Advice on which Brake Controller please .
Submitted: Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 01:09
ThreadID:
124052
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4663
Replies:
5
FollowUps:
5
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Willie
I have just purchased a 16 foot BT . My Landcruiser TD auto has only ever towed a camper , so I had no electric brakes .
Could you please suggest the brand and model for a brake controller which is the best for the job .
Also , should I get a transmission cooler of some kind ? I am not sure if the car has one as standard or what .
Thanks a lot ,
Jigalong .
Reply By: Noosa Fox - Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 01:59
Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 01:59
I would recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller. It is much better than the Voyager model as it is a digital unit that can be set easily and it has fault codes to let you know that there is a problem should a wire become disconnected anywhere.
As for the transmission cooler, I would contact you local Automatic transmission specialist and discuss it with them.
Brian
AnswerID:
572933
Reply By: TroopyTracker - Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 06:37
Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 06:37
Jigalong,
With many items it can be hard to decide! I doubt though anyone would recommend anything other than the Tekonsha Prodigy.
Matt
AnswerID:
572934
Reply By: Willie - Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 09:55
Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 09:55
Brian and Matt ,
Thank you both - a Prodigy it will be . Where do you buy them ? Only at brake specialists ?
Thanks ,
Jigalong .
AnswerID:
572935
Follow Up By: Noosa Fox - Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 22:22
Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 22:22
I bought mine for over $300 in 2002 but they are now readily available for around $200 at places like Repco, Camec and other Caravan accessory or repair places.
Brian
FollowupID:
848567
Follow Up By: Bobrovin - Monday, Sep 17, 2007 at 03:41
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 at 03:41
Try here
www.sidewinder.com.au/page23.html
Bob
FollowupID:
848568
Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Sep 17, 2007 at 04:50
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 at 04:50
Bob and Brian ,
Thanks for the info . It seems $160 plus freight is the going rate .
Time is the essence though , as I would like to leave Sydney for Qld on Thursday .
I will ring ARB Northside tomorrow and see if they can instal one . I want to ask them about an auto transmission cooler as well .
Cheers ,
Willie .
FollowupID:
848569
Reply By: Jacmar - Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 19:16
Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 19:16
Having just changed from h/reese to prodigy i would recommend the prodigy as it gives nice smooth braking unlike the h/r controller which was very jerky at low speed. I bought mine off ebay, sorry i cant remember how much i payed but there are a few suppliers on ebay all around the same price & I could not find them cheaper any where else.
Mark
AnswerID:
572936
Follow Up By: Willie - Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 21:21
Sunday, Sep 16, 2007 at 21:21
Thanks Mark , I will go off and have a look now .
Jigalong .
FollowupID:
848570
Reply By: Taj Mah Tracker - Monday, Sep 17, 2007 at 19:13
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 at 19:13
Hi There,
we tow a 3.5 ton BT with a 2004 TD landcruiser and have fitter a transmission temp gauge.
Hottest it has ever been was 95C when towing on a very hot summers day (38C on coast), up the Gibralter range, between Grafton and Glen Innes.(Over 18Km of 'very steep climb')
Normal temp range is about 60C-70C, so if you have a newer TD Landcruiser would doubt any transmission cooler would be necessary.
Cheers
Ian
AnswerID:
572937
Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Sep 17, 2007 at 19:45
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 at 19:45
Ian ,
Mine is a 2001 model , but I asked ARB Northside this morning and they said it had a cooler and an additional one or an upgrade would be unnecessary unless conditions were extreme .
I will look into this further when I have the van back home - I like to have a good safety margin when out in the scrub .
Thanks ,
Willie .
FollowupID:
848571
