Below is a link to the sale thread here on the board. This can be a thread used for discussion between PBB members about brake controllers in general or the new P3 in particular.

LINK (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=611449)

For the average dude who tows car trailer/toy hauler and already has a prodigy, what is the major advantage of the new controller? I have zero complaints with my prodigy and the proportional seems near seemless.....

For the average dude who tows car trailer/toy hauler and already has a prodigy, what is the major advantage of the new controller? I have zero complaints with my prodigy and the proportional seems near seemless.....

I agree.

I was wondering why I would want to get rid of my prodigy for this new unit other than the cool display.
Talk me into it Trailer Guy. And answer my damn PM I sent you..... Please

I was looking at last weekend.
The screen give better warning/promts, and just looks better to me.

I agree.

I was wondering why I would want to get rid of my prodigy for this new unit other than the cool display.
Talk me into it Trailer Guy. And answer my damn PM I sent you..... Please

Man, I'm sorry. I just sent one to you and I'm looking right now to get you an answer on the greaseless ball.

I was looking at last weekend.
The screen give better warning/promts, and just looks better to me.

This is correct. Rather than just a small screen with a couple numbers or letters this is a much larger screen with actual words. You can also customize the LCD screen with different background colors so that it is easy to see depending on the interior color of your rig. Also depending on the angle and mounting location, you can also change the contrast to make it easier to read. For those of us (those of you) that can speak more than one language, there are three different language options as well. All the buttons are on the front face, so there are no dials or buttons on the top of the controller to try and get to. This is great for trying to mount the brake control up against the dash because you can get it closer since you don't have buttons on top. The P3 allows the user to select between standard electric brakes or electric over hydraulic brakes that are getting to be more popular on boat trailers. The read out can be switched between output current, battery/brake/output voltage. The warning system flashes a very bright red screen with the problem on the screen (ie: no trailer connection, short/overload on brake system), and yes, it will get your attention, I have personal experience with the warning system. Instead of a the boost done on a number system, it actually has a picture of a truck with the different size trailers on it. The P3 also has a reverse feature that the driver can use that keeps the controller from sending power to the brakes while trying to backup and maneuver a trailer into place. Very cool feature. The P3 has a new quick clip-mount and uses the same plug-in harness as the Prodigy. And of course, a Lifetime Warranty.

Compared to the Prodigy, the P3 is easier to understand, operate, and read. After some long term use and testing (since April) I have found that the P3 does operate slightly smoother than the Prodigy, and the extra features that at first didn't seem to be that great, have proven themselves to me over longer use.

Personal Opinion:
If I already owned a Prodigy controller and only towed a few time a year, then spending more money on the P3 wouldn't make much since to me.

But, if I towed a lot, or was looking for a new controller, I would invest my money on the P3 and not even consider the Prodigy. It is by far an UPGRADE to the Prodigy. Without a doubt, Tekonsha listened to the people and the concerns that have been voiced over the last few years and have come up with a better, more usable, and more user friendly product.

Awesome product.... purchased several weeks ago from trailer guy (not as cheap as he has it listed now though! :flipoff2: ) and I love it. Feels like the trailer isnt even there!

WOW. Looks like this is going to be my next controller. I have the tekonsha Envoy in my dodge at the moment, but was planning on a prodigy for the F-800. Currently, my recently purchased trailers have vacumn over hydraulic, and strait electrics. I was either going to go to strait electrics on the flat beds, or convert the vacumn over hydraulic to electric over hydraulic, depending on the expense/performance question. If this can bounce back and forth like that, that'll save me a ton of work!

The PDF file wouldn't work for me... What has it got for emergency full powered manual braking? That's a must for me.... It needs to be easy to grab with no looking....

WOW. Looks like this is going to be my next controller. I have the tekonsha Envoy in my dodge at the moment, but was planning on a prodigy for the F-800. Currently, my recently purchased trailers have vacumn over hydraulic, and strait electrics. I was either going to go to strait electrics on the flat beds, or convert the vacumn over hydraulic to electric over hydraulic, depending on the expense/performance question. If this can bounce back and forth like that, that'll save me a ton of work!

This is correct. You can go back and forth between straight electric, or the electric over hydraulic setting by pressing just a couple buttons running the the menu screen. Very handy.

The PDF file wouldn't work for me... What has it got for emergency full powered manual braking? That's a must for me.... It needs to be easy to grab with no looking....

The P3 has the manual braking lever on the under side just like the Prodigy.

This is correct. You can go back and forth between straight electric, or the electric over hydraulic setting by pressing just a couple buttons running the the menu screen.

One thing that worries me. The truck itself has air brakes. Does it just wire in to the brake light wire?

One thing that worries me. The truck itself has air brakes. Does it just wire in to the brake light wire?

Yep.

Brake light wire off the brake switch
12v hot
ground
wire that goes to plug

Those are the four wires.

I've got a 'Reese' brake controller (what can I say, it came with my truck). It works fine, but I have to constantly adjust how much brake I want the trailer to have. (My favorite conundrum is when I've been handling a trailer at lower speeds and then forget to adjust it after I get out on the interstate or something.)

Does the P3 have a 'progressive' type of braking or is there such a thing?

Does the manual brake provide full emergency power even though the controler is turned down for a lighter load?

Where on the web can I see all the specs and information?

Is there anything to stop obnoxisous brake chatter at low speeds? This is a major problem with some of the old controllers.

Does the P3 have a 'progressive' type of braking or is there such a thing?


Inertia controlled braking with an adjustable "boost" to the trailer to start everything slowing down. The harder you hit the truck brake, the harder the trailer brakes come on.



Does the manual brake provide full emergency power even though the controler is turned down for a lighter load?

You don't want the controller to give full power. If you lock up the brakes of the trailer, you lose control and the trailer provides no stopping power. Controller provides all of the voltage that you have the controller set for when the manual lever is fully applied.

Where on the web can I see all the specs and information?

In one of these threads, Aaron provided the link to the Tekonsha website.

Is there anything to stop obnoxisous brake chatter at low speeds? This is a major problem with some of the old controllers.

No chatter. Power delivery is smooth. If you have chatter with this controller, you have brake problems.

Full emergency power is a very important thing to me! Say you are going up a steep hill and you loose traction - now you have to stop. Trailer brakes work very poorly in reverse and you need all you can get to keep from sliding backwards. There are other times one may want to lock the trailer brakes without using the truck brakes. Loss of controll from skidding is only a problem at higer speeds. Contolling the trailer brakes on steep hills at slow speed is very important too.... I know people who have put a switch in to give a full 12v to the trailer for emergency trailer maximum braking. In my opinion if I go for a manual control I want it to be just that... I control the brakes from minimum to maximum....

I have a Voyager in my truck now. Would the plug from the Voyager work for the P3? I'd hate to have to re-solder everything again. I s*ck at soldering...I was lucky to get it right the first time.

.

That is alot of "what ifs?"

I have a Voyager in my truck now. Would the plug from the Voyager work for the P3? I'd hate to have to re-solder everything again. I s*ck at soldering...I was lucky to get it right the first time.

Voyager doesn't have a plug. :confused:


You can cut the wires at the controller and attach the P3 plug to the wires already hooked up. Or you can get the plug from Tekonsha that has both plugs already hooked up.

[QUOTE=FYRMAN;7234473]That is alot of "what ifs?"
QUOTE]


What if's have a way of staking up when it comes to needing full braking...... Especially in steep hills with tight corners and big canyons.... It just doesn't seem like to much to ask for that the manual control should give full braking if I want it otherwise what's it for?

Maybe I will just have to go with the switch to put 12v right back there to lock em up....


Where can i get the full information on this thing on the web??

http://www.tekonsha.com/files/P3%20Brochure.pdf

http://www.tekonsha.com/p3.html

[QUOTE=FYRMAN;7234473]That is alot of "what ifs?"
QUOTE]


What if's have a way of staking up when it comes to needing full braking...... Especially in steep hills with tight corners and big canyons.... It just doesn't seem like to much to ask for that the manual control should give full braking if I want it otherwise what's it for?

Maybe I will just have to go with the switch to put 12v right back there to lock em up....


Where can i get the full information on this thing on the web??

The manual lever below will make it go to full power (13.8 VDC) to the brakes I believe when you throw that lever. The boost function has 3 different levels, all changing how much initial braking is applied, and how the scale slides for proportional braking power from there on out.

Also, when stopped for longer than 7 seconds i think (like at a light or on a hill) the controller will bump up the voltage to 1/4 of maximum and maintain it there to make sure the trailer doesn't go anywhere.

I bought mine a month or so ago, but havent had a chance to tow anything with it yet. But the install on my 07 tundra was easy as pie, I bought the optional plug, so it was litterally just plug it in under the dash and to the controller and was done.

The manual lever below will make it go to full power (13.8 VDC) to the brakes I believe when you throw that lever.

No, just to the power level you have the controller set at.

Also, when stopped for longer than 7 seconds i think (like at a light or on a hill) the controller will bump up the voltage to 1/4 of maximum and maintain it there to make sure the trailer doesn't go anywhere.

2-3 seconds, and it's a percentage of the power you have the controller set for.

No, just to the power level you have the controller set at.



2-3 seconds, and it's a percentage of the power you have the controller set for.

Shittt.... I tried. Was drunk lol

Shittt.... I tried. Was drunk lol

No big deal. I just get to play with them far more often than you guys.

HOLY SHAT!

FYRMAN, man, thanks so much for answering questions. My wife planned a family camping weekend trip thing a couple months ago, and she was not letting me out of that. Shoot me a PM and let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.

Thanks man,
Aaron

Im new and this is probably a dumb question but should be easy... Im planning to purchase this controler from you but need to know what harness to purchase for my 01 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ w/ factory towing package...

any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

need to know what harness to purchase for my 01 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ w/ factory towing package...

any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

You won't have a plug in. Jeep just has the brake wire stubbed off under the dash. You will have to run your own wires for power/ground/brake signal.

You won't have a plug in. Jeep just has the brake wire stubbed off under the dash. You will have to run your own wires for power/ground/brake signal.

True for ALL BUT the 2001 Grand Cherokees:

http://www.wjjeeps.com/trailer.htm#CONTROLLER

I gather that the 2001 used the same harness that the Dodge vans and trucks used for that year.

True for ALL BUT the 2001 Grand Cherokees:

http://www.wjjeeps.com/trailer.htm#CONTROLLER

I gather that the 2001 used the same harness that the Dodge vans and trucks used for that year.

Yep it was my understanding the 01 Grands were "plug-and-play"... I did a little more research and think it might be the TEK3020... Do you have those in stock or would I have to order it from somewhere else. OR, is that even the right harness?

Chris

I've looked through all my application guides and haven't been able to find anything that shows that any of the Jeep vehicles have a plug-in under the dash for a brake controller. To my knowledge, FYRMAN is on the ball, there will be a wire stub that you can hook to, but for the most part, it is a hard wire vehicle.

I've looked through all my application guides and haven't been able to find anything that shows that any of the Jeep vehicles have a plug-in under the dash for a brake controller. To my knowledge, FYRMAN is on the ball, there will be a wire stub that you can hook to, but for the most part, it is a hard wire vehicle.

Application guides may have missed it, as it's a one-year only deal.

Check the following post of a guy who plugged in a harness on his '01. You might be able to cross-reference that U-Haul #:

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=847722&highlight=brake+controller+harness

The 2001 is already wired for trailer brakes, got my harness for the Mopar connector about 6 bucks at U Haul (U Haual Part #13516) ( the bag says for Dodge trucks and vans up to 01, no mention of CG/it works on the 2001WJ). Color coded to make it easy. Solder those 4 connections and heat shrink to the unit then tape the harness wires together. Plug into the 01s (BLUE) connector and you're done. You don't need a C/B. I use the Uhaul controller and stuff the unit in the door pocket when towing. I simply unplug the unit and store it with the trailer when done..

Application guides may have missed it, as it's a one-year only deal.

Check the following post of a guy who plugged in a harness on his '01. You might be able to cross-reference that U-Haul #:

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=847722&highlight=brake+controller+harness

Then I'm sure that it is the standard, one and only Dodge plug. Man, out of the amount of controllers we do, I'm surprised that we haven't ran into this before. But then again, we only do about half dozen Jeeps with brake controllers a year I'd say. Not really the norm. for us, mainly the trucks themselves. But very good to know, thank you very much for the heads up.

So TrailerGuy.. .the T3020 is the Dodge one right? I dont know where I found it but I saw it online somewhere. And yeah the only year Jeep put a plug under the dash was on the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/ the Tow Package...

Thanks again,
Chris

So TrailerGuy.. .the T3020 is the Dodge one right? I dont know where I found it but I saw it online somewhere. And yeah the only year Jeep put a plug under the dash was on the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee w/ the Tow Package...

Thanks again,
Chris

Yep, the 3020 is the Dodge part number.