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This is one of our favorite brake controllers, with flawless braking and a tiny dash knob that looks like it came straight from the factory. Its unique off-roading mode helps you handle rough conditions, so get out there and get towing.
Features:
Specs:
The off-road mode is a unique feature of the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite. In this mode, the brake controller will apply your trailer's brakes with a preset amount of power, independent of what your tow vehicle is doing. This is ideal for off-roading or challenging conditions. Set the power low if you're towing through sand or mud so that the trailer doesn't stop with too much force and act as an anchor. If navigating a steep descent, set the power to a higher level to ensure that the trailer doesn't push against the tow vehicle.
To activate the off-road mode, rotate the knob counterclockwise to 0 and apply your vehicle's brakes. Push down on the knob twice (2 times within 1 second) and release the brakes. The knob will turn green to let you know that the mode has been activated.
Adjusting the braking settings on the Tow-Pro Elite is super simple. To get more power output - the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes - rotate the knob clockwise toward 10. To decrease the power output, rotate it counterclockwise toward 0.
When you apply the tow vehicle's brakes, the knob will change from blue to red to signal that the trailer brakes are being activated. The higher the braking power output, the deeper the red that you will see.
To engage manual override, simply press the control knob. This will activate the trailer's brakes and brake lights independent of your tow vehicle, great for stopping sway or controlling your trailer's momentum in an emergency.
When you are calibrating the brake controller for the first time, the LED lights will signal your progress.
You'll start by braking 20 times or so to let the unit learn its orientation and the direction of travel. You don't need to have a trailer connected for it to calibrate; the only difference is that the knob won't illuminate at all. If your trailer is connected, the LED light will flash green/blue as it calibrates. When the display turns solid blue, initial calibration is complete.
Once done, the unit will remain calibrated. If recalibration is required, it will happen automatically and without LED indication.
The Elite has almost no mounting restrictions. It comes in 2 pieces: the main unit and the control knob. The main unit mounts out of sight and out of the way. You don't have to worry about dinging your knee on a bulky brake controller or interfering with your vehicle's airbags.
The control knob can be installed in any convenient spot that's easy for you to see and access. This can be a blank switch panel, an open spot on your center console, or wherever there's space on your dashboard. A universal mounting panel is included to ensure a clean, from-the-factory look. Custom-fit panels are available for certain vehicles as well. Before you do any drilling, be sure there's enough clearance behind the dash for the entire knob to install!
Once you've decided where you want to put the control knob, you'll need to find a good place to install the main unit. Your only restriction is the 3' cable connecting the main unit and the control knob. Securely mount the box using screws, double-sided tape, or zip-ties (not included). A mounting kit (RE67FR - sold separately) is also available for the Tow-Pro Elite. Do not attach the module to wiring or cables that can shift as you drive!
A vehicle-specific wiring harness (sold separately) is available for most newer trucks and SUVs. One end of the custom adapter plugs into your vehicle, and the other end will either plug directly into the controller or will splice into the included wiring harness - no need to hardwire to your vehicle.
Note: If you don't already have a 7-way plug at the back of your vehicle, take a look at our exclusive 7- and 4-way brake-control installation kit (ETBC7 - sold separately).
A 30-amp circuit breaker kit (331-CBK30-EB - sold separately) may also be required for installation. For assistance in properly wiring the Tow-Pro Elite, please refer to the diagrams below:
Proportional braking means that your trailer brakes mimic your tow vehicle's brakes. If you slam on the brakes in your vehicle, your trailer brakes will activate with the same intensity; if you brake lightly, your trailer brakes lightly too. The trailer's braking is in proportion to your vehicle's braking. This saves wear and tear on the tires and the brakes on both your vehicle and trailer.
The Tow-Pro Elite uses an internal 3-axis accelerometer to sense how your vehicle is braking so it can send the right amount of braking power to your trailer. It measures the inertia of your tow vehicle and activates the trailer's brakes to slow at the same rate. The result is uniform braking across your towing setup. No push-pull action - just smooth, proportional braking every time.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
96% were satisfied with this product
4% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
I wanted to follow up and thank you for your help! I was able to install the Redarc brake controller with no problem! Thanks for your assistance and recommendations.
One note...There are not a lot of late model Land Cruisers on the road. Toyota only sells about 3-4,000 a year so finding videos and guides for installation is a bit of a challenge. I found some FAQ's on etrailer.com but the information seemed inaccurate or at least not very helpful.
I know the LC comes with a two package and is prewired but it takes some doing to locate it. I remember directions and I found some install help on another site and that helped.
In any event, I appreciate your help. I have attached a photo of the installed Redarc!
I am not a seasoned towing pro, but recently had to pick up a car in San Francisco and tow it back on a flatbed trailer equipped with electronic brakes. This controller worked perfectly for me in a 2014 4Runner towing the empty trailer from Seattle to NorCal and then the loaded trailer back to Seattle. Installation was easy thanks to the videos on the etrailer site.
I haven't towed with the trailer brakes just yet but diagnistics indicate that once connected to the Tekonsha Brake Controller Harness (Item #331-TPH-017) and the Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter (Item #3062-P) that I ordered with it all is setup for my 2022 Subaru Ascent with a factory tow package. The cleanest install for the switch on this vehicle is to remove and modify a blank switch insert to the left of the steering wheel (I had 2 left) and drill a 25/32 hole in the switch insert after hollowing it out, remove the switch module from the included mounting panel/housing and then use the clear nut to secure the switch module to the insert and voila, you're done. NOT the easiest thing to do, but not that hard either if you are handy with a dremel and a drill. Picture of final install included.
Superb controller and outstanding service from both etrailer and Redarc. I had some questions concerning the controller interfering with the advanced braking/collision avoidance in my Tacoma, as I had read about. I emailed Redarc in Australia and they promptly answered and even scheduled a phone call! I had a good conversation with them and it turns that that issue does not apply to my vehicle. So I give Redarc 5 stars at least for service. The controller itself is easy to install after watching the video. I would definitely buy the vehicle specific wiring to avoiding splicing. The bracket also made it very easy. I just used it on a long drive pulling a travel trailer. Works great. Some trial and error is all that’s needed to adjust the amount of braking.
I installed it in the center console so it would be easy to reach in case of sway. It also looks like it came from the Toyota factory this way. No ugly box hanging below to hit your knee.
Overall absolutely great device.
I highly recommend both the Redarc Elite and etrailer.
Shockingly, there are only two manufacturers who make remote mount brake controllers: Redarc and Curt. However, despite this lack of competition, Redarc has set a very high bar. My initial impression of this brake controller is very good. It took a few minutes of driving to calibrate, but once it finished the trailer braking became very smooth.
My only complaint so far (if you can call it that) is that the rate at which the brake gain increases (relative to increases in vehicle braking) seems a bit odd. In my opinion the gain starts off too low (i.e. when I'm lightly pressing the brake pedal, it seems like the tow vehicle is doing the majority of the braking), and then finishes off too high (i.e. when I'm firmly pressing the brake pedal, it seems the trailer is doing the majority of the braking). (And this happens with the the brake intensity dial in the same position for both scenarios.)
However, I must admit that I am new to electric trailer brakes, and I can see that perhaps this behavior may be desirable.
Everything else about this controller is as expected.
NOTE: Please make sure to get the switch blank insert for your vehicle! It is SOLD SEPARATELY. The one that comes with the brake controller is a universal style insert that requires you to drill a hole.
In my review pictures, you can see that I purchased a switch insert designed specifically for late 2000s / early 2010s Toyotas. I definitely recommend doing the same.
I'm going to skip the reviews for Item #3066-P Tekonsha Plug-In Wiring Adapter for Electric Brake Controllers and for Item #331-TPH-017 Redarc Tow-Pro Wiring Adapter for Tekonsha Brake Controller Harness. They just work to get the signals from A to B.
Installing this in my Merc ML-250 Bluetec was straight forward, but I thought quite a bit about the knob placement. Finally ended up mounting this next to the ashtray, opposite of the cigarette lighter. This location won't work for those with heated/cooled cupholders as this is the location used for that controller. This location works well for mounting as there is clearance below and the knob is low-profile enough that the sliding door can still cover the area. Just need to be careful with wire routing. Route towards the back of the car, then reverse course up to the front, such that the slider can retract into this space. The main body of the unit is mounted under the dashboard above the brake pedal, completely hidden from view and out of the way of feet and knees.
This brake controller is awesome! Been towing a dual axle boat trailer with EOH disc brakes on both axles (approximately 7K lbs with boat) for about a year with it, and couldn't be happier. The "resolution" of the adjustment knob allows you to dial in the perfect amount of braking force, and once you get it right braking is seamless between the tow vehicle and trailer. I occasionally tow this boat with my brother-in-law's Ford F-350 with a factory brake controller, and there's no question my REDARC controller brakes much smoother. Also love that the only visible component is the small rotary knob that can be mounted almost anywhere - no clunky controller hanging under the dash.
This thing is absolutely fantastic. It’s very discreet. I install this in a 2015 Porsche Cayenne diesel. It was installed The discrete hole we drilled in the face of the dash. It’s easy to use, requires very little adjustment while driving. Has a convenient lighting system that changes color when voltage is applied to the trailer brakes. My only complaint is that the unit resets its memory every time I disconnect and reconnect the trailer. It’s a minor irritation but that first 15 or 20 minutes of driving after connecting the trailer again, it does have to go through the initial calibration process to figure out what direction the controller is installed. I believe that this problem is specifically related to the Volkswagen and Porsche vehicles - they “shut off” power to the controller when there is no electrical draw sensed from trailer. I’m sure there is some kind of transistor that I could install that would eliminate this problem. I recommend this unit as far superior to the old school tekonsha and others. The only difference that I will point out is that on the old-school controllers there is a kind of emergency brake slider which you can use to ramp up additional braking power if you need it in a pinch. This device does have that functionality but it is a simple on off. In other words if you find yourself in need of rapid additional braking power you push the control button in. There is no ability to “ramp up” that emergency extra power to the brakes. It adds less extra power than the traditional ones but it is proportional to the # of braking power you have on the dial. I have learned to live with it. For a European car this is sleek, discrete, way sexier than the ugly traditional unit bolted to your dash
The Redarc Tow-Pro brake controller has worked flawlessly since I installed it a year ago. I tow a fairly light (2000 pound) pop-up trailer, which can be an adjustment challenge when braking on loose surfaces. I've found it very easy to slightly reduce the setting while on gravel and then return to the correct setting when returning to normal roads.
I purchased the Redarc because I could never get my previous controller to brake smoothly - it would often jerk at low speeds. I think that controller had problems because it was inserted into the 7-pin connector that was held by a metal bracket under my bumper that I suspect vibrated when braking, which confused that controller. Once I switched to the Redarc, which is firmly mounted under the dash, I had no more problems like that.
Finding a location in my Honda Pilot to mount the control module was a challenge - but well worth the effort. I mounted it to a plastic panel that I installed over an unused cavity in the console underneath the radio (see picture). The knob is easy to reach, and is out of the way of my knees.
Mounting the main control box under the dash was made easier because I didn't have to worry about its precise orientation since it will calibrate itself wherever it sits.
Was looking for a trailer break for a 2021 Honda Passport. My vehicle didn't have a hitch so I installed an etrailer hitch and later, a 7-way plug (also from etrailer) just in case I bought a camper. Now I'm purchasing a camper so needed a break. My experience with emailing and then "live chat" came up dry as far as a plug and play option for my Honda. I checked my vehicle and it did have a 4-pin under the dash so I thought this strange. I decided to call and ended up speaking with Fred who took the time to think through how to make it work. As disappointed as I was in my interaction with emailing and Live Chat, I was thrilled with Fred's support. The parts came quickly (as usual with etrailer) and the install was a breeze. Thank you Fred!
What kit comes with the long gray cable and two circuit breakers?
Installed on 2025 Santa Cruz. Worked very well. Simple to install. No controller in the way and works great. Will install one on my jeep.
Love the self-calibration and hidden controller. Great space saver and works as described. I did find the knob location in your video not very good; I could not see it through the steering wheel when driving. As you can see from the picture it is now visible from the driver's seat and easy to adjust when needed. Also, in this location the only hole I had to drill was 3/16" behind the knob and not visible or damaging. I was able to use the knob bracket that came in the kit and just push it into place, very stable.
I’m going to be up front and say I have not tested this beside driving around town. The install was very quick, maybe 20 minutes in all initially in my 2017 Nissan Titan SV. I do have some concerns though. After install I had no lights to show calibration was going on. From reading the user manual I guess that can happen. First time hooking up the trailer everything seemed fine and the light was blue as it should. Once I turned my running lights on though it began to blink red showing a fault with the cable. I tested everything to make sure it was getting voltage and the wires were correct. After about an hour I found something between my backup camera on the travel trailer and the brake was causing some sort of issue. I removed the camera, unplugged all the cables from the tow pro elite and hooked it back up. Once plugged back in it showed green and blue lights showing it was calibrating. I drove the trailer around town and our relief route. After about half an hour the light turned solid blue. The control is easy to use and looks very nice. I’m unable to get it to switch to user control mode but the proportional and manual brakes works fine. I will update my review after we take it out on a few trips. As of now it seems like a great product, very clean looking and should do a great job.
Sierra K.
6/3/2021
Thank you for your review. I have attached an expert answer that shows a chart of troubleshooting options for this product.
Helpful Links
Easy to set mount, set-up and go to working. I like the simplicity of the controller. The only thing you see is the control knob.
It truly amazes me that Ford touts the towing capacity of my Ranger, yet not one dealership I called could offer a solution for a trailer brake controller to be able to pull my little camper. I finally turned to etrailer since they had helped me meet my towing needs in the past with a different vehicle. etrailer's Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Trailer Brake Controller was a perfect solution! They also supplied a terrific video explaining in great detail how to install it in my truck. I preferred the in-dash location using one of the extra twelve volt ports using the optional round adapter insert and found it to be very convenient after a summer of towing. Highly recommend both Redarc Tow-Pro Elite and etrailer!
Happy G.
4/8/2023
Its been great! No problems encountered with the unit.
The Redark trailer brake controller installed easily. In my 2020 Toyota 4Runner. It looks like it came installed from the factory. It’s small and easy to reach when driving. It came with a plastic install panel. This is designed for installing in a hole that you drill in your dash. It will not fit in a knock out space in your dash. There is one that fits the dash perfectly that you can buy from etrailer.
etrailer automatically bundled the Redark trailer brake controller with the correct plug and play wiring harness for my vehicle. It was nice not to have to search for the wire harness. Everything installed perfectly.
I haven’t tested the function of the brake controller yet. I’ll hook up to a trailer this week.
The items arrived in less than a week and the package was in good condition. The order tracking worked great. The tech videos on the etrailer website were really helpful. I’ll purchase from hem again.
Denise
3/30/2022
The trailer brake controller still looks great. It works perfectly, although I don’t tow on a regular basis. When I do tow, the controller is easy to use.
Shipping was all messed up customer never got installed
I saw the great online reviews of this controller and took the plunge. I bought my 2002 Chevy Silverado K1500 extended cab short bed truck new in 2001. It came with the HD Towing package which include a factory plug in trailer brake wiring loom. I took my time over a 2 day period to carefully install and triple check my install. The Chevy and Redarc wiring wiring descriptions made it easy to join the two harnesses. I used HD crimped plug in connectors further protected with shrank tubing. All wiring was bundled with zip ties after encasing in HD harness protective cover. Zip ties held in place behind the removable panel beneath the steering wheel. The control button is installed on the right side of the steering column within easy reach. Nice install. I read that the light would not go on until a trailer was hooking up. I was elated when we picked up our new cargo trailer and the controller knob light lit up upon hitching up. the first mile of travel allowed easy testing of the system and fine tuning came a few miles further down the road. GREAT PRODUCT!
Mark
6/21/2023
Pulled my enclosed cargo trailer 4800 miles this past year moving to Texas. Trailer brake still functions perfectly. Im sure it will work with other trailers in the future as I will now sell my 20cargo trailer.
Works great. Very easy installation. Just got back from our first camping trip and not have the bulky trailer controller in the way is a nice feature. Highly recommend
I have been pleased with the Redarc controller. I like that it's hidden away from sight except for the knob. It works as advertised with no issues whatsoever. I tow a dump trailer rated for 16,000 lbs with an 06 ram diesel and the brake controller makes it so much easier on the vehicle brakes. I highly recommend.
David
6/19/2026
Still working great after one year. Would highly recommend the Redarc controller.
Jerry B.
6/19/2026
Installation was as described in the Colorado video. My 2015 4x4 dash required a different location than where the knob is located in the video( where the 4x4 knob is ). The dial knob just fits inside the upper clips for the credit card slot. I used the left side for better visibility. I drilled a pilot hole and then slowly enlarged it, dragging it as needed to keep it centered under the dash clip. You will understand when you remove the card slot. Remove the lower dash to get to a hidden screw, then the card holder pops straight out.
Jeff
10/30/2025
It works great with no issues. I have a 2015 Chevy Colorado though, not a Honda pilot as the post says.
Great product. Easy to install, especially if you already have a brake controller. The control unit is easy to mount almost anywhere since it automatically detects its orientation. The calibration process is automatic, you just drive and make a few stops (and calibration happens even when the trailer is not connected). Then it is a matter of dialing in the maximum braking force. The progressive action is smooth and stopping is jerk-free. Be sure to get the vehicle-specific mounting panel if one is available. Otherwise a generic panel is included. Attached is a photo of installation in a Toyota FJ Cruiser -- not much to see, as the control box is invisible under the dash.
Kate F.
5/6/2026
Love this, sounds like you and your brake controller are already best friends Robert =) We’re glad the install treated you well, especially that “set it and forget it” calibration. Hard to beat. And you’re absolutely right about the mounting panel tip. That’s one of those little details that makes the whole setup look factory clean. Also appreciate you calling out the smooth, jerk free braking. That’s exactly what we like to hear. Safe stops mean happy towing.
Amazing Brake Controller- I pull a 6000lbs Rockwood trailer behind my 2015 Grand Cherokee and this controller has saved my tail a few times. Not only has the emergency feature pulled my trailer straight in a few clincher moments with wind, but the proportioning is truly amazing. Multiple times over the 4 years I have used it, and it has worked flawlessly in emergency situations. During my 12,000 plus miles I have never felt the trailer pushing me during braking, it actually feels like i have nothing behind me. Loaded it weighs in at 6800lbs. Thank you for designing an awesome product.
Heather A.
5/8/2026
That’s awesome to hear, and that setup looks great too. That Mini Lite behind your Grand Cherokee is a really clean combo. I love hearing how it’s actually performed for you out on the road, especially in those “oh man” moments where things could’ve gone sideways. 12,000 miles without issues says a lot. Really appreciate you taking the time to share that, and the photo too. What kind of trips are you usually taking with it, more long hauls or just getting out on the weekends?
I installed on my 2019 durango without factory tow package, instructions were straight forward, managed to place in center consol, wires to battery. Seen videos sending wires to engine compartment. Worked out with the wires I had and able to place fuse as well. The brake light cable, had a little challenge, since car uses same light for turn signal, it gave intermittent signal, so I wired it to the center rear/3rd brake light. In all it worked amd made it easier to slow down, especially when I was towing nearly 6k. I didn't feel the push of the trailer. Don't have pics of the install, just the final location of my control.
Kate F.
6/5/2026
Thanks for your review, Eric! It sounds like the installation took a little creativity, but I'm glad the videos and instructions helped you get everything wired up and working properly on your Durango. Thanks for including the photo of your controller setup, too. What are you towing with your Durango?
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Ron
4/16/2023
Still working perfectly. I tell people about it every chance I get.