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Old 08-04-2009, 11:29 AM   #1
donnie
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Default Brake Question

Got a inquiry.
My BIL has a 20' Jayco and just bought a 2008 Dodge truck to pull it.
He may be looking at a fifth wheel in the near future so any advice on what controller to have installed on the truck would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Old 08-04-2009, 08:35 PM   #2
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Prodigy is a good controller and probably has the market share at around $120. Good unit at a good price and available most anywhere.

I prefer true proportional myself though and have an Ultima. Sadly they are no longer in production.

The one that I would recommend would be a MaxBrake as it is also a true proportional that connects to the master cylinder of the truck. They are a bit pricey'r than the Prodigy though coming in around $350. This will be my next controller when the time comes.

Prodigy and others claim to be proportional but unless a controller connects to the brake peddle or brake lines in some fashion it just ain't.



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Old 08-05-2009, 07:01 AM   #3
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My Jordan 2020 Ultima died a few months ago and I will not have another Prodigy. I settled on the MaxBrake. It has a transducer tied into the brake line at the master cylinder and works from brake fluid pressure.

Been on the road a couple of trips with the MaxBrake and that thing is the smoothest controll I have had. Set it and the truck and trailer are one piece to stop.

The Prodigy calims to be proportional...but to what. The MaxBrake is proportional to the brake pressure.

Ken
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Old 08-05-2009, 09:26 AM   #4
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Though I've never used one (never had a trailer that had brakes) The Prodigy from Tekonsha is the yardstick by which all others are measured...

Also, I grew up in Tekonsha, went to Rose D Warrick High in Tekonsha, Tried to date the company founder's daughter (Alas, no joy there) and a classmate of mine became CEO at one time.. But in spite of that I'm not biased (The turn down offsets the classmate don't you know)
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Old 08-06-2009, 07:39 AM   #5
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The reason the Prodigy is so popular is PRICE...PRICE and PRICE and marketing. If you were to rate brake controllers by Tiers, it would look like this...

Tier 1 (top): Brake Smart, MaxBrake, Jordan (if it is ever abck on the market)

Tier 2: Prodigy

Tier3 (Bottom): Other inertia controllers

That is my story and I'm sticking to it.


Ken
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Old 08-06-2009, 05:38 PM   #6
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I'm with ya Ken. I love my Jordan Ultima but when it dies I'm getting a MaxBrake.
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