Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Full Review:

The OEM Look!

I’ve often wondered why no one made an aftermarket brake controller that looked like an OEM brake controller. Call me crazy, but I imagine there is a market of folks out there who would like the dash of their tow vehicle to look as clean as possible, even when towing a trailer. Fear not my fellow road warriors because I found the answer in Redarc’s Tow-Pro Elite.

By: John Huff

Towing Industry Expert

Overall Rating

Quality

Ease of Use

Versatility

Design

Why Buy?

The Look!

The best thing about this brake controller is that we now have a brake controller option that blends right into the dash. With Redarc’s Universal Mounting Panel the entire brake controller looks like it came on the truck’s center console from the factory. The mounting panel isn’t necessary, but it makes for a cleaner look in my opinion.

The control knob is the only part of the brake controller that is visible. There is the main unit that measures about the size of a single cigarette pack, but it can be installed anywhere you have room. It doesn’t have to face forward or right side up like the traditional box style brake controllers because of Redarc’s 3-Axis accelerometer that measures deceleration in all directions. The main unit fit perfectly on the backside of the driver’s side kick panel completely out of sight.

Redarc brake controller installed on console

Quality

I like to think of myself as a frugal person, or “cheap” if you listen to my wife, and it can be hard to justify shelling out $200 for a brake controller when you can find them as low as $30-$40 if you aren’t picky about performance or quality. My skepticism prompted me to do some digging on Redarc because they are a fairly new brand to the North American market. I was happy to discover that the Australian based manufacturer has been an award winning company for about 20 years now and the #1 brake controller brand in Australia. That says something to me because towing in Australia is nowhere near as leisurely as towing in the States or Canada.

The brake controller itself also feels like it was built for the long haul. The control knob is made of a strong and durable plastic, but it is the metal core that really adds value for me. I don’t get the sense that the knob will break or wear down over time even with excessive use. I have no doubt that it could outlast the radio and A/C knobs on my dash.

Easy to Use

“Easy to use” doesn’t do this brake controller justice. All you have to do is turn the dial to the number that works best for your trailer and you’re set. Of course I had to run through a few test drives to get the right power setting for the trailer, but you have to do that with any brake controller. For example, I know the 5th wheel is an 8, the livestock trailer is a 7 loaded and a 4 unloaded, the utility trailer is a 5, and the flatbed gooseneck is a 7. The manual override brakes are activated by pushing the dial and I really can’t ask for less to think about.

I thought the lack of ability to store multiple trailer settings would be a problem, but when all you have to do is turn the dial to the right power setting, I felt dumb for running through the settings on my old brake controller to find the stored trailer settings. Also, I didn’t find much of a need for the user-controlled mode which basically applies the same amount of braking power whether you use the knob or brake pedal. It is similar to a time-delay brake setting, but the braking is instantaneous. This function is better suited toward overlanding or boondocking folks who frequently find themselves on rough roads where you may need your brakes to activate at full power even if you are driving only 20 mph.

Redarc brake controller installed on auto console

Why not to buy?

Price

As I mentioned earlier, this is not a budget friendly brake controller. I believe it is worth every penny, but it is hard to think that I can achieve the same end goal (trailer braking) at 25% of the cost. It is kind of like buying a GMC Sierra Denali instead of a base model Chevy S-10 to tow a jon boat. Is the Sierra necessary? No, but it is a heck of a lot more fun and it makes me happier.

Diagnostics

The troubleshooting and diagnostics features of this brake controller leave something to be desired. Brake controllers like the Prodigy P3, Curt Echo and even the Prodigy P2 offer more intuitive diagnostics. For example, if the unit doesn’t sense the trailer brakes, then the P3 and the Echo will flat out tell you and even the P2 will flash the nc or SH code to give you an idea of the problem. The Tow-Pro Elite uses different color and flashing patterns to tell you what is happening. I strongly recommend keeping the owner’s manual in your glove box for reference if you ever run into braking issues.

Versatility

While I rate this brake controller pretty high as far as its versatility is concerned, that is mainly because the mounting options in the tow vehicle are seemingly endless. The reason it doesn’t get a perfect 10 out of 10 rating is because it is not the most convenient brake controller to move to a different vehicle. Other brake controller manufacturers will offer additional mounting sleeves and wiring harnesses to quickly and easily move their brake controllers from one truck to another. Once you remove the Tow-Pro Elite from the vehicle, you will be left with a hole that you will have to figure out how to cover. If possible, I strongly recommend trying to install the control knob in an empty dash panel slot so you can easily cover up any traces of the brake controller if you want to sell or trade-in your old tow vehicle.

Would I buy this product?

YES! I would definitely fork out the cash for the Tow-Pro Elite. Whether your truck is brand new or 20 years old, you’d think this brake controller was a factory option, which boosts the resale value if you ask me. Using this brake controller is about as mindless as brushing your teeth and I certainly don’t mind paying a little more for a product that I know will last. The color coded diagnostics are more of an annoyance than a deal breaker and you’ll likely pay just as much or more for a brake controller with a more detailed diagnostics feature outside of the Prodigy P2 and P3.

How does it compare to the competition?

Why do we listen to John?

With a background in farming, home remodeling, camping and rental property management, John has towed just about any trailer you can imagine. He has been a member of our Ask the Expert team for 7 years and he’s been through factory trainings with all of the major towing product manufacturers such as Reese, Curt, Hopkins, Draw-Tite, and many more.

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