Who is using a brake controller?

How many of you use one? I just found out its the law here and had no clue but Im getting mine hooked up Thursday.

 

I do, it's dangerous if you don't. You can get away with no towing lightish loads with a 3/4 ton or 1 ton due to bigger brakes but the Tacoma's brakes are not meant to stop 6-9k lbs safely. Its a world of difference with one, still have to adjust how early you stop but depending on the load you won't have to as much.

 

Im just towing my 1500lbs tent trailer but ya I figured it would be needed. Im just new to towing anything and had no clue

 

It wouldn't hurt to have one that way if you ever plan on towing larger loads you don't have to worry about it.

 

I have a Tekonsha Prodigy



In some states (idk about Canada), if you run a trailer with electrical brakes (vs. surge brakes like boat trailers) then it is illegal to tow without one.

 

That looks cool and not very big. I was worried about it being so massive

 

I wouldn't leave home without one! If adjusted correctly, braking HP for both truck and trailer will stop in case of an emergency, with room to spare.

 

Have trailer brakes on my LivinLite TT. Was towing the TT with my a 87 Toyota Pickup when a rear brake drum cylinder started leaking & I lost the truck brakes. Was able to use the TT brakes for stopping without the use of the pickup's emergency brakes until I got to a safe place to stop & replace the brake cylinder. Replaced brake fluid & rear drum cylinder before selling the pickup & the current owner says the brakes work great. The reason the brake cylinder started leaking was because the emergency/parking brake cable stuck causing the rear drum/cylinder to get hot. Fixed the emergency/parking brakes before selling the pickup, too.

 

old Tekonsha Voyager hooked up in base 2007 4x4 tacoma w/o tow package. had to wire about everything. glad the towing bible exists.

 

I have an Impulse Digital Controller. I love it. You can get the plug and play kit for use with the factory towing package. Installs easily, can be mounted anywhere in any direction, (does not have to be level and facing forward like some).

 

How does it do as compared to a non time delay controller?

 

I just got mine installed yesterday and its small and out of the way. I'm pretty happy with it. I should be towing my camper for the first time tomorrow so I should know how it feels

 

I really couldn't say. I have had two different controllers and both have operated basically the same way. This Impulse has a ton of adjustment which is digitally displayed. Getting it adjusted correctly is critical, but simple. Only when I did not have it set right did I experience either the grabbiness that slid the tires like was described above, or sluggish braking. With it set right I really think my total stopping distance is hardly affected.

 

So I used it and ya it does make a difference. I had to set the thing at first and without the brakes up enough you could feel the weight for sure, and the camper was only 1600lbs or so. Its set nice and works great. Easier then I thought