Brake controller for pop up camper

Any advice on brand or places to purchase a brake controller would be great.

 

Etrailer.com had good prices and selection when I was looking.

 

Popup campers typically don't weigh enough to require electric brakes. Typically only trailers somewhere around 2000# or more need electric brakes. If electric brakes came on the trailer, and you'd like to have them operable to be safe, then a simple and inexpensive time-based controller will work fine. From there, the heavier the trailer gets, then the more complex (and expensive) the controller gets. For example a heavy 4500# trailer might require a high-end inertia-based controller.

Time-based controllers use a simple timing circuit to apply the brakes. Those can be mounted in any position, and can even be loose on the console becasue position is not important. Inertia-based controllers have very sensitive sensors that measure the deceleration during braking and apply the trailer brakes in accordance with the rapidity of the stop. Those type controllers need to be hard mounted, typically on the kick panel under the dash. Both types typically have manual overrides to use in case of emergency, so both need to be near the driver.

Curt has lots of documents on this and you can see all 5 of their controllers.... https://www.curtmfg.com/application-guides


Pick out your controller, then go to Amazon. You'll find the controller you need at half of list price. Don't forget, you'll also need the correct controller harness to make the connection to your truck.

A visit to the Towing forum on this web site will answer most questions. https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/towing.34/

 

I've got one of the Tekonsha Prodigy units in my truck. I can't recall the exact model off the top of my head and I'm too lazy to walk outside and look but I've had it for a couple of years now. This is the current version: https://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90195.html I got mine from a local trailer place and installed it myself in a couple of minutes. One of the features that I like is that it can be mounted at an angle under the dash (still needs to be in line with direction of travel) and that it's easily removable since I've only needed it a couple of times.

If your truck came with the towing package it should have the connector behind the left kick panel, it just required the proper harness to connect the controller and two screw holes to mount the bracket.

 

I did not even permantly mount mine. I just put it in the pocket above the gas peddle. It can then be removed and put in the center console when not needed.

 

that could be problematic if someone banged the controller or it slid around the sensors might register the truck as braking when it's not or braking harder than it really is. Might make for some exciting trailer braking.

 

I just picked up a primus iq w the toyota wiring harness for $45 on Craigslist. There is one extra white wire that comes out of the harness. Is that not needed if I have the factory towing package?

 

its ground according to the video,

1:00 time laps,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc9jveHElIE

 

Still works Click on the

Watch this video on YouTube link.

 

Thanks!!!

 

It has been there for over 4 years without a single problem. It is recessed enough that it would be very difficult to bang it and there is minimul sliding around.

 

I think you'll find that most states require brakes on any trailer over 1500 lbs gross vehicle weight. Tenosha is an excellent brand of brake controller.

 

Second the tekonsha prodigy. Ive run mine for several years to control braking on my 81 jayco pop up. Works great.

 

I used a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 with the pop-up camper behind my minivan years ago. It worked out well enough that I'm having one installed in my Tacoma now. One of the things I like about it is the ability to store several different trailer profiles and call them up with a couple touches of a button. So when hauling my pop-up (about 2500#) I can have a less aggressive braking profile than when hauling a 5000# load of firewood (and a third profile for when that firewood trailer is empty).