Community Forums

banjo311 · 06-01-2017, 01:44 PM

Hi, I'm brand new to this forum and have a question concerning electric brakes on small travel trailers. When the specs of a travel trailer says it has Electric Drum brakes on the axle (and it's a one axle) trailer, does this mean I don't need to buy something to help me stop when I'm pulling the trailer? Or do I need to buy an electric trailer brake like a Teconsha P3?

meaggro · 06-01-2017, 01:54 PM

You'll need the P3 (or something similar) as the brake controller to use the electric brakes.

twinboat · 06-01-2017, 01:54 PM

You need a controller like the one you mentioned, unless your tow vehicle came with one.

cruzbill · 06-01-2017, 02:02 PM

Banjo, Its called a 'brake controller' and the P3 is a good one. It measures the rate of deceleration of your tow vehicle, and applies a variable voltage to the brakes, so you have 'proportional' braking of your travel trailer. If you are lucky, your tow vehicle comes with a connector under the dash, you just plug the pigtail from the controller into this connector, connect your trailer pigtail and you are ready to go. There are two adjustments you need to make on the controller so you don't lock up the trailer wheels every time you stop, lots of info on you tube and this forum.

Starbreaker · 06-01-2017, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruzbill

Banjo, Its called a 'brake controller' and the P3 is a good one. It measures the rate of deceleration of your tow vehicle, and applies a variable voltage to the brakes, so you have 'proportional' braking of your travel trailer. If you are lucky, your tow vehicle comes with a connector under the dash, you just plug the pigtail from the controller into this connector, connect your trailer pigtail and you are ready to go. There are two adjustments you need to make on the controller so you don't lock up the trailer wheels every time you stop, lots of info on you tube and this forum.

This. I have a Prodigy P2 and love it. I have a 1 axle camper as well. It works great. Super easy to adjust. I just adjusted it so the trailer feels about like the truck does stopping with no trailer if that make sense. The Prodigies do have an initial boost option when you hit the breaks. I leave that on. Not all brake controllers have that, though so YMMV.