Why a Prodigy Brake Controller?

[stuart]

I see it time and time again in the Towing Forum (Toyota Tundra Forum) but no one ever explains why to use the Prodigy Brake Controller. It seems high priced at $125 even though I have seen it as low as $93 plus shipping? Your thoughts greatly appreciated.
2nd Question: What color is the back up light wire for the seven pin connector on a Toyota Tundra?

 

[Dozernut]

Works very well, ease of installation. good value for the money. I have one in my truck and tow a fifth wheel camper, it is basically a set and forget.

 

[keving]

I was told that it has electronic contol vs. the pendulum type. I used one in my dually for years. It worked flawlessly.

 

[8561]

Because it's a progressive stop, much smoother than a pendulum unit. Never needs adjustment. Set it and forget it. Once you own one, you will never go back. If you want the best info on the net about towing, go to rv.net. Big forum for everyone towing campers all over the country. They know what they are talking about.

 

[NTex6500]

I have a prodigy in my 1-ton pulling 3 different trailers. Works great when switching between different weight trailers. Very easy to install, set-up and use.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I see it time and time again in the Towing Forum (Toyota Tundra Forum) but no one ever explains why to use the Prodigy Brake Controller. It seems high priced at $125 even though I have seen it as low as $93 plus shipping? Your thoughts greatly appreciated.
2nd Question: What color is the back up light wire for the seven pin connector on a Toyota Tundra?

I've got 3 brake controllers in 3 different tow vehicles, my favorite is the Jordan Ultima.

As for why to use a Prodigy, the only answer I can come up with is that it is popular, but that doesn't make it the best, it just makes it popular.

 

[kennyd]

I've got 3 brake controllers in 3 different tow vehicles, my favorite is the Jordan Ultima.

As for why to use a Prodigy, the only answer I can come up with is that it is popular, but that doesn't make it the best, it just makes it popular.

I agree 100%

I use the Jordan Ultima also. Absolutely fantastic!
Best Brake Controller

 

[Builder]

Buddy of mine had the Jordan and spent more time playing with the cables & setting it up than was worth for me. I have a prodigy in my GMC 3500 and a $49 Husky in my dump truck that works excellent.

 

[Marine1]

The Prodigy also has a plug in harness in the back. This means that you can buy another $10.00? mounting bracket and you can transfer the one unit to your other vehicles. I use it to tow my 31' Jayco and my 14' utility trailer. All I do is set the boost for the Jayco and unboost it for the utility. Took me 20 min. to install with the factory harness that Ford gave me and that was because it took me about 15 minutes to find the cable under and behind the dash. Took me another 5 minutes to set the gain.

I would buy another one but I bought the mounting bracket for my other car so now I don't need another.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Prodigy
smooooooooooooooothhhhhhhh

 

[wushaw]

Buddy of mine had the Jordan and spent more time playing with the cables & setting it up than was worth for me. I have a prodigy in my GMC 3500 and a $49 Husky in my dump truck that works excellent.

And that folks is why the Prodigy is more popular than the Jordan...plug and play.

I had the Jordan in a previous one ton that worked great, I now have air for the house and a cheap drawtite for my electric brake trailers.
My next controller in a PU will be another Jordan....I have an allen wrench and a pair of dikes

 

[AlanB]

Hmmm, not familiar with the Jordan, need to look at those for the next one.

But why there are 3 Prodigy (ies?) at my house.

Digital readout, you can tell exactly what is going on.

Easy to reset to your exact numbers (see digital readout)

It senses the movement, and does not need to be leveled, adjusted for level etc.

Easy to move between trucks (but yes, I am lazy and don't, just buy another)

The set and forget crowd is definetely NOT why I have a Prodigy, We tow multiple trailers, with multiple weights on the trailers, with different trucks, and the "tuneability" of the prodigy is very nice, Empty dump trailer 2000 lbs vs. loaded dump at 12,000 or so, it is nice to dial in exactly what you want.

And the troubleshooting and tech support from Tekonsha has been excellent.

 

[wushaw]

Hmmm, not familiar with the Jordan, need to look at those for the next one.

But why there are 3 Prodigy (ies?) at my house.

Digital readout, you can tell exactly what is going on.

Easy to reset to your exact numbers (see digital readout)

It senses the movement, and does not need to be leveled, adjusted for level etc.

Easy to move between trucks (but yes, I am lazy and don't, just buy another)

The set and forget crowd is definetely NOT why I have a Prodigy, We tow multiple trailers, with multiple weights on the trailers, with different trucks, and the "tuneability" of the prodigy is very nice, Empty dump trailer 2000 lbs vs. loaded dump at 12,000 or so, it is nice to dial in exactly what you want.

And the troubleshooting and tech support from Tekonsha has been excellent.

The Jordan also has digital readout that gives amperage draw....good for troubleshooting, you know pretty fast if you have a problem.
The cable attached to the brake pedal send "X"amt. of power to brakes as to what your braking needs are.
Adjustment for different trailers is just turning the knob while holding the manual slider over for a specific amperage reading for the amt. of brakes you have...2, 4, or 6...and if you don't get what the manual calls for then you already know you have a brake problem.
It is basically married to whatever vehicle in is installed in due to cable length to brake pedal.

Both are good controllers, I am just glad we can have a choice of what fits our needs/wants best.

 

[RedRocker]

I've got a Jordan, no problems and works great. Brakesmart is sposta be the hot ticket too.

 

[whodat90]

Yup, I've got a Jordan also. I like it for the fact that it's a proactive controller rather than a reactive. You set the max current to trailer weight (I hit the BRB in my driveway while I'm moving, open the window and adjust the current up till the trailer brakes lock) and forget about it. You put your brakes on halfway, the trailer brakes come on half. 1/4=1/4. Etc. With any inertial controller (be it an accelerometer driven or pendulum driven) the brake controller reacts to changes in acceleration of the tow vehicle. I don't like the fact that your vehicle has to act independently of the trailer for the controller to act; the jordan makes the trailer a part of your vehicle.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Yup, I've got a Jordan also. I like it for the fact that it's a proactive controller rather than a reactive.

That is one of the best features. Other brake controllers sense the vehicle stopping and only then begin to apply brake pressure to the trailer. The Jordan supplies a progressive amount of brake pressure to the trailer at the same time that you are beginning to apply the brakes to the vehicle. There is no lag. The more brake pressure you apply to the brake pedal, the more brake pressure is applied to the trailer brakes. Other systems have the trailer lagging behind the tow vehicle in when the trailer brakes are applied, that causes the trailer to push against the tow vehicle. Also, inertial and pendulum controllers are not as accurate on slopes, bumpy surfaces, etc. Better units like the Prodegy attempt to correct for those situation, but the Jordan simply does not have to correct for them because it works differently.

 

[Rara Avis]

Brakesmart...especially if you have electric over hydraulic brakes...

Dr. Performance - BrakeSmart

"BrakeSmart, the best trailer brake controller BrakesSmart!"

 

[Slamfire]

I had my shop order one of the Jordan's, Two weeks, later we called to find out where it was. The woman who answered the phone, said, "He's making them as fast as he can". Imagining a guy working in his garage, I canceled the order, and bought a Prodigy. Yuh snooze, yuh lose.