Electro/Hydraulic Brake controllers

[Roger Watts]

This seems to be a point that Excel doesn't really have much feed back on, or they haven't researched the brake controller end .
I bought a 07 Excel with the electo/hydrolic disc brake option. I had the old Tekonsha-Prodigy brake controller installed in the truck, it seemed to work just fine, as the Excel people had told me it would with this disc brake set up. The other day, I'm heading down the mountain side and touched the brakes for the first time on this descent, the brakes set so hard they almost locked the trailer brakes and wouldn't let loose till I came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. The people in the car behind me really loved this move ! Any way, the brakes were acting strange all the way down this descent, grabbing hard, sometimes almost stopping me, other times normal. When I got to the camp ground, and backed in to the site, I could hear the pump motor for the brakes running when I stopped and it would not shut off till I pulled the trailers plug out of the truck. Even after I did this, the brake lights were still on the truck with the key off and finally went off on their own after 10 min. I called Tekonsha tech dept., and was told that the Prodigy was not compatible with the electro/hydro disc brakes on the rig, and that this what usually happens. It worked fine for months and then went bad. I installed a new P-3 Tekonsha controller which can be set up to work with the old magnet drum brakes or the newelectro/hydrolic disc. The new P-3 is slick, though pricey, because it is a newest controller on the market. Everything seems to work good again.
so my advise is if you order the new Excel with the disc brake option be sure to have a proper brake controller. I got lucky !

[Roger Watts]

This seems to be a point that Excel doesn't really have much feed back on, or they haven't researched the brake controller end .
I bought a 07 Excel with the electo/hydrolic disc brake option. I had the old Tekonsha-Prodigy brake controller installed in the truck, it seemed to work just fine, as the Excel people had told me it would with this disc brake set up. The other day, I'm heading down the mountain side and touched the brakes for the first time on this descent, the brakes set so hard they almost locked the trailer brakes and wouldn't let loose till I came to a complete stop in the middle of the road. The people in the car behind me really loved this move ! Any way, the brakes were acting strange all the way down this descent, grabbing hard, sometimes almost stopping me, other times normal. When I got to the camp ground, and backed in to the site, I could hear the pump motor for the brakes running when I stopped and it would not shut off till I pulled the trailers plug out of the truck. Even after I did this, the brake lights were still on the truck with the key off and finally went off on their own after 10 min. I called Tekonsha tech dept., and was told that the Prodigy was not compatible with the electro/hydro disc brakes on the rig, and that this what usually happens. It worked fine for months and then went bad. I installed a new P-3 Tekonsha controller which can be set up to work with the old magnet drum brakes or the newelectro/hydrolic disc. The new P-3 is slick, though pricey, because it is a newest controller on the market. Everything seems to work good again.
so my advise is if you order the new Excel with the disc brake option be sure to have a proper brake controller. I got lucky !

[rockintom]

Roger,

Thanks for the important info. If you don't mind, how much for the P3? I have the regular Prodigy with my aftermarket add on of Kodiak disk brakes and Brakerite actuator. It works fine, but was considering the P3 if I need to replace in the future (works with both drum and disk). Disk brakes are wonderful aren't they? My Kodiak have ceramic brake pads which help pad life and virtually no noise or dust. Nice setup. Pads are interchangeable with GM applications.

[RustyJC]

I would highly recommend the BrakeSmart trailer brake controller for use with electrohydraulic disc brake applications.

Rusty

[Bruce and Jenna]

Whew. I'm still sweating us from reading that story.

Since the title is Brake controllers, I'll tell ya that I have the disk brakes on my 07 33RSE. I tow with a 2007 F350 with the Tow Command integrated brake controller.

PI gave me a letter from Dexter, who makes the hydraulic system, that the Ford controller is compatible. I've been towing for three months now with no problem.

I may still have that letter if anyone wants a copy before buying such a combination.

[Roger Watts]

The price of the new P-3 which I bought was almost $200 with shipping. I didn't shop around because I needed the controller now! We have to be at another park soon and I won't drive the rig with the other controller. I imagine the price will come down after the newness wears off the P-3

[Rick_CO]

I bought a 2008 Ford F350 with the Ford Tow Controller already installed (can't seem to buy without it) and also just bought a 2008 33TKE with disc brakes, and after much research/agonizing about this issue of using the Ford Tow Controller, got assurances from the dealer and from Ford and Dexter thru him, with whom he checked, that the system would work. We put the connector in the truck bed to avoid the water/moisture issues elsewhere reported. Towing it home from the dealer, up and down 6 and 7% grades, had absolutely no issues. The one thing that still makes me a bit uneasy is that I was told the brakes would not be activated in the 3-5mph zone, one incident of which I seem to have found when the Ford controller showed red as I was braking from a low speed. Still debating whether to add something like the P3: "overkill" vs good to be alive!

Rick

[sfischer]

Currently, the P3 is on sale for $140 from PPL.

Tekonsha P3

[rockintom]

I've also seen the P3 on Ebay for as low as $117.50, Buy it now. Word of caution, make sure you are buying the latest part #.
Tom