Brake control unit

The big advantage of the Tow Pro is that the unit and its control are separate, connected by a cable. You can mount the unit anywhere convenient (eg , under the dash) in any orientation and mount the small control knob in a convenient location on the dash, remote from the unit.

I also had excellent results with a Tekonsha Prodigy in another vehicle. It had mounting restrictions which deemed it unsuitable for my BT50 - hence the Tow Pro - but it was excellent in my 120 Prado.

Another vote in favour of the Redarc Towpro. We, like most folk, use ours in 'Automatic' (Proportional) most of the time. However when we were towing our Tvan in some fairly gnarly off road conditions we had an electrical problem (not the Towpro, ended up being a corrugation induced loosening of a connection to a relay supplying power to the Towpro that I had fitted) and the Towpro, instead of failing in the circumstances, defaulted to t's other mode (User Controlled) which I had never previously used. On the sort of terrain we were travelling on it turned out that this mode was perfect. We continued in 'User Controlled mode' after we rectified the connection problem until we got back to the Gibb River Road.

Having the controls in the cab to be able to easily & intuitively change braking force to the van wheels in those off road circumstances was a definite plus.

I suspect that the unit you have heard about which fits onto the van is one I only came across in the past week when I saw it mentioned elsewhere. Called 'Elecbrake'. For everyday on-road use, & ease of fitment I think it has some benefit, but I think I'd still prefer the Towpro for it's ease of use & greater off road flexibility. The Elecbrake is more expensive & any unit fitted to the van is limited to that van. A controller fitted in the car can be used with other vans too.

Cuppa, you probably already know, but you don’t fit a relay to supply power to a brake controller. They should run direct from a battery either through a CB or a fuse.

Hi Gronk, my mistake, you are correct. I meant to write circuit breaker, not relay. It is one of those little auto-reset types.

If anyone has a Towpro which begins doing an impersonation of a christmas tree & you have one of these fitted, & the sequence of lights doesn't match anything in the Towpro handbook, check the tightness of these two connections! It may save you a lot of worry.

I have a crappy little CB as well. Been meaning to buy a better unit….one day !!!

Those crappy little cct breakers are quite reliable if they are a decent brand such as Cole Herse, and you keep them dry. The cheap ones can be crappy.
Pretty sure fuses are not compliant in Australia, or they werent 15 years ago when I last read the ADR, must be an auto reset cct breaker.
Some American vehicles came pre wired for brake controllers but were fused so that had to be changed to be compliant here.
Also there must be nothing else running off that breaker. Many times I saw fridges, driving lights and all sorts on the same breaker.

Tuson break control unit
This must be the unit I have heard of haven't read anything about it as yet some research for tonight

I presume you are aware that the Tuson brake control unit is a sway control device, not a brake controller? As such, it can only be used as an additional device to a brake controller; it can prevent sway, but won't brake the caravan.

I second others' opinion of the Redarc Towpro, having changed to it after using a non-proportional controller for many years. Absolutely fantastic and the best bit of kit ever.

The unit I referred to was the Elecbrakes unit. Yes it needs a phone to set it up & either a phone or their controller in the cab in case of wanting to use override braking to brake the van only. I don't like that you have to switch the override on & switch it off. Override is via bluetooth.

I prefer the Towpro which behaves similarly to applying a brake pedal. Push the knob in for override brakes, release knob to release override brakes. The unit does of course need wiring in, but is simpler than wiring a unit into the car & running wires back to the tow hitch. I think it is more expensive than the towpro.

As I said before I like having the option of 'non-proportional braking in some off road situations.

https://www.elecbrakes.com/how-it-works/

https://www.elecbrakes.com/wiring-diagrams/

Cuppa .. I think I would agree with you I'll see what the minister of Finance thinks of that lol :))

Keir thanks for your comment I did not know still doing the research on what is going to be the answer
Cheers appreciate the info Nick

Thanks Peter ..elecbrakes.. that is the one that I was told about. Just got link for it . Probably worth installing a more conventional safe and reliable redarc unit for the long-term maybe . Cheers Nick

Thanks Murray went to Autobarn this afternoon and sore the unit that you were talking about with the loom , if I was to buy that I could probably install it myself I guess saving myself maybe $300 installation cost an auto electrician etc would charge ??
I'm wondering if the new everests are still using the Cambus wiring system like my PX Ranger has ..

Nick
If your Everest has autonomous braking (adaptive wrong word) you

have to use the deadicate loom for that system to work. If your handy you should be ok as detailled instructions come with loom kit

Murray