Trailer brake questions - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Technical | Towing, Maintenance and Repairs > Towing Talk
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 09-29-2015, 01:53 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ridgway
Posts: 312
Colorado
Trailer brake questions

Hi all, we tow our Kodiak 240BHSL with a 2008 Land Rover LR3. I was able to find a "plug and play" brake controller for it here:
Electric Trailer Brake Controller Kit for LR3 and Range Rover Sport
The trouble is it's very "grabby" when I apply the brakes. If I have it adjusted for highway speeds then go through a town I have to really back it off (manually) or it's again grabbing hard.
My question is are there any alternatives to this unit? I get the sense through some of my reading that they make controllers that can tell how hard you are pressing on the brakes and match that to the trailer brakes. Is this true?
Any help is appreciated as my wife is sick of the jerky braking and I hate readjusting the brake force all the time!
__________________

rcharrette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2015, 02:49 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
ewarnerusa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Helena, MT
Posts: 606
Montana
I have no idea what would make your Land Rover unique as far as plug and play ability. All inertia type controllers should work as you describe. Timer based ones do not.

Tekonsha Prodigy controllers are often recommended as the gold standard, that's what I have.
http://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-90885.../dp/B002YIACG8
__________________

__________________
2012 Aspen Trail 2710BH | 470 watts of solar on the roof | 2x6V GC batteries | 1500 watt PSW inverter | Micro Air on A/C | so far strictly boondocking
ewarnerusa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2015, 06:46 PM   #3
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
I will second the Prodigy. Current model is the P2. I have an earlier version works great once adjusted. I have used the same controller in 4 different vehicles with 6 different trailers. Each one had a short dial in time, but once set seldom needed any additional adjustment unless road conditions changed drastically. I don't know why it wouldn't work with the LR3.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2015, 06:56 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
thompwil's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Lancaster
Posts: 263
Pennsylvania
I had the same problem with my Prodigy P3, A good controller but needed adjusted for city grabbing, then back again for highway with my bumper pull. It was even more noticeable with the 5er. I decided to try the DirecLink controller (I still had my 08 Ram Cummins truck then). It was by far a superior brake controller. The smoothest and best braking I’ve ever experienced and on par with the pedal distance proportional on my 2014 Ram truck. It’s a bit pricey but worked fantastic. It connects to the same plug as the Prodigy and the OBDII port on the truck, easy install, that is if your Land Rover is OBDII. They offer a 60 day money back guarantee if you don’t like it. http://www.direclink.com/direclink.html
__________________

2015 Voltage 3305, Gone for Good !
2014 Ram 3500 dually, Aisin, Gone but not Forgotten.
2018 Winnebago Sunstar 32YE
thompwil is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2015, 10:06 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
wildwest450's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
I would buy this in a second. I have the same controller and it works flawlessly once setup.
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
wildwest450 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2015, 05:46 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
hddecker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: kamloops
Posts: 2,152
British Columbia
Another satisfied Prodigy owner. I have to say I have never had problem with grabby brakes.

Loved it even more after I converted the trailer to electric over hydraulic dick brakes. Nice to be able to switch from electric to hydraulic brakes and use the same controller.
hddecker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2015, 11:27 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
donzinger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Memphis
Posts: 1,616
Michigan
Quote:
Originally Posted by dawniewest View Post
i would buy this in a second. I have the same controller and it works flawlessly once setup.
^^^ x2!

I was going to install a MaxBrake as my father in law has one and it is amazing. Unfortunately, no longer available so I will happily stick with my Prodigy.
__________________
2019 Ram 3500 Limited w/ Max Tow pkg
2005 Cardinal 33LX
2014-3950, Full Paint, 17.5" tires, 370W solar, 3100W Magnum inverter w/ AGS, 7500w diesel generator, Micro-Air Easy Start 364 (x3) SOLD!
donzinger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2015, 12:30 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ridgway
Posts: 312
Colorado
Thank you for the replies everyone. I'll be ordering the Prodigy!
rcharrette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2015, 12:51 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Elkhart
Posts: 84
Indiana
I have had a few controllers from the analog pendulum style, digital pendulum, to the digital timer style, and the last and best one is by far the Direct link! It was easy to install and set up. I would buy another one of these in a second and never question it.
__________________
Mike

2013 Denali 311 bhs pos
Love the trailer, hate the dealer and manufacturer.
memgrove is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2015, 12:51 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ridgway
Posts: 312
Colorado
I ended up going with the Tekonsha P3 from etrailer.com. Got the Land Rover LR3 wiring harness and it was plug and play! Gotta say, I was shocked that it was this easy. Nothing on a Land Rover is this easy Taking it out this weekend to try it out. Thanks again everyone for your help.
rcharrette is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2015, 02:05 AM   #11
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcharrette View Post
I ended up going with the Tekonsha P3 from etrailer.com. Got the Land Rover LR3 wiring harness and it was plug and play! Gotta say, I was shocked that it was this easy. Nothing on a Land Rover is this easy Taking it out this weekend to try it out. Thanks again everyone for your help.
Awesome! Hope it all works out for you. I have been using a Prodigy since 2000 and won't use anything else. FWIW I still have my original Prodigy electronic, it is in near daily use in one of our farm trucks.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2015, 01:54 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
kalm_in_NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Edison
Posts: 104
New Jersey
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcharrette View Post
I ended up going with the Tekonsha P3 from etrailer.com. Got the Land Rover LR3 wiring harness and it was plug and play! Gotta say, I was shocked that it was this easy. Nothing on a Land Rover is this easy Taking it out this weekend to try it out. Thanks again everyone for your help.
We used that same model this year. After initial adjustment you'll forget it's there. Works perfectly!
__________________

__________________
Ken & Lin-Marie
2013 Chevy Traverse + Factory Tow Package
2014 Coleman LT CTS16QB + Anti-Sway Hitch
High-Energy JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)
kalm_in_NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:20 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×