trailer brakes

[ptv]

I'm pulling a 22ft 08 safari----am looking to find a smoother braking system. Presently have a 7 yr old tekonsha that is always out of adjustment and is never smooth when applying trailer brakes. Any suggestions would be appreciated. pv

[moosetags]

We have a Podigy that is about 7 years old. We also have a more recent P3. We use these of two different tow vehicles. The P3 works smoother, but we also like the older Prodigy. In routine braking situations, I usually apply the trailer brakes manually with the level on the unit prior to applying the tow vehicle brakes. I have found over the years that this makes for smoother braking. Our newest tow vehicle has the integral trailer bake unit. I have found that this system is much smoother than either of out Tekonshas. I never use the manual lever with this system.

Brian

[Jammer]

Maxbrake is better than any of them. They're expensive and more work to install but worth it. I have two, one in each tow vehicle.

[polarlyse]

I went round & round a few months ago over the maxbrake vs. Directlink. I finally went with the Directlink and have been very happy with it. I ordered it direct from Airstream and have been on the road with it for 6 weeks and find it much better than the previous one I had. Smooth and even braking. I'm sure maxbrake will live up to its fine reputation also but I'm happy with the direct link.

[ptv]

thanks for the info------------so does airstream in Ohio recommend directlink.. pv

[DreamStreamr]

We had a dealer-installed Tekonsha voyager or something like that name, on our first AS, a 2005 22' International. The brake controller was as awful as you describe on yours.

We sold that truck and trailer and selected the Tekonsha Prodigy six years ago for this truck and trailer (25' International). We full-time and do lots of traveling on every kind of surface and steepness of ascent/descent (all the way to 15 degrees on Sea to Sky Highway in B.C.).

The Prodigy is superb on our 25' trailer and the price and installation were both easy on us. We would buy the very same next time too.

[perryg114]

Some of this maybe drum brakes. Drum brakes tend to be non-linear compared to disk brakes. If your magnets are worn they can cause problems with premature lockup. You might lower the gain setting to 1 and see if that helps. By gain I mean the thing that dials in some braking the second you hit the brake and then the g-sensor takes it from there. This is different than the gain you set to get lockup. My observations with my Tekonsha P3 is that it brakes the most right before you come to a stop which is not really when you need it. I do need new magnets which maybe part of the problem. I will probably get drums and backing plates as a set of 4 at some point in the near future.

Perry

[DreamStreamr]

Great point, Perry -- we replaced our drum brakes two years ago, at around 50K miles. Greatly improved our braking performance.

BTW, we bought the sets with backing plates and all -- it seemed a lot easier and might have been cheaper than buying the various parts.

[crispyboy]

I just ordered a new Maxbrake to take the place of a Prodigy P2. It seems like it always needs adjustment and I'm ready for something different.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Been using the TruControl since installing the HaHa in 2007.

I like it good...set it for load and that's it.
Expensive, but so's the Stream.

Bob