Caravan brakes
Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 20:55
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Member - Odog
G'day all, think we just lashed out on a second hand Coromal corvair 511.
Need to drive 8 hours to pick it up.
My question is, the plug on the caravan is just a flat 7 pin, and an Anderson plug. So how do the brakes work? Do I need to fit a brake controller to my car (prado 150) or do the brakes come on with the brake lights on the van? I am in the dark here.. thanks all, for any information on this.. cheers Odog
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Reply By: Mazzy1 - Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 21:00
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 21:00
Yes you will need to have a brake controller fitted to your tug as you will have no brakes on the van and it be both dangerous and illegal
AnswerID:
615485
Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 21:53
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 21:53
/\ What he said /\
FollowupID:
886471
Reply By: dirvine - Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 22:09
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 22:09
Redarc Tow Pro is the unit most install. This unit will allow you to "dial" up the brake effort of the van. Reasonably easy install if you know a bit about wiring and how to pull car trim apart to get to the brake light wires of the tug and the "blue" wire of the unit to the "blue" brake wire of the van.
AnswerID:
615486
Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 22:23
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 22:23
No it isn't! What a load of garbage. I fit them as part of my job and I honestly fit more Techonsha controllers than Tow Pros. At a third the price for something that does the same job most people dont need the Redarc. There are situations that they are required though
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886472
Follow Up By: Malcom M - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 07:47
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 07:47
Love the blanket statement there.
What research do you have to back that statement up.
Guess you mean that you have one which is somewhat different.
I have Tekonsha's in two tugs.
FollowupID:
886488
Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:22
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:22
Red arc TowPro doesn’t work with electric/ hydraulic brakes, in that case you need the Elite model, I know it’s unlikely that the Coromal would have them,
FollowupID:
886491
Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:56
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:56
Not so Shaker. I and a number of others in my club have original Tow-Pros successfully operating electric over hydraulic brakes on
Kimberley Karavans and Kruisers.
Kimberley uses Carlisle Hydrostar hydraulic units, which may have something to do with the compatibility.
FollowupID:
886493
Follow Up By: dirvine - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 09:03
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 09:03
My information was based on many reports on a variety of web sites, by people who have had different units in their vehicles but have chosen Redarc for a number of reasons. I guess each to their own. I think the small size of the redarc, the ease of operation, and that it is made in Australia are good enough reason to choose it. If price was the only criteria then I am sure we might all end up with Chinese made products. I think that the original poster now knows they need a brake controller. The next thing I would suggest is they read widely from people who have had or used/use different brands and then based on what they hear /read make an informed decision that suits their needs.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 10:27
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 10:27
FrankP, I was only quoting almost verbatim, what I was told by Redarc themselves!
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 13:03
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 13:03
Shaker,
I got my info from
the Redarc website and from club experience.
As an aside, when I bought my TowPro there was no Elite model advertised, so I've always assumed that I have a Classic.
Looking further at the website, my documentation and the way my controller operates, it appears I have an early model Elite! An unexpected bonus.
For better or for worse, that has influenced what I have posted on this topic :-(
FollowupID:
886500
Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 15:20
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 15:20
You were lucky to get an Elite, to be honest I was annoyed that the Classic couldn’t cope with electric/hydraulic brakes.
FollowupID:
886504
Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 19:56
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 19:56
dirvine: Reading reviews online is not a sound basis for making a recommendation and I doubt very much you have spoken to enough people to be able to qualify that method either. By the sounds of it you are a either a Redarc fanboy or an employee of the company.
FollowupID:
886523
Reply By: Gronk - Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 22:09
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 22:09
Do I need to fit a brake controller to my car (prado 150)
Yes you do.
AnswerID:
615487
Reply By: Jackolux - Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 22:55
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 22:55
ITT just interested to know what situation a Redarc would be required over the other one and why ?
AnswerID:
615488
Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 23:17
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 23:17
Tekonsha has angular limits when mounting and sometimes there is no suitable place to mount it.
The main unit of the Redarc can be mounted in any orientation and can be tucked up under the dash with just the small control knob remoted to somewhere convenient.
I chose the Redarc for my BT50 for that reason - there was nowhere that I liked to mount a Tekonsha.
I had a Tekonsha in my Prado. Having used both controllers on the same van, I prefer the Tekonsha.
FollowupID:
886474
Follow Up By: 9900Eagle - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 06:24
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 06:24
Frank, you maybe talking about the base model voyager unit. The Prodigy P3 can be mounted at any angle as long as it is for and aft. Mine is mounted very close to vertical.
P3 mounting instructions
FollowupID:
886484
Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:51
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:51
Hi Eagle,
No, it was the Prodigy I was referring to. The earliest model had a tilt limit of 70 degrees and had to be mounted fore-and-aft, parallel to direction of travel and not "twisted", ie the face of the unit had to be east-west across the car.
P2 and P3 have got rid of the 70 degree tilt limit but the other restrictions are still there. With those restrictions, in my BT50 I could not find a position where it was accessible, met its positional requirements, was not a risk to my knees in the event of a prang, and which didn't require sacrificing console storage space on a permanent basis. And which looked ok, which ruled out on top of the dash, where I've seen some.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Paul E6 - Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 23:32
Tuesday, Dec 12, 2017 at 23:32
Fred Flintstone gets by without one.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: tazbaz - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:10
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:10
Is Fred Flintstone on this
forum?
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 14:48
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 14:48
Yeah but does Fred Flintstone tow a Van? Gee its been so long i cant remember! Michael
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 14:54
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 14:54
.
Fred tows a van from
Stonegate Industries.
FollowupID:
886503
Reply By: Motherhen - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 00:31
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 00:31
What is the GTM of this caravan? Does the caravan have electric brakes, in which case an in car brake controller is necessary.
The requirements are
"For trailers up 2 tonnes GTM, an efficient braking system is considered to have brakes operating on the wheels of at least one axle. Over-run brakes may only be used on trailers that do not exceed 2 tonnes GTM.
Every trailer over 2 tonnes GTM must have brakes operating on all wheels. The brake system must cause immediate application of the trailer brakes in the event of the trailer becoming detached from the towing vehicle. Under these circumstances, the brakes must remain applied for at least 15 minutes."
From
VSB1
AnswerID:
615491
Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:19
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:19
Just to add, the breakaway system is only required on trailers manufactured after a certain date & the requirement is not retrospective. Although, trailer repairers will suggest otherwise!
FollowupID:
886490
Reply By: bobsabobsa - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:43
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 08:43
Hi Odog
I have a 150 and found the easiest and best one to fit was the Redac Pro
I fitted the control into one of the dash blanks . in easy reach for the driver and passanger the module was fitted or wedged and secure next on the left side of the glovebox under the dash, removal of the plastic trim grove box lid etc is needed.
I found the unit to be very good and if needed can be placed in manual mode for dirt roads , this will only apply the brakes to a pre level ,as with auto mode the harder you stop the more pressure is applied to the caravan , an easy press of
the knob with apply the caravan brakes manually.
In saying that I do have a Tekonsha in my 100 series and find all ok a does every thing i need ,
But the 150 has no room under the dash or behind it, it is very tight in there and the Redarc does fit well
There are 2 types or Redarc I only know the more expensive one as I do dirt roads and liked the manual mode ,
,
In answer to your flat 7 pin depends what you have on your car , to what you have on your caravan I find the large round 7 pin the best because of the terminals are large and more contact is made , just my way , if needed to just get you
home an adapter is available from most car ass stores but a better way is to fit the corect plug , if you are doing all this wiring fit the anderson as you go , would be cheaper to do the lot in one hit
happy travel
Bob
AnswerID:
615496
Reply By: Member - Odog - Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 17:18
Wednesday, Dec 13, 2017 at 17:18
Thanks everyone for setting me straight... was just that a photo of the van showed a flat 7 pin plug, which is all I have on the prado.. it threw me a bit..
The prado is over at the auto elect, getting a redarc tow pro elite.. mate said it just wires into one of the seven pins.. think the van weight loaded is around the 1800kg mark.. that was part of our choice, didn't want anything pushing the limit.. thanks again everyone.. safe and happy Christmas/holidays to all.. cheers Owen n Sue
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