and now are installed on a enclosed trailer that carries a variety of motorcycles. The roads are mountainous and treacherous here so I have to be able to 100% depend on my trailer brakes. The brakes have been flawless, giving me total confidence. Perfect parts, great price. Customer service was a 10. Thanks for all your help !
was difficult to find a good mounting location away from leg room
Item was shipped promptly and was easy to install works great on my 20,000 pound felling goosneck trailer with 4 electric over hydraulic disc brakes.
Delivered on time and the right parts
Just finish installing the brake controller so I have not seen it in operation. Everything that was needed for installation was contained in the package. Due to limited access due to the chosen mounting location getting two of the side screws started took some effort.
This is a great product, installation was easy, instructions accurate and product works as advertised. I would do this all over again if needed.
Super easy plug-n-play on my 2012 Ram 1500 with factory-installed towing package. This plugs right in beneath the steering column, then you just connect it to your choice of brake controller. Couldn't be easier.
etrailer has the BEST customer service on the web too!
A great product. Had it installed by my Benz dealership. No adjustments needed.....factory settings were all I needed to tow my boat and trailer.
One year after installation, my Prodigy P2 still works flawlessly. It was easy to install after reviewing several of the resources on etrailer. I am very satisfied with the purchase. i have been considering purchasing another harness adapter so i can move the unit back and forth from my pickup to my RV.
was difficult to find a good mounting location away from leg room
Quick/Easy Brake control installation using this connector. I actually swapped the black and blue wires to use it on my 2014 Cherokee, and it works great. Excellent product, super fast delivery, and well worth the price to 'do it right'.
Everything as described.
This is excellent. It plugged right into the port on my truck and thankfully i have the factory tow package. It made installation of my brake control very simple. Highly recommend it
Item worked good. Wired up correctly and plugged into the factory harness. No guess work. Blue wire to blue, red to red, white to white, and black to black.
Easy to install and adjust, seems to work well with my Pathfinder. The butt connectors that were included were not the correct size but i wouldn't have used them anyway.
Easy to set up and use.
Great piece worked perfectly
Perfect. Nice Youtube video to assist with installation.
The product worked perfect, it was what needed. I couldn't find it anywhere else. The product 20273 fits perfect on a 2011 Ram 1500
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