Towing Brake Controllers - Best Aftermarket Models?

[jd1923]

I have a Tekonsha brake controller installed 2 years now in our TV and want an upgrade. It's GAIN control is clumsy and when running a driveway test today it seemed to take 3-4 seconds to engage the trailer brakes after the TV brakes were engaged (?). There should be a minor delay but I'm thinking this device is on its way out!

The first link below is the model I have. Tekonsha has been an industry leader for years. The second link below is their newest model.

I put a Redarc product in our Lexus GX470. It's OK for the purpose of occasional light trailers but I would not buy a Redarc for our Oliver TV. The control dial is a joke.

Any other ideas regarding better aftermarket products? Thanks in advance!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001P11SCM/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QBCQ945/

Edited Tuesday at 02:39 AM by jd1923

[rich.dev]

John, I had the Tekonsha P3 Prodigy for about 10 yrs and it worked well for me. 

[jd1923]

13 hours ago, rich.dev said:

John, I had the Tekonsha P3 Prodigy for about 10 yrs and it worked well for me. 

Thanks Rich. I went with your suggestion. Amazon will deliver tomorrow and the install should take me 5-10 min since I believe the wire harness is the same. Hang new bracket and “plug-n-play!”

[mossemi]

15 hours ago, jd1923 said:

I put a Redarc product in our Lexus GX470. It's OK for the purpose of occasional light trailers but I would not buy a Redarc for our Oliver TV. The control dial is a joke.

 

That's one opinion and mine is totally different.  When I made the decision to buy an Oliver, I took delivery in Georgia.  The seller and I had made the deal in November, so I had about 6 weeks to get my 2014 Land Cruiser ready.  I needed an Andersen WD hitch and brake controller.  My first was Tekonsha Prodigy 3 and I could not find a place to mount it that wasn’t in my way and it looked like a deck of cards screwed to the dash.  So l bought a Redarc, which plugged straight into the Toyota wiring harness.  I remove a blank button cover on the dash and modified it to accept the joke as you call it and the Redarc looked great and work flawlessly for the 5 years I used it in the Land Cruiser.

Mossey

[Steve Morris]

1 minute ago, mossemi said:

That's one opinion and mine is totally different. 

Mossey

Same result here. Foolproof, easy to fine tune, and responds instantly. It is the overwhelming choice in the Toyota community; not a joke. 

[jd1923]

I’m just not fond of the little button, though it does make for a cleaner underdash. And not much leg room at least in our GX470 where I just happen to be when reading this.

I prefer the lever control to activate the trailer brakes alone vs. the tiny button when in our big truck.

[jd1923]

Looks like all our Toyota products have the same Redarc button installed in about the same location!

[jd1923]

On 5/26/2025 at 7:55 PM, rich.dev said:

John, I had the Tekonsha P3 Prodigy for about 10 yrs and it worked well for me. 

Received this kit today. It plugged into same harness. I had mounted the previous controller bracket with VHB tape, so it came off quickly and cleanly. All I had to do was mount the new bracket. Easy menus to configure it. I'm really going to like the 3 boost settings for downhill braking in the mountains.

Got the trailer wheels off the ground again, one side at a time, and the brake response is like night and day. The new controller is immediately responsive. With hindsight I can now see how the old controller had been getting less responsive, likely cause of my truck brakes overheating on steep declines during our trip back from Texas last fall.

I also figured out a way to set the self-adjusters without going through the adjustment opening behind the wheels. With wheels off the ground, wife or friend applying the brakes lightly (or use brake lever on the controller), rock the wheels backwards and forwards and you can even hear the adjuster clicking each time. I found the forward brake shoes pretty close to the drums, but the shoes on the rear axles were much looser, likely from less weight being the rears when braking. I got all 4 wheels where you could hear and feel the shoes just lightly scraping the drums while spinning the tires. I'll fine tune the gain, as we get on the road tomorrow, on a long flat stretch which we just don't have in our neighborhood. "On the road again..."

Edited Thursday at 12:59 AM by jd1923