Expert Answers about Trailer Brake Controller

• Will Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Brake Controller Control Trailer Sway
• The Tekonsha # TK94FR Prodigy RF is a wireless brake controller that will actuate your trailer brakes when the brakes of the tow vehicle are used, but it is not a sway control device in and of itself. That being said, the manual override can be used during a sway event to operate the trailer's brakes independently of the vehicle's brakes which can stop the trailer from swaying. To add a dedicated sway control system, you'll need to add an additional component like the Tuson # 335TSC-1000....
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• Trailer Brake Lamps Don't Light When Manual Brake Switch of Hopkins Agility Brake Controller is Used
• Whether or not the brake controller manual brake switch will cause the trailer brake lights to illuminate will depend on which model of brake controller you have. Some controllers like the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 # 90885 or the P3 # 90195 will send some voltage out on the red wire when the manual brake switch is activated, which causes the brake lamps on the vehicle and the trailer to illuminate. The fact that the brake lights don't illuminate with the manual brake switch doesn't indicate...
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• Will The Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Brake Controller Activate Trailer Brakes With Radar Cruise Control?
• No, the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Trailer Brake Controller # RED44FR or any other brake controller will not activate the brakes on the trailer in the event the radar cruise on your 2019 Toyota Tacoma activates to slow down your vehicle. Your owners manual for your Tacoma does state that the cruise control system should never be used when towing a trailer and this is one reason why. The brake controller will only activate the trailer brakes by either pressing the manual override or the physical...
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• Is Using a Brake Controller Necessary for Towing a Trailer
• If the trailer is equipped with electric brakes and you want them to actuate, you'll need a brake controller. A brake controller is a fairly small investment that will go a long way to keep you safer when towing. There are two types of controllers, the older time-delayed variety and the newer proportional type. I'd recommend going with a proportional controller like the Tekonsha Primus, part # TK90160. A proportional controller can sense how quickly the tow vehicle is braking, and will...
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• Identifying Brake Switch Wiring And Trailer Brake Output Wires For a Brake Controller Installation
• The brake switch is what tells your vehicle that your brake pedal has been pressed and will turn on your brake lights as well as tell the cruise control to disable, and trailer Brake Controller # 90195 to send power to the trailer brakes. This switch generally does not carry a lot of amperage and uses small gauge wiring to send the signals. The switch will have wiring that always has power and wiring that only receives power when the brake pedal is pressed. You can use a Test Light # PTW2993...
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• How Much Voltage Should Be Applied To Brakes on Trailer w/ Electric Brake Controller
• Your brake controller should be getting 12 volts of power going into the brake controller. The wire that feeds power to the brake controller is the Black wire. You can test this wire by using a multimeter part # PT89ZR. The amount of power coming out of the brake controller depends on the adjustment of the gain on the controller. To test the voltage at the highest gain setting, you will want to sever the Blue wire a few inches from the back of the controller. Then, you will want to test...
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• Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Brake Controller For Towing A Horse Trailer With a 2021 Ford F-150
• The reason that the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Trailer Brake Controller # RED44FR is not good for the manual override is that when you drive with the controller in proportional braking mode and push the manual override it only allows the trailer brakes to be applied in a light braking scenario. This is often not enough braking force on the trailer brakes if you are relying on them solely. As you are new to trailering and brake controllers I do not see this being an issue for you as it comes more...
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• Er Code on Draw-Tite Activator Brake Controller
• So the "Er" code on the Draw-Tite Activator IV Trailer Brake Controller indicates an internal problem, and the controller will need to be replaced. I recommend going with a higher quality unit from Tekonsha, the BRAKE-EVN: - Tekonsha BRAKE-EVN Trailer Brake Controller # TK63VR The # TK63VR is also a proportional controller, which is an upgrade over the time-delayed Activator because proportional controllers apply the brakes in your trailer with the same force as you apply the brakes in...
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• Is Seeing One Bar On Display of Curt C74VV Venturer Brake Controller Normal
• The single bar indicates that the gain or output control on the brake controller is turned all the way down. To initially set up the controller, place your foot on the brake pedal and hold the pedal fully down. Adjust the output slider until you see three green bars on the display. Set the sync control to the middle. Do a few test pulls to see how the trailer brakes perform. For more braking, slide the output control to the right, or to the left for more control. I've linked to the installation/operating...
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• Is Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Good Choice for Towing Car Trailer
• For hauling a car trailer, the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Trailer Brake Controller # RED44FR is an outstanding option, and the reason why is because it gives you more control over your trailer braking power than any other brake controller. The Tow-Pro Elite has two braking modes, the standard proportional control, which powers your trailer brakes with the same intensity as your vehicle brakes, or user-controlled mode, which allows you to apply the brakes with a pre-set amount of power your...
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• Why Does The Blue Wire From The Tekonsha Brake Controller Show Power Without Brake Activation?
• There will be a small amount of power that travels through the Tekonsha Voyager Trailer Brake Controller # 39510. This is how the brake controller knows that it is connected to a trailer and the light will change from red to green. The amount of power that it sends is a very low amperage and should not be enough to activate the brakes unless there is something wrong with the brake controller, or the controller is seeing a brake activation signal on the harness.
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• Will the Universal Installation Kit for Brake Controllers # ETBC7 Work with LED Trailer Lights
• Yes, the Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controllers part # ETBC7 will work with LED trailer lights. If you are also looking for a brake controller then I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller part # 90885 because it has integrated safeguards which protect your vehicle, trailer and the controller. Please note that in order to use the Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controllers part # ETBC7 you will need to have a 4-way trailer connector...
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• Brake Controller Output Wire on ETBC
• I am not 100 percent certain what you are asking but the blue wire on the Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller # ETBC7 is what will connect to the output wire on the brake controller. I have added two articles for you, one on installation of trailer brake controllers and the other on the ETBC7 kit, and I strongly recommend reading both as they have detailed explanations. If you were instead asking about the stop light switch wire, that would be the wire that only gets...
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• Does 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/ Tow Package Need Adapter For Economical Brake Controller
• Yes, you will still need an adapter to install an aftermarket brake controller in your 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which I do assume has the factory tow package. An OEM wiring adapter won't be universal, just for OEM brake controllers, so you'll need the adapter for the aftermarket controller. For a '21 Grand Cherokee with the factory tow package, the most budget-friendly option for a brake controller is from Tekonsha: - Tekonsha BRAKE-EVN Trailer Brake Controller # TK63VR - Custom Wiring...
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• How to Determine What Style Brakes a Trailer Has
• Surge brakes actually has to do with the trailer, not the brake controller. If you take a look at the Demco Surge Actuator # DM72VR, the coupler will push back into the body of the actuator which then pushes a piston that compresses brake fluid and engages the brakes. There are quite a few weight distribution systems that do not allow use with this style of braking system and is a pretty common issue. The Curt Spectrum # C51170 is a pretty well liked controller that will work with electric...
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• How to Use Brake Controller With 2021 Mazda CX-5 With Only 4-Way
• The issue with your 2021 Mazda CX-5 isn't the wiring or ground, it's that you only have a 4-way, which controls the lighting, but does not control electric trailer brakes. Electric trailer brakes won't work without a 7-way and a brake controller, so you'll need a few extra parts: - Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller # ETBC7 - Curt Assure Trailer Brake Controller # C49UR - Universal Wiring Adapter # C51515 The 7-way that comes with the # ETBC7, which also gives you...
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• What is the Maximum Current Draw from a Trailer Brake Controller
• A brake controller will send back a little bit of voltage at idle to check to see if a trailer is connected. It is no more than a couple volts. The maximum voltage a controller can send back is 12 volts and electric trailer brake controllers are fused at either 20 or 30 amps. Only certain brake controllers work with electric over hydraulic brake actuators though. I recommend the P2 # 90885 or the P3 # 90195. Both of these controllers have an electric over hydraulic mode.
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• What Does The Lever On The Side Of Hayes-Lemmerz Energize III+ Electric Trailer Brake Controller Do?
• The lever on the side of the Hayes-Lemmerz Energize III+ Electric Trailer Brake Controller # HA81742B allows you to adjust the proportioning of the brakes on the trailer. I have linked the instructions below that cover setting this lever to the correct position when installing.
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• Using Two Brake Controllers To Tow Trailer With Six Axles
• This is a tough one. we contacted our supplier and they said you will need to run 2 separate brake controllers like part # 90195. You will need to split the brake signal from the towing vehicle and attach it to the red wire on each of the brake controllers. Then run both power wires from the controllers to the positive battery post with circuit breakers. Both brake controllers would have to be set exactly the same so you maintain even braking. You will then need to run both Blue wires...
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• Warranty of Tekonsha Activator IV Trailer Brake Controller
• The Tekonsha Activator IV Trailer Brake Controller part 5504 has a limited lifetime warranty. If you have any issues with the controller, please be sure to first reference the troubleshooting section of the instructions which I have attached for you below. We no longer carry this unit but if it needs replaced, I recommend using the Tekonsha BRAKE-EVN Trailer Brake Controller part # TK63VR which will be a bit of an upgrade due to the proportional design. The proportional design will provide...
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