brake controller recommendations
 

I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon
Umlimited. One of the places I will be towing is on my shooting lease,
which has some fairly steep hills (~30 degrees) with dirt or crushed
rock roads. I believe a brake controller would be a big help in those
instances, as I do not wish the Jeep to be pushed down the hill nor do I
wish the trailer brakes to lock up and cause the trailer to slide past
me. I'm familar with the operating characteristics of the thre basic
types (time delay, inertia, and proportional) of controllers. I have
ruled out the inertia type due to the inherent bouncing around in this
terrain. I know the time delay would probably perform satisfactorily.
I _believe_ the proportional type would also perform well, plus it would
be better for panic stops during highway travel to the lease. As I have
no experience with brake contollers on Jeeps, however, I'd like
opinions, preferably backed up by real-life experience, from the group.

1) Which type of controller would be preferable?

2) Which specific manufacturers and models do you recommend?


Right now, I am leaning toward the Tekonsha Prodigy, but I am also
looking at the BrakeSmart controller, a proportional type of controller
actuated by a pressure transducer installed into the braking system and
not using accelerometer technology. This might actually be bset for
rough, hilly terain, IMHO.

TIA,
mdh

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Hi Michael,
I'd just get the cheapest, the one that hooks to your brake light
switch, with the adjustable hand lever.
Pull the fuse to you Antilock Brake System:
http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ABS_offroad.html as they don't work on
grave roads.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

"Michael D. Henderson" wrote:
>
> I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon
> Umlimited. One of the places I will be towing is on my shooting lease,
> which has some fairly steep hills (~30 degrees) with dirt or crushed
> rock roads. I believe a brake controller would be a big help in those
> instances, as I do not wish the Jeep to be pushed down the hill nor do I
> wish the trailer brakes to lock up and cause the trailer to slide past
> me. I'm familar with the operating characteristics of the thre basic
> types (time delay, inertia, and proportional) of controllers. I have
> ruled out the inertia type due to the inherent bouncing around in this
> terrain. I know the time delay would probably perform satisfactorily.
> I _believe_ the proportional type would also perform well, plus it would
> be better for panic stops during highway travel to the lease. As I have
> no experience with brake contollers on Jeeps, however, I'd like
> opinions, preferably backed up by real-life experience, from the group.
>
> 1) Which type of controller would be preferable?
>
> 2) Which specific manufacturers and models do you recommend?
>
> Right now, I am leaning toward the Tekonsha Prodigy, but I am also
> looking at the BrakeSmart controller, a proportional type of controller
> actuated by a pressure transducer installed into the braking system and
> not using accelerometer technology. This might actually be bset for
> rough, hilly terain, IMHO.
>
> TIA,
> mdh

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Hi Michael,
I'd just get the cheapest, the one that hooks to your brake light
switch, with the adjustable hand lever.
Pull the fuse to you Antilock Brake System:
http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ABS_offroad.html as they don't work on
grave roads.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

"Michael D. Henderson" wrote:
>
> I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon
> Umlimited. One of the places I will be towing is on my shooting lease,
> which has some fairly steep hills (~30 degrees) with dirt or crushed
> rock roads. I believe a brake controller would be a big help in those
> instances, as I do not wish the Jeep to be pushed down the hill nor do I
> wish the trailer brakes to lock up and cause the trailer to slide past
> me. I'm familar with the operating characteristics of the thre basic
> types (time delay, inertia, and proportional) of controllers. I have
> ruled out the inertia type due to the inherent bouncing around in this
> terrain. I know the time delay would probably perform satisfactorily.
> I _believe_ the proportional type would also perform well, plus it would
> be better for panic stops during highway travel to the lease. As I have
> no experience with brake contollers on Jeeps, however, I'd like
> opinions, preferably backed up by real-life experience, from the group.
>
> 1) Which type of controller would be preferable?
>
> 2) Which specific manufacturers and models do you recommend?
>
> Right now, I am leaning toward the Tekonsha Prodigy, but I am also
> looking at the BrakeSmart controller, a proportional type of controller
> actuated by a pressure transducer installed into the braking system and
> not using accelerometer technology. This might actually be bset for
> rough, hilly terain, IMHO.
>
> TIA,
> mdh

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Hi Michael,
I'd just get the cheapest, the one that hooks to your brake light
switch, with the adjustable hand lever.
Pull the fuse to you Antilock Brake System:
http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ABS_offroad.html as they don't work on
grave roads.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

"Michael D. Henderson" wrote:
>
> I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon
> Umlimited. One of the places I will be towing is on my shooting lease,
> which has some fairly steep hills (~30 degrees) with dirt or crushed
> rock roads. I believe a brake controller would be a big help in those
> instances, as I do not wish the Jeep to be pushed down the hill nor do I
> wish the trailer brakes to lock up and cause the trailer to slide past
> me. I'm familar with the operating characteristics of the thre basic
> types (time delay, inertia, and proportional) of controllers. I have
> ruled out the inertia type due to the inherent bouncing around in this
> terrain. I know the time delay would probably perform satisfactorily.
> I _believe_ the proportional type would also perform well, plus it would
> be better for panic stops during highway travel to the lease. As I have
> no experience with brake contollers on Jeeps, however, I'd like
> opinions, preferably backed up by real-life experience, from the group.
>
> 1) Which type of controller would be preferable?
>
> 2) Which specific manufacturers and models do you recommend?
>
> Right now, I am leaning toward the Tekonsha Prodigy, but I am also
> looking at the BrakeSmart controller, a proportional type of controller
> actuated by a pressure transducer installed into the braking system and
> not using accelerometer technology. This might actually be bset for
> rough, hilly terain, IMHO.
>
> TIA,
> mdh

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Hi Michael,
I'd just get the cheapest, the one that hooks to your brake light
switch, with the adjustable hand lever.
Pull the fuse to you Antilock Brake System:
http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ABS_offroad.html as they don't work on
grave roads.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

"Michael D. Henderson" wrote:
>
> I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon
> Umlimited. One of the places I will be towing is on my shooting lease,
> which has some fairly steep hills (~30 degrees) with dirt or crushed
> rock roads. I believe a brake controller would be a big help in those
> instances, as I do not wish the Jeep to be pushed down the hill nor do I
> wish the trailer brakes to lock up and cause the trailer to slide past
> me. I'm familar with the operating characteristics of the thre basic
> types (time delay, inertia, and proportional) of controllers. I have
> ruled out the inertia type due to the inherent bouncing around in this
> terrain. I know the time delay would probably perform satisfactorily.
> I _believe_ the proportional type would also perform well, plus it would
> be better for panic stops during highway travel to the lease. As I have
> no experience with brake contollers on Jeeps, however, I'd like
> opinions, preferably backed up by real-life experience, from the group.
>
> 1) Which type of controller would be preferable?
>
> 2) Which specific manufacturers and models do you recommend?
>
> Right now, I am leaning toward the Tekonsha Prodigy, but I am also
> looking at the BrakeSmart controller, a proportional type of controller
> actuated by a pressure transducer installed into the braking system and
> not using accelerometer technology. This might actually be bset for
> rough, hilly terain, IMHO.
>
> TIA,
> mdh

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Does the Rubi have ABS ?

Dave Milne, Scotland

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:42DAB35E.332103CD@cox.net...
> Hi Michael,
> I'd just get the cheapest, the one that hooks to your brake light
> switch, with the adjustable hand lever.
> Pull the fuse to you Antilock Brake System:
> http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ABS_offroad.html as they don't work on
> grave roads.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> "Michael D. Henderson" wrote:
> >
> > I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Does the Rubi have ABS ?

Dave Milne, Scotland

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:42DAB35E.332103CD@cox.net...
> Hi Michael,
> I'd just get the cheapest, the one that hooks to your brake light
> switch, with the adjustable hand lever.
> Pull the fuse to you Antilock Brake System:
> http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ABS_offroad.html as they don't work on
> grave roads.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> "Michael D. Henderson" wrote:
> >
> > I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Does the Rubi have ABS ?

Dave Milne, Scotland

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:42DAB35E.332103CD@cox.net...
> Hi Michael,
> I'd just get the cheapest, the one that hooks to your brake light
> switch, with the adjustable hand lever.
> Pull the fuse to you Antilock Brake System:
> http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ABS_offroad.html as they don't work on
> grave roads.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> "Michael D. Henderson" wrote:
> >
> > I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Does the Rubi have ABS ?

Dave Milne, Scotland

"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:42DAB35E.332103CD@cox.net...
> Hi Michael,
> I'd just get the cheapest, the one that hooks to your brake light
> switch, with the adjustable hand lever.
> Pull the fuse to you Antilock Brake System:
> http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ABS_offroad.html as they don't work on
> grave roads.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> "Michael D. Henderson" wrote:
> >
> > I need to occasionally tow a small trailer with my 2005 Rubicon

Re: brake controller recommendations
 

Dave Milne wrote:
> Does the Rubi have ABS ?
>
> Dave Milne, Scotland


Hmmm... Well, I just ASSumed it does, but now that you've asked,
I'll need to check to make sure. I've got a 24 hour work shift coming
up in a few hours so it'll be a bit before I can get back with an
answer, though.

mdh


P.S. - One of these days we're going to take a trip to Scotland to visit
the Henderson clan. Whereabouts do you hail from?