How To Choose The Best Brake Controller: Things to Know Before Buying

If you're a truck driver, then you know how important braking is, especially when carrying a load. The tedious part of the journey is going down a hill with weight on your back or how far you have to start pressing on the brakes when you're nearing a red light. Whenever you decide to start tweaking and oiling your truck, take the time out to search for some necessary assistance; the heavy strain can be lessened with the use of a brake controller.

The best brake controllers are designed to initiate the trailer's brakes alongside with the applied brakes to aid the user while braking. Brake controllers are usually installed on the truck driver's dashboard to successfully enable efficient braking skills. These controllers assist truck drivers in utilizing their braking options to suit the situation best.

** Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews by click in "Reviews" column, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.com.

What is a Brake Controller?

A brake controller is an OEM module that is preinstalled and mounted to the driver's side of the dashboard as mentioned previously. The controller engages the trailer's electrical braking system either time-delayed or in proportion to when the trailer's brakes are engaged when slowing or coming to an immediate stop.

Brake controllers are seen as the physical link between your brake pedal and the brakes on the axles of your trailer. Generally, most preinstalled brake controllers have a gain adjustment that the trailer driver can manually adjust hence why it is located in the area mentioned previously. The trailer driver can adjust the controller to suit their needs, whether high or low as possible as long as the brakes the brakes refrain from locking up after making a few test runs. The weight is what determines how the driver should adjust the brake controller. The heavier the tow weight is then, the higher the adjustment will be fitting, in return, the driver will have lesser chances of the wheel locking up while braking.

When installed correctly, the brake controller is your best friend for safety while driving especially when towing load. The brake controller acts as an assistant to aid the driver with the stops they make while doing their regular drop-offs and pickups. Since a majority of tow trucks do come with electric braking, the truck operator should opt for getting the best brake controller so they can be in control and avoid panic stops.

Advantages of Choosing a Best Brake Controller

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As noted earlier, a brake controller helps you to support heavy loads when towing so that you avoid panic stops and unnecessary braking. The brake controller works as a secondary brake mechanism for whenever the driver initiates the trailer's braking system. When the driver presses on the trailer's brake pedals, the braking mechanism kicks in, knowing how much more or less braking power is needed to bring the trailer to a halt.

Brake controls are fundamentally necessary, as stated earlier; if the truck has electric braking, then the best decision is choosing a brake controller. Without brake controllers, uncontrolled weight is bound to be dangerous because they can push forward putting a strain on the front-end of the trailer leaving a wide gap open for an accident, causing damage to you and your truck if you aren't able to control the brakes for enough room to stop in time.

Panic stops, unnecessary braking, and uncontrolled weight can be avoided if you, the truck operator choose the best brake controller as your safety brake partner on the road while operating your heavy loads.

Types of Brake Controllers

Proportional Brake Controllers

These controllers are the heart of the trailer's braking mechanism as they use an inertia sensor to detect how the trailer slows or stops and applies the necessary brakes with the same intensity. Slamming on the brakes while a proportional brake controller is installed will enable the brakes with equal force. With a proportional brake controller, the existing brake power and aggressiveness can be adjusted based on preferences and the trailer's weight. This provides the operator with increased braking efficiency, smooth, quick braking and no need to adjust the controller for different trailer sizes or road conditions.

Time-delayed Brake Controller

As the name suggests, these types of brake controllers apply a preset amount of braking power with a delay as the controller ramps up the power to full braking. With the time-delay brake controller installed, there is a delay between the time that you apply the brakes and the time the controller reaches the maximum power sent to the trailer's brakes. However, this can be adjusted with the sync settings that are made available to the operator. In short, the time-delay is a brake mechanism that builds up enough power to apply any amount necessary to pressure engaged on the trailer's brakes.

Top 5 Best Brake Controllers Reviews

Tekonsha 90195 P3 Electronic Brake Control


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(Image source: www.amazon.com)

Classified as the most advanced electric trailer brake control, the Tekonsha 90195 is a true proportional braking system that features five (5) storable settings options for pulling different classes of trailers or preferences of multiple drivers. The upfront controls provide easy access to features such as the integrated Plug N Play port for two (2) plug adapters and the easy to understand diagnostics that shows output current, battery, brake and output voltage. The Tekonsha comes preinstalled with a red flashing warning system that alerts the user to ‘No Trailer Brake Situations.'


Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Easy to understand

Cons

  • Pricey, but worth every penny

Tekonsha P3 Brake Control + Wiring Harness


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(Image source: www.amazon.com)

The Tekonsha Brake control + Harness is quite a limited controller, in the sense that it's not compatible with all class of vehicles. As a brake controller, the Tekonsha P3 stands its own with boots features and includes its own Plug N Play harness. It comes equipped with a compact, dash hugging design with a unique mounting system that allows the operator easy access to upfront controls. The Tekonsha P3 works with trailers from one (1) up to four (4) axles.


Pros

  • Can be easily accessed
  • Allows user to switch between braking methods

Cons

  • The wiring harness might prove a bit problematic
  • Your tow has to be connected before the controller can mount

Tekonsha 90885 Prodigy P2 Electronic Brake Control


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(Image source: www.amazon.com)

The Tekonsha 90885 is great for backing into tight spots. The brakes produce stops that are in proportion to the trailer's deceleration rate with no level adjustments necessary; adjusts to ramping terrain as you drive. The 90885 is designed to work for hydraulic brake systems and provides reverse battery protection for both truck and tow. It features quick and easy disconnection and is disabled when not needed. The Tekonsha Prodigy provides numerous mounting options including 360 degrees of vehicle rotation.


Pros

  • Has a digital display
  • Have many mounting options available
  • Affordable price range

Cons

  • Doesn't necessarily apply the sufficient power to activate the trailer's brakes fully

Tekonsha 9030 Voyager Electronic Brake Control


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(Image source: www.amazon.com)

The Tekonsha Voyager comes equipped with a patented braking sensor that allows smooth and secure trailer braking. The compact size assures complete connections with features such as the LED brake monitor that gives an indication of relative breaking power makes the Tekonsha Voyager extremely versatile. It minimizes the interference with the trailer's electrical systems, uses a four (4) wire hookup, has a broad range of settings options available and is compatible with almost any class of vehicle. The Plug N Play feature allows for an easy connection with a wide control range making setup quick and easy.


Pros

  • Very easy to setup
  • Has brake controllers that work for up to four (4) axles

Cons

  • A bit Pricey

Tekonsha 80500 Pod Electric Brake Control


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(Image source: www.amazon.com)

The Tekonsha 8500 POD controller is time actuated. The Power On Demand (POD) feature allows the full user operation of the controller and allows manual override. The Tekonsha 80500 is the best choice for the user that has limited installation options and supports one (1) or two (2) axle trailers and works for up to four (4) brakes.


Pros

  • Easy to install
  • Allows the user manual override

Cons

  • Quite pricey for its limited features.

Verdict

Supporting the weight of each brake controllers mentioned above in details on features and customer satisfaction, we'd have to say that the Tekonsha 90885 Prodigy took the gold medal for the top choices of best brake controllers.

This seems to be the best choice from the Tekonsha line up with its battery protection and quick and easy disconnection features making it more user-friendly than the Tekonsha Voyager. The Prodigy gets another gold medal for the continuous diagnostic tests that checks that the controller is properly connected as long as the brake controller is installed, keeping the operator risk free. The Prodigy is fit for any type of connection as it features numerous mounting options and it is the only one in the line-up that does which makes it the most versatile brake controller.

The best part of the Tekonsha Prodigy is the mere fact that it adjusts itself to ramping terrain as you drive, providing smooth and predicted braking along the way. If you don't mind spending money on quality, then this option is definitely for you.

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