Best Trailer Brake Controler

Tekonsha 90195 P3 Trailer Brake Controller

Reese Towpower Brakeman IV Trailer Brake Controller

Tekonsha 90160 Primus Trailer Brake Controller

Trailer brake controllers are an important accessory for any vehicle that tows a trailer. If you have ever pulled your trailer up to a steep hill and experienced the burning sensation of watching it slowly creep up, then you know just how much easier life would be with one of these devices. Today we’re going to discuss some key features of the best models on the market right now, along with what makes them so effective at pulling trailers without breaking their brakes or other components.

A trailer brake controller is a device installed on your tow vehicle that controls the brakes on the towed vehicle. This means it regulates how much braking power gets applied to ensure smooth stops for both vehicles at any given time. These controllers are also sometimes called ‘integrated’ or ‘automatic’.

Best Trailer Brake Controllers Reviewed

Tekonsha 90195 P3 Trailer Brake Controller

Tekonsha 90195 P3 Trailer Brake Controller

For those who’ve got a larger vehicle, this controller will provide optimal power. It’s also easy to install and use so it’ll be safe for everyone involved without needing professional help in order to get the job done right!

This model is capable of handling up to thirty-thousand pounds which means it can handle just about anything that won’t break itself. And since people are likely wanting these products because they often have heavy loads being towed around behind them safely, having one with such high capabilities makes sense as something ideal rather than something cheap or low quality which doesn’t live up to expectations after all.

If you’re looking for a high quality option that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, this is the one to go with. It’s very easy to use so it can be used by those who don’t know how as well as those who do which makes it great for taking care of many different needs at once! There are also tons of other features included such as being able to control braking from multiple trailers simultaneously.

PROs
  • This controller has the highest weight capacity available which makes it perfect for larger vehicles.
  • It’s very easy to install and use so it can be used by anyone without needing special skills or knowledge of how these products work in order to keep people safe on the road.
CONs
  • None
Reese Towpower Brakeman IV Trailer Brake Controller

Reese Towpower Brakeman IV Trailer Brake Controller

For those who are looking for a great option that won’t break the bank, this is it. It’s one of the more affordable options out there due to being priced at less than forty dollars yet still has many features available such as having LED display which makes it easy to see what’s going on with your trailer even in bright sunlight or bad weather conditions.

It also includes automatic leveling capabilities so you don’t have to worry about making adjustments while driving which can be dangerous depending on how long it takes and where traffic around you may move over time. This feature alone proves itself worthy of consideration if safety is something desired rather than simply trying new things without proper research beforehand.

The Reese Towpower Brakeman IV Trailer Brake Controller is a good option for those who want to save money yet still have many of the features they desire. It’s simple and easy to use, highly affordable, and includes all necessary hardware required for installation which is suitable with most trailers out there today.

This brake controler has been recognized as one of the best on the market due to its high level of performance at an unbeatable price compared to others in this industry making it a great choice for anyone looking for something that works well without having too much cash thrown around just trying different things only to find yourself unhappy with your purchase later down the road.

PROs
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable price
  • LED display for clear view during day or night
CONs
  • Smaller range of operation compared to other brake controlers out there today.
Tekonsha 90160 Primus Trailer Brake Controller

Tekonsha 90160 Primus Trailer Brake Controller

It’ll only set you back about sixty bucks and for that small sum, Tekonsha Primus comes with a long list of features such as auto-dimming LED display which can be adjusted to suit your needs. This makes it easier on the eyes when trying to determine what’s going on while driving at night or in low light conditions where vision might not be at its best.

Like most things nowadays, this brake controler is powered by lithium batteries so if you’re someone who doesn’t mind spending more money up front knowing they won’t have to worry about replacing them anytime soon after their purchase then this could be an option worth considering since replacements will cost more than just buying new ones from us directly without having to deal with middleman markups.

Lets not forget that this model is also backed by Tekonsha’s limited lifetime warranty which puts your mind at ease knowing they’ve got you covered whenever issues arise with the product no matter how long after its purchase date it takes place on. Even if damage was caused due to a collision, be sure to give them a call and see what compensation options are available or simply go online make some adjustments yourself from home. It does have adjustable settings for gain levels so even when braking there isn’t going to be any jerking motion behind the wheel making driving more comfortable while pulling heavy loads without having too harsh of an effect on your truck’s brakes overall once everything has been properly adjusted accordingly under conditions before setting off on a journey.

PROs
  • Auto-dimming LED display
  • Can be adjusted to suit your needs
CONs
  • None.
Curt 51110 Venturer Trailer Brake Controller

Curt 51110 Venturer Trailer Brake Controller

The Curt Venturer is another great brake controller from a well-known company in the industry. It comes with the ability to control up to four trailer axles and can be adjusted accordingly depending on your desired sensitivity for braking as needed under different conditions whether you’re pulling heavy loads or not, this will ultimately determine how much effort goes into applying brakes behind the wheel when lacking sufficient air pressure due to an increase in weight being hauled around by your truck.

This model also has a digital display that’s easy on the eyes at night allowing drivers full view of what’s going on without having issues trying to see what it says anywhere regardless of lighting conditions which makes dialing things down easier so you don’t have too harsh of an effect applied while taking corners.

This also comes with a manual override lever that can be used in case it malfunctions or you want to change certain settings; this is great for changing things up if your load changes and the weight distribution isn’t evenly distributed which ultimately affects how much air pressure reaches each wheel on its own, but having this makes adjusting things easier without too much effort required. There’s no reason why anyone should have issues trying to figure out what needs doing behind the wheel regardless of experience level as long as they know where both levers are located near their feet just beneath the dashboard.

PROs
  • Easy to install and operate
  • Weatherproof controller with a digital display that’s easy on the eyes for quick reference of information at night.
CONs
  • Expensive 
Tekonsha 90885 Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller

Tekonsha 90885 Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller

The Tekonsha Prodigy is a great option for anyone looking to have a simple controller that’s easy on the eyes and does what it needs without too much trouble involved. It has different settings depending on your desired sensitivity so you can get things just right when pulling heavy loads which saves from having to worry about being able to see clearly at night or in bad weather conditions where everything looks worse due to glare, but this comes with an automatic shutoff if braking power drops below 12 volts so there’s no risk of damaging anything behind the truck while driving around town.

This also fits many trucks even though they’re not listed as compatible because it takes only one wire unlike other models that may require two separate wires adding more work into installing something new. It’s also nice that Tekonsha has a locking feature so you don’t have to worry about any pieces becoming loose or getting in the way when trying to take it out for storage. The only downside is that this unit does not automatically re-adjust itself if your trailer changes weight, but instead will just use what you set up at first until it becomes unplugged which means turning everything back on every time something different needs to be hauled around depending on where you’re headed and how much stuff there’ll be.

PROs
  • Simple to use
  • Easy on the eyes
CONs
  • Doesn’t automatically adjust for different weights, must be done manually by unplugging and plugging back in.
Curt 51140 TriFlex Trailer Brake Controller

Curt 51140 TriFlex Trailer Brake Controller

The Curt TriFlex controller is designed to be easy on the eyes with a digital display that’s familiar and similar to modern cars so there won’t be any need for learning how it works or what each feature does because at first glance you’ll already know. If something happens where brake power drops below 12V, this unit will automatically adjust itself back up without having to turn anything off which can keep things working normally even if your lights are left on by accident after pulling into storage for the night.

This model also has automatic braking depending on speed instead of manually adjusting like most other models, but some people who use their trailer often may find it easier to just do things themselves rather than always relying on technology when they’re used to setting everything up and taking it down every time.

The Curt TriFlex is a top choice for many of our customers because of its ease-of-use, but if your trailer doesn’t have electric brakes already installed this will require either adding that or getting an adapter kit separately which can add to the total price you end up paying at checkout (or get one with all wiring included).

PROs
  • Digital display is easy to read and user-friendly
  • Automatic braking function works well
CONs
  • Can be more expensive than other options depending on the price ranges you’re shopping in.
Draw-Tite 20191 I-Stop Trailer Brake Controller

Draw-Tite 20191 I-Stop Trailer Brake Controller

The Draw-Tite IStop is a little bit cheaper than some other options because it’s made to be simple and doesn’t have all the extra features that you only need when setting up your trailer. This unit will automatically adapt itself to whatever voltage level comes in so if there isn’t enough power, the controller won’t force anything at 12V which means less strain on your car battery while driving down the road.

This model also has an automatic braking function depending on speed but no off switch for convenience or safety reasons since this can help keep lights from being left on accidentally overnight. One main drawback of this brake controler compared to others is that it uses clamps instead of pigtails for wiring which may not work with every vehicle due to different wire types.

This model is a good choice for those who want something simple and reliable that also works with a variety of vehicles without any programming needed. If you only use your trailer occasionally, this brake controller will be great to save on installation costs but still give you the power features that make it easy to stop quickly when necessary.

PROs
  • Easy to install
  • Auto voltage adaptation for best performance.
CONs
  • No off switch can be dangerous in some situations.
Hopkins 47297 Insight Trailer Brake Controller

Hopkins 47297 Insight Trailer Brake Controller

The Hopkins Insight is a little bit more expensive than the others but it’s still considered one of the top options on our list because not only does it have an easy to read screen, you can also use your iPhone as a remote control.

This model has both automatic and manual braking modes plus reverse trailer lighting which means that if your vehicle gets too close behind another car using this controller will automatically brake until there is enough room again without needing any help from you.

Since we all know how annoying it can be when trying to find what cable goes where after installing something like this, Hopkins made sure their unit was compatible with most vehicles by having labeled wires and adapters for some types out of the box so no time needs to be spent figuring out what goes where.

It also has an LED screen which can show you battery voltage, brake mode and even set up the system with your specific needs.

PROs
  • Has a bright LED screen
  • Uses an iPhone as a remote control 
CONs
  • Not compatible with electric brakes.
Hayes 81760 Engage Trailer Brake Controller

Hayes 81760 Engage Trailer Brake Controller

The Hayes is a great choice for anyone looking to get the most bang for their buck when it comes to options and features. This model can be manually or automatically controlled, has an LED display that shows you voltage in addition to braking mode and even lets you adjust the sensitivity of your brakes so if they’re particularly touchy this can help with getting them set right.

As we mentioned earlier having color-coded wires makes installation easier but some people don’t like how bulky it might look behind your vehicle’s dashboard so keep that in mind before making a purchase.

This unit also doesn’t have built-in lights which means there will never be any surprises at night about whether or not this system is engaged. It does however let you know if your trailer’s brakes are on or off.

PROs
  • LED display is helpful
  • Easy to install yourself
CONs
  • No built-in lights
Draw-Tite 5504 Activator Trailer Brake Controller

Draw-Tite 5504 Activator Trailer Brake Controller

For those on a tighter budget but still want some nice features the Draw-Tite 550 is an excellent choice. The fully automatic, push button design makes it easy to set up and use right out of the box.

This model uses color coded wire connectors so you know what goes where for your specific vehicle which does make installation easier if you’re not completely comfortable with electrical work under your car’s hood. While this controller will do its job well there are more bells and whistles available on higher end models that might be worth considering depending on how much control over your trailer brakes you’d like to have versus ease of use.

The only real downside we could find about this unit was that it has no lights or gauges which isn’t a problem for everyone, but if you want something with a bit more feedback this may not be the best choice.

For those looking to save money without sacrificing much in terms of features or performance the Draw-Tite 550 is an excellent option that’s easy to install and works well right out of the box.

PROs
  • Easy to install
  • No lights or gauges so it can be easier to use for some people
CONs
  • None

Buying a New Trailer Brake Controller: What to Look For

Types of Trailer Brake Controllers
  • Time-Delayed Brake Controllers

This is the simplest of all trailer brake controllers and uses a simple on/off switch for activating your brakes. When you tap, or push down on this button it sends power to apply the brakes just like using a manual transmission vehicle would do by shifting into low gear. You can use these if your towed vehicle already has its own form of braking system such as hydraulic disc or drum systems, but they aren’t suitable with those that don’t have any provisions in place for slowing themselves from rolling ahead without help from another source.

Time-delayed controls require more effort when tapping them since the force applied needs to be kept within safe levels until enough ‘boost’ pressure is generated through engine compression alone at which point full strength gets directed towards stopping your trailer and tow vehicle. This may mean you need to push down much harder than what’s actually needed so that your brakes don’t feel as if they’re not working at all.

  • The Home Depot

Time-based controls allow you to vary how long it takes for your trailer brakes to engage once their button is pushed, with some models taking as little as a second or two and others going up to around fifteen seconds. The more sensitive the system’s built-in sensors are the faster they usually respond which means less wear on components over time from dragging before getting themselves into position.

These can be used independently of each other by setting them at different levels if there isn’t enough ‘boost’ pressure that may occur when using one exclusively since these types aren’t designed with an engine compression brake in mind like those listed below all together.

  • Inertia-Based Brake Controllers

This type of system is also known as a proportional brake controller since it senses the amount of momentum your trailer has when slowing down or speeding up and applies its brakes accordingly. When you first start moving these are usually set at around half the power needed to stop either your tow vehicle or attached cargo, but increase in strength according to how much speed gets added with each passing second all on their own without any kind of input from drivers who may be behind the wheel.

These kinds are suitable for not only trailers that use electric drum brakes that have built-in compression braking systems, but those with hydraulic disc components too that require liquid pressure within large diameter pistons located inside them before activating themselves through small holes drilled outwards where they meet rotors mounted to wheel hubs.

  • Proportional Controller

These are the easiest to set up since all you need to do once they’re wired in is determine what kind of system your towed vehicle uses and inputting that information into their built-in microprocessor. Once this step’s complete these units calculate exactly how much braking power it’ll take before hitting a maximum level after which point ABS could kick in if equipped with one or more anti-lock brakes otherwise known as electronic stability control systems (ESC) on some models depending upon where they were produced, who manufactured them and whether or not other options like rollover mitigation technology may be available for use too.

They work by reading data sent back from either electrical magnetic sensors located inside hydraulic pumps attached directly to drum brake assemblies taken right out of cars or trucks, or from a speed sensor that’s mounted underneath your trailer and plugged into the controller itself. This means they’re not to be used for those with no provisions in place regardless of whether their towed vehicle uses hydraulic disc brakes instead as well as anything that doesn’t have sensors installed which is something many people don’t realize unless specifically reading about them beforehand.

  • Hydraulic-Over-Electronic Controller

These are the types of trailer brake controllers that work by sending an electrical signal to a solenoid which is used to release hydraulic fluid stored inside one or more tanks found behind their microprocessor. This liquid then gets pushed outwards through small nozzles drilled into either drum assemblies like those taken from cars and trucks, or directly onto rotors attached underneath trailers depending upon how they’re built and designed for use.

This means there’s less maintenance involved but it does cost more upfront too due in part to all the components needed before any kind of braking power can be generated including reservoirs large enough to hold substantial amounts of this liquid without having them break open while doing so such as when hitting potholes on roads at high speeds with heavy loads in tow.

The Size and Weight of Your Trailer and Load

The main thing you want to look at is the weight of your trailer. The more it weighs, the larger and stronger a brake controller needs to be. You also need one that’s capable of handling as big as load as possible (since there might come a time when you’re hauling something bigger than usual).

A size and weight parameter for best trailer brake controler . First off, make sure that the device can handle any type of load or towed vehicle; if not then those could become dangerous situations where people are being pulled along unsafely even though they thought they were doing what was right by getting this kind of product in order to tow something behind them safely.

The Size and Capability of Your Vehicle

If you’ve got a larger vehicle, then it’s okay to look for something that gives your brakes more power. This is especially important if you’re planning on using this product in order to tow heavy loads or trailers (which require higher braking force).

The size and capability of the car or truck itself will matter when looking at best trailer brake controler . If someone has an older model with less powerful breaks than they need one specific device; however, those who have newer cars which are better equipped may be able to get away with lower powered options so long as it can handle whatever load needs hauling behind them safely without putting people inside at risk because their breaking system isn’t up-to-par.

Do You Need a Proportional or Time-Delayed Brake Controllers?

This is something that depends on the person and what kind of trailer they’re trying to tow. If you’ve got a newer car (or an older one with new brake pads), then time-delayed controllers might be fine. But if it’s heavy, or if your braking system isn’t up to par, proportional ones are preferred so there aren’t any accidents where people get pulled along unsafely because the brakes aren’t working in sync with each other properly.

Easy to Set Up and Install

For many people, the easiest option is to get something that’s easy-to-install. While there are other options available which require professional installation, they aren’t as common because most of these devices come with detailed instructions on how to do it yourself if you’ve got some experience working under your car or truck (or around it). Professional installations will also cost more money. Since this product needs to be safe and reliable, getting one which isn’t too hard for someone who knows what they’re doing should make things easier in terms of living up to those high expectations!

Advantages of Trailer Brake Controllers

System Monitoring

The controller activates the brakes when it detects that your tow vehicle is slowing down. It also shuts them off remotely, which allows you to drive through speed bumps or stop signs without having to use any of your own brake pedal force at all!

A monitor comes in handy for anyone who has a trailer and wants an easy way out. These monitors display everything from battery voltage levels to time left before braking will occur. They can even shut down if they sense something wrong with the unit itself (which could save you thousands). All this information about best trailer brake controler .

Increases longevity of brake pads

Since the trailer brakes are applied proportionally to your tow vehicle, less brake pad wear occurs. This means you should see a lot more life out of your car’s braking system if you use one of these!

There are many advantages for using best trailer brake controler . One advantage is that it increases longevity of brake pads on your vehicle since they’re being used in lower quantities when towed behind other vehicles. When using this device, there will be much less stress put onto the brakes themselves because they aren’t working as hard while towing something behind them along with additional weight from people or cargo inside.

Less Costly

When the time comes to replace your brakes, you’ll find that this process doesn’t cost as much because there’s less wear and tear on them. You won’t have to worry about constantly replacing brake pads or rotors; instead, it will be a one-and-done deal!

The best trailer brake controler is cheaper than having to fix or replace brakes when they go out of order after years of use. Because people who own trailers with such devices only need to do simple maintenance (such as changing air in tires) rather than more involved repairs like those requiring breaks being changed every so often

FAQs

What’s better: a timed or proportional brake controller?

Proportional brake controllers detect the speed at which your trailer is moving and apply more or less pressure to slow it down. They include a number of different settings that you can use in order to get just the right amount of brakes applied for what you’re carrying and how heavy it is.

Can I tow a trailer with electric brakes without a brake controller?

If you’re towing a trailer with electric brakes then it’s best to use either a brake controller or an electronic braking system that can mimic the function of one. Without this your truck will not know when to apply its own brakes at all and could be much harder for you to maintain control if something goes wrong on the road ahead, so using a proportional brake controller is always advised.

Are all trailer brake controllers the same?

No, there are a number of different types so it’s important to do your research and decide on a model that fits what you need. Different brake controllers perform differently depending on the size of trailer being towed so make sure yours has enough power for whatever you plan to use it with or more if possible.

Conclusion 

There are many different types of trailer brake controllers. We’ve done the research for you to find out which one is best, and what features they offer that make them worth purchasing. If you want a new trailer brake controller but don’t know where to start, then our reviews will help guide your decision-making process! To learn more about this helpful product or to see how it can improve your life on the road with heavy loads, read our article now.