Electric Trailer Brakes

[Stephen B.]

Does anybody have an opinion regarding add-on electric trailer brake modules? I plan on adding electric trailer brakes to my 2001 Tahoe. I've added the U-haul modules before, and they work fine. My last Chevrolet 1500 Z-71 came optioned with factory electric trailer brakes, and they worked very, very well. I wonder if GM sells an add-on module?

Thanks

[Stephen L.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

Teconsha Prodigy is a very good aftermarket controller that modulates the signal to the trailer brakes based on tow vehicle braking forces. and a preadjusted initial braking level.

These sell for about $100.

One note: Do NOT check the emergency battery trailer brake circuit with the trailer electrical plug connected.

[Jim L.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

The previously mentioned Prodigy controller is very good. I've used one for 5 years and I pull 7300 lbs behind my Dodge. In all that time, I've never had to touch the adjustment after the initial dialing in.

In contrast, with the low-rent controllers that apply a fixed amount of braking after a small delay, I found I was having to constantly adjust the braking force. What worked for stop and go traffic was ineffective at hiway speeds. An adjustment that worked for hiway speeds would cause the trailer wheels to lock up at low speeds.

Get the Prodigy.

Jim

[Scott S.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

Stephen, Your Tahoe may have come with a wiring harness for the controller. The harness will plugin to the fuse box. Have you found it?
Scott

[Joel T.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

Teconsha Prodigy is a very good aftermarket controller that modulates the signal to the trailer brakes based on tow vehicle braking forces. and a preadjusted initial braking level.

These sell for about $100.

One note: Do NOT check the emergency battery trailer brake circuit with the trailer electrical plug connected.

Dittos on the Prodigy... I have one in my Ram 3500 (a keeper not a Clunker)and use it with either a 16,000LB fifth wheel or an enclosed 20' trailer. Works super.

Joel

[John D.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

Stephen, Your Tahoe may have come with a wiring harness for the controller. The harness will plugin to the fuse box. Have you found it?
Scott

Stephen, Scott is right on his info. 1st time though.

Typically a new GMC/Chev vehicle came thru with the controller harness that you just plug into the fuse box.
Story:
2001 right before Corvette Carlisle (same week) I needed a tow vehicle for my vendor trailer cause I trashed my poor GMC big time.

So I had to borrow a new GMC from my brother and of course it had no brake controller. Being in a hurry I went to U-Haul and they installed the whole deal in about one hour and the job was done quite neatly. I did have my bros factory harness. I highly recommend U-Haul for the job as they do it all day long and it wasn't that expensive. JD

[Steve L.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

I've got this set-up on my Trailblazer. So why can you not pull the break_away switch out with the electrical plug connected? After all, this is what happens when the trailer breaks free of the tow vehicle.

Steve L.

Teconsha Prodigy is a very good aftermarket controller that modulates the signal to the trailer brakes based on tow vehicle braking forces. and a preadjusted initial braking level.

These sell for about $100.

One note: Do NOT check the emergency battery trailer brake circuit with the trailer electrical plug connected.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

After performing this test several times (each time I took the trailer out) my Prodigy started indicating NC (no connection) intermittently. I read the directions for the Prodigy and they said don't perform this test while connected. It turns out that the 12vdc of the emergency circuit backfeeds into the output of the Prodigy and can cause some problems.

My Prodigy still works, however, its a little disconcerting to have "NC" flash once in awhile at 65 mph.

If a trailer breaks away it'll probably electrically disconnect from the tow vehicle about the same time the emergency brake system comes on..... its a matter of how long the umbilical wiring is compared to the safety lanyard

[Steve L.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

Thanks Stephen
This is good to know. I think I'll put up this warning on the Trailblazer site. They have a installation guide for the Prodigy over there.

[Stephen B.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

My apologies for taking so long to reply. Thanks for your advise. I shall purchase a Prodigy. I did not see the trailer brake wiring harness in my Tahoe's glove box one usually finds. I'll check with my local Chevrolet dealership.

[Stephen L.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

I believe to get a "harness" for a brake controller your Tahoe needs to be prewired for a 7 pin plug which includes trailer braking. If you have only a prewired 4 pin system then you'll need to wire the vehicle yourself for the brake capability.

[Stephen B.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

I have the 7-wire trailer wiring, but the jumper harness for the electrical brakes is missing.

[Dick W.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

I believe that harness can be purchased at your dealer for a nominal fee

[Stephen B.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

That's good to know. I'm going by the dealership this week and check on some miscellaneous items. Are you going to Carlisle?

[Dick W.]

Re: Electric Trailer Brakes

Don't have the time this year, thankfully I am very busy.