Electric Brake on Campertrailer.
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 28, 2015 at 20:29
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luca_ki
Good afternoon to everybody!
It is long time since I wrote on this
forum and I'm quite excited to be back again!
I hope also that my english is better!
I have a quick question about electric brakes.
I already done a search on Google but now I'm getting even more confused ...
I finally just purchased a second hand camper trailer and I'm planning to tow it with my Patrol.
I believe that the trailer has electric brakes but I don't have any electric brake controller in my Patrol.
I'm getting very confused about weight: on the Rego paper it stated that the trailer has a GVM of 1500 and a Mass of 510.
So the question is: do I need to install an electric brake controller on my Patrol?
Thankyouuu!!!
Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Sunday, Jun 28, 2015 at 20:44
Sunday, Jun 28, 2015 at 20:44
If your trailer (which includes camper or caravan) has Electric brakes then you need a in your tow vehicle to activate them when required.
There is a good explanation of brakes and controllers here. I would suggest you get a proportional style controller and not the synchroniser type. The bottom 3 12V controllers
on this page. I would not recommend the ones above these three.
AnswerID:
556466
Follow Up By: luca_ki - Sunday, Jun 28, 2015 at 21:46
Sunday, Jun 28, 2015 at 21:46
Thankyou Nomadic Navara,
I will call my auto electrician tomorrow so I can organise the installation ASAP
FollowupID:
842644
Reply By: TomH - Sunday, Jun 28, 2015 at 21:56
Sunday, Jun 28, 2015 at 21:56
Buy only a Tekonsha Prodigy, a P3 or a Redarc TOW PRO.
No other Redarc model
AnswerID:
556472
Follow Up By: Hewy54 - Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 08:07
Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 08:07
My vote for the P3. Bought it on line for abou t$170,installed it myself for about $50 for wiring, as compared to the quote from the electrician for $400-$500.
Took me a slow 4 hours, but works really
well.
FollowupID:
842658
Follow Up By: Geoffr17 - Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 11:39
Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 11:39
Yes the Tekonsha P3 .
Good instructions to install it yourself , although these days of regulations and Laws not sure if you are allowed to for Insurance and Safety reasons.
Have had
mine for 3 years to control the 2 ton camper , excellent.
FollowupID:
842669
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 18:42
Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 18:42
Rubbish,
I have a Redarc non-proportional brake controller and it works fine for me.
FollowupID:
842680
Follow Up By: cruiser 3 - Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 18:52
Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 18:52
And I have a Teckonsha Primus that several auto electricians say is as good as the higher priced Teckonshas just doesn't have all the bells and whistles.
FollowupID:
842681
Follow Up By: TomH - Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 19:22
Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 19:22
To Sand Man Probably does in your mind But then have you tried a newer better one
FollowupID:
842682
Follow Up By: Hewy54 - Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 19:27
Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 19:27
Sand Man,
well done that you have a system that works for you. Just because some of us have a different system that works for us does not mean it is rubbish. Some may call it bells and whistles, others call them features. I find it an advantage to be able to programme in different trailers on the P3 as I have very different trailers that I tow and having them preprogrammed takes out the guesswork. I'm also a bit anal so I like to be able to see the digital readout on the braking.
The advantage of some of the other systems is that they can be mounted up behind the dash without having the unit exposed.
FollowupID:
842683
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 21:31
Monday, Jun 29, 2015 at 21:31
Hewy54,
You need to re-read the statement by TomH and my reply which was directed at his rather brash statement that "only one of the named controllers would do".
I could debate the pros and cons of proportional vs non proportional controllers, but will merely say that a non proportional brake controller correctly adjusted will provide sufficient "secondary braking assistance" to the vehicle's primary braking force, so that the combined vehicle/trailer/van is brought under effective braking control as quickly and safely as possible.
FollowupID:
842691