Wireless Brake Controller Recommendation and Parts Needed for 2013 Acura MDX

Question:

Hi, I’m buying a boat trailer that has a 7 prong plug and trailer brakes. I was told the trailer lights and brakes share the same 7 prong plug. Currently, I have a 4 pole flat plug on a 2013 Acura RDX. What products do I need to buy to have the trailer brakes and lights work? I would rather keep this easy and not have a complicated install. I believe there’s a Bluetooth option for trailer brakes? I’m being thrown off because I see a 4 pole to 7 plug adapter. However, there’s an extra blue wire for trailer brakes on the adapter so I don’t know what to do.

asked by: Mark B

Expert Reply:

There is a Bluetooth capable brake controller, the Curt Echo # C51180, as well as a couple other wireless brake controller options that do not require the additional wiring for a traditional brake controller that would be mounted in the cab of your tow vehicle.

A trailer wiring upgrade on your RDX will be required to make these work and we actually created our own kit to make this upgrade with part # ETBC7L. This kit comes with the 4-pin to 7-Pin adapter you were talking about, but it also comes with the additional wire and hardware you will need to fully equip your RDX to tow a trailer with electric trailer brakes. Since your trailer has brakes, it is also required to have an on-board breakaway battery, which needs to be charged from your tow vehicle. The Bluetooth and wireless brake controllers will also require this battery charge circuit to work to power the trailer brakes, so adding this wire (which is included in our wiring kit) will be necessary no matter what. I attached a review and installation video of this kit to show you how it is installed.

Once you've added this kit, you have a couple brake controller options. Option 1 is the Curt Echo, # C51180, which connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and gives you the ability to manually control your brakes right from your phone. I've personally tested this brake controller and highly recommend this option if you don't mind using your phone when towing. I attached a review video of this brake controller for you to check out.

If you don't want to use your phone when towing, then the 2nd option I recommend is the wireless Autowbrake, # 3430001. This brake controller actually installs on your trailer and gives you a key fob to keep in your RDX if you need to manually control or adjust your brakes. I attached a review video on this one as well.

My first choice would be the Echo mainly because I'll have a harder time keeping track of Autowbrake's key fob than the Echo, but I would have no problem using either brake controller on my trailers.