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This compact brake controller fits nicely in your cab. You can mount it anywhere you like and it's only 1" thick. The LED display is large and bright so it's easy to see, while the large manual override is easy to reach in a pinch.
Features:
Specs:
Gain is the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. How much braking output you need is determined by the weight of your trailer; a heavier trailer will need more power to bring it to a stop. You want to go as high as you can without the trailer brakes locking up. Use the orange rocker switch to adjust the gain on a scale of 0.5 to 9.9 in increments of 0.5.
Once you have the gain set, you can fine-tune your braking by adjusting the load control on a scale of 1 to 9 using the black rocker switch. This controls the aggressiveness of your trailer's braking, meaning how quickly the brakes reach the maximum braking level. If your vehicle takes too long to come to a stop, increase the setting. If it stops too abruptly, decrease the setting.
The LED display on the Discovery is large and easy to read at a glance. You can adjust the brightness or trigger night mode so it won't glare obnoxiously on your dash. It also will give you clear error messages you can use to troubleshoot.
Because inertia plays no role in the functioning of this controller, your mounting options are limitless, so long as you can still easily access the manual override. The included bracket is designed to mount the brake controller flush to the dash so it takes up almost no space at all. The included pigtail harness splices into your vehicle's wiring beneath your dash to provide an easy-to-access plug for the brake controller.
Note: If a custom brake control wiring adapter is not available for your vehicle, one of the following will be required:
20-Amp circuit breaker (9506P - sold separately) for 2- to 4-brake applications
30-Amp circuit breaker (38630 - sold separately) for 6- to 8-brake applications
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).
Time-delayed braking means that when you apply the brakes in your vehicle, the controller activates the trailer brakes at a pre-set intensity and rate. Both the amount of braking power (gain) and rate of application (load) can be adjusted to suit your preference, the road conditions, the type of trailer, and the weight of your load. To determine which levels are best for your application, test your towing setup and choose what feels right.
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi, everyone, Aidan here with etrailer. Today, we're gonna be taking a look at the Curt Discovery NEXT Brake Controller. This is gonna be a time-delayed brake controller. Let's check it out. When it comes to brake controllers, there's gonna be two options you're probably looking at, time-delayed and proportional. Proportional is gonna be the nicer of the two where if you lightly press your brakes, the brakes in your trailer are also going to be lightly applied.
If you slam on the brakes, the brakes in your trailer are also going to match that proportionally. With a time-delayed brake controller, it's gonna be applied at the same rate every time, so you don't get that fine adjustment. You can still adjust the settings, but it's gonna be the same every time. So if we're rolling up to a stop sign, coming to a very slow and predictable stop, and our gain and sensitivity are set kinda high, it's gonna be applying the brakes pretty hard. Same for if we have those set kind of low and we slam on our brakes on the highway, because someone in front of us stopped, the brakes aren't gonna be applied in a similar fashion.
There is the manual override you can always pinch to apply, but that's just something to know with a time-delayed system like this. Let's talk about those controls. The manual override is a pinch style where I'm pressing the button with my thumb. It's pretty easy to reach from the driver's seat where I've got it all set up. So whenever I'm driving, I feel like if I needed to suddenly reach down and get it, I can find that pretty easily every time, and index my thumb well enough to get a good press.
So good to know for emergency situations where you might need that. Now, there's gonna be two sets of controls here for the gain and the load. The orange buttons are going to adjust our gain or our brake power. You can go anywhere from 0.5 up to 9.9, and this is going to signify the different power levels. So 0.5 is the weakest, and as I go up, it's going to get more and more powerful.
So if I have a heavier trailer that needs more stopping power, I'd set it higher. The next one is going to be our load. This is basically how quickly the brakes are applied, so that can go from 1 to 9. At 1, it's going to be the lowest, and at 9, it's going to be the fastest or the quickest application. So basically, ramping from zero to fully applied where we have that gain set. So for demonstration, I'm just going to put the gain all the way up to max, and I'm gonna hit the brakes. And you'll see, slowly, it'll climb up to where we set it. And if I turn that load down all the way to 1, it's going to climb much slower to that designated power level. So you can fine tune this to your own trailer application, and depending on how heavy of a trailer you have and how good the brakes are, that will determine what you want those set at. But generally, that gain is going to be for the weight of the the trailer, and you can kinda determine the load from there. Now, to give a visual indicator of that gain, we've got our vehicle hooked up to a trailer simulator box. I've got the gain set to the absolute lowest it goes, so that's gonna be the lowest brake power, and you can see where the voltage is reading right now. If I turn the gain up to 5, that's gonna be right in the middle, you'll see that voltage will climb up higher. And then if I turn it up to the max, 9.9, you'll see that climb up even higher. So this is just to give you some visual indication of that different power level of the braking. This is designed to work with trailers up to four axles and will work with PWM, ABS, cruise controller, and electric-over-hydraulic brakes. So keep that in mind as you're picking this out if it's gonna work with your trailer. Up to four axles, I'd say for the most part, you're gonna be totally fine. If you don't need one that can go up to four axles and you like this style, Curt does make a similar version that's up to three axles. So that's something to keep in mind too if you don't need this much. Now, the big advantage to something like this, and something you probably noticed if you're familiar with brake controllers already, is going to be the size. It's a lot smaller and a lot more shallow than the brake controller we pulled out of this 4Runner today. And that's great, because even though it's mounted externally, it's not going to be in the way of your knees as you're getting in and out of the vehicle. And as I'm in a normal driving position, I've got plenty of distance between it and my leg. I don't feel like I'm gonna be hitting it all the time, 'cause it doesn't stick out very far. That's thanks to the very low profile bracket. We've got it mounted up with the included double-sided adhesive, but you can also use the included self-tapping screws. Just know that they're pretty long, and you're gonna have to have clearance behind there. But this will just click into place over that bracket. (bracket clicking) You can hear that snap in, and that's what holds it in. One thing to note is that because it's not inertia based, you can mount this really wherever it fits best, so it doesn't necessarily need to be level or facing any certain direction. Now, the installation can vary depending on your vehicle. I'd say check for what your vehicle has in terms of pigtail adapters. That's what we we're able to do with this option from Curt. We offer this pigtail adapter on our site here at etrailer, and that allows us to just plug directly into the vehicle's prep package for this. So just check to see if your vehicle can do that, because that's definitely going to be the easiest option as far as installation goes, 'cause it just plugs right in and all you have to worry about is mounting up that bracket, and then tucking up that wire loom from the adapter. Something else to note is that that LED readout does have a number of different functions. You can adjust the brightness, there's a day and night mode, but it's also gonna give us readouts for different errors. So if something's maybe not fully connected or something, it will tell us here. Your instructions give you a full list of all the different errors that can occur and short descriptions of what they are. But because its screen gives full text readouts, it's pretty easy to tell what's going on based on what it's showing. Like for example, when we first hooked this up to our simulator box, we didn't have the 7-way plugged in all the way, and it told us it wasn't connected. So we went back there, pushed the plug in the rest of the way, and then it worked properly. So that's going to help with just troubleshooting anything that may be occurring in your setup. For me, I think this is a nice middle ground between having the controls, easy to access, and having that LED readout, so you can see those errors and the power, and just have a little bit more control over it while still staying out of the way and being flushed to the dash. But that was just our look at the Curt Discovery NEXT Brake Controller. Thanks for watching.
Customer Satisfaction Score:
91% were satisfied with this product
9% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
This is my first experience with installing and/or using an electric brake controller so I'm by no means an expert. However, the Curt Venturer was easy to order and etrailer.com noted other parts I would need to complete the installation and use the product. It was delivered in a timely manner and was exactly as specified. I had my mechanic do the installation on my 1998 Nissan Pathfinder and it took him a couple of hours because of the age of the vehicle. The controller is easy and intuitive to set up and use and it works well. I will keep etrailer.com on my list of go-to places for my towing needs.
I ordered the 07 FJ Cruiser complete kit with brake controller, wiring, fuses, adapters. One of the most comprehensive kits specifically for my truck. Great purchase the instructions and video on site make it easy to install. Looks professional.
etrailer products and service are excellent! With their helpful videos and staff (plus a little help from Curt Manufacturing and our teardrop trailer manufacturer (CampInn)) I was able to install electric brakes on the trailer, and a controller in my vehicle by myself. I had never installed electric brakes before. Everything works perfectly!
Works as described. Hooked up to the universal installation kit without any problems. You have to have ability to use tools and crawl under the car and under the dash to get everything hooked up. Not for the faint of heart for my car.
Etrailers catalogue provided a complete & accurate description of the 8 items purchased. Placing the order by phone was fast & efficient. Items arrived within 4 working days, no tax no shipping charge. Professional all around.
Pat M.
11/21/2017
The EOH braking system works perfectly. You are my supplier of choice ifwhen I need additional trailer parts on the future.
This is a "must have" if your vehicle did not come with a "tow package". If your vehicle does have a tow package try to get the correct wiring adapter and you can just plug it in without having to make wiring connections.
Peter
6/23/2022
So far, so good!
Made hooking up the Curt Discovery Trailer Brake Controller to our non-wired 1982 GMC 1-ton (without voiding the controller warranty) a snap.
Drew V.
10/10/2017
No issues, completely satisfied!
I only towed with it once and then I sold the truck I installed it in. I pulled the two axle camper bought 350 miles and it worked fine.
Excellent web site with great installation videos and application info.
Easy ordering with good feedback notifications and prompt delivery.
Trailer Brake Controller works very well and as described on your web site. I will do business with you again and recommend you to my auto club.
Charles B.
6/9/2016
Worked fine, but sold vehicle 6 months ago.
I purchased the wiring harness to aid with hooking up the Curt Brake Controller I had previously purchased. The shipment was fast. The product was perfect. The on-line installation video was perfect and allowed me to complete the installation like a professional. I have never purchased anything from etrailer.com .... but should I ever need anything in the future, they will be my first choice.
Ted
7/3/2015
Perfectly. No issues at all with wiring or controller.
Needed this next day. Shipping was fast and product was as described, install was easy after watching a YouTube video.
I own a 2008 Chevy Silverado. I ordered the brake controller - C51515 and the universal wiring adapter on Friday and received it on Tuesday. My friend who is a mechanic installed it in about an hour on Wednesday. I towed my camper trailer to Lincoln, NE (about a 5 hour trip) on Thursday and returned on Sunday. After reading the settings instructions, all stops were made smooth and firm. Etrailer.com was great and the Curt Trailer Brake Controller is excellent!
Biscuitsngravy
10/21/2014
I have enjoyed the use of the electric brake controller. The stops are always safe and smooth. Im glad I got it for my truck and Ive never had a problem with it. I just need to get out and use my camper more! The initial contact with etrailer.com was very favorable and I will do business with them again when I need something for my trailers or tow vehicles.
I bought a 7 pin trailer wiring/brake connection for my Dodge pickup. I installed it myself, the instructions were absolutely clear and correct. It was an easy installation. In the year since, I've pulled my trailer (tandem axle, 16') many times. The brakes continue to work perfectly as well as the lights. The connectors are solid, all work just like new. I recommend Etrailer parts and their people 100%!
Howard S.
4/6/2018
Still working great. Not any problems. A great product
Wiring up a brake controller can be tricky. Routing the wire from the hitch to the firewall and finding the right wire on the brake are the hardest part, but etrailer will do their best to help.
Consider running the wire inside the car along the door bottom just under the carpet. This avoids problems with the tie-wraps under the car -- there just isn't anywhere to tie wrap under the middle of the car. Use "loom clamps" ordered separately to solve this problem, if you go under the car.
To find the right brake wire without cutting insulation, use the fish wire from the hitch install to contact the end of the wire inside the connector (from the back). Then touch the fish wire with the continuity tester and apply the brake pedal. My brake had a four wire connector and I found the right one on the second try.
If you find a hole in the firewall with a rubber plug in it, don't discard the plug. Make a short slice in it with a razor blade and push the wires through. You may have to work the wires around to get them through the carpet. Be patient.
Be sure to watch all the videos and allow plenty of time, taking a break before you tackle the hard parts. Rest assured that doing it yourself is better than allowing UHaul to cut corners and charge you labor. :-)
If you are doing the hitch install and four-wire harness, those are much easier. If you are installing the hitch alone, be sure to have a magnet wand for when you push the bolt up into the frame rail. If I had it to do again, I would use a little electrical tape to hold the bolts down so a slight bump wouldn't knock them up.
Kent E.
1/23/2018
Ive not had any trouble with the hitch or the brake controller. I can tow my tear trailer anywhere I want and the hitch protects my mufflers from damage when I go offroad. Nice extra benefit.
Connected to the OEM plug perfectly, works great on our Sunset 16 ft trailer.
Worked perfectly with the Curt Spectrum.
Purchased this controller for a 2004 Toyota Tundra Limited and it has preformed perfectly! I haven't had any complaints. It reacts and adjusts quickly. Along with the plug and play function there's not much more I can say. Great product!
It was an excellent replacement part same as the old one and is holding up a lot better than my original one best part easy installation everything matched
this went into my VW Touareg which requires the relay modification described in the Technical Bulletin. Because ground and +12V is already present in the harness, instead of running additional cables, I soldered the relay right into the cable, making it a clean plug and play setup which is 100% removable. I also bought the VW housing and wire kit to complete the install
I have the Dodge Ram Truck 94 model with factory wire 7 connector plug. This is the truck that many people can't find the blue wire under the dash. 94 model didn't come with a factory wire plug under the dash like later models have. I found the wire tape to the main wiring harness about two inches from the fire wall to the right of the emergency brake paddle. This harness worked great
Perfect fit excellent price install vid eos.
Richard
3/8/2026
Product works perfectly. Easy install.
Works well on a older truck , the new proportional controllers didn’t seem to be very effective on a older brake system.
I got this for my 2016 GMC Canyon because it didn't come with an integrated brake controller even though my truck has the tow package. Because it had the tow package I had wires already set up for a brake controller all I had to do was splice an adapter into them. I bought the Curt Universal Splice in Adapter part #C51515 in addition to the Curt TriFlex NEXT Proportional Brake Controller part #C72YV. Everything works perfectly, I soldered the adapter to my trucks wires that I mentioned earlier instead of using butt connectors for a more secure and reliable connection then I also wrapped the wires coming out of the brake controller in electrical tape for additional protection and so they blend in with the interior of my truck better. Over all a very simple install and was able to be done in about 2 hours. 10/10 recommended
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Mark
5/29/2018
I used these products for 2 separate trips about a year apart. First trip was about 7500 miles and the 2nd about 3500. No issues. Have not used the tent trailer for about a year. Have a trip coming up in about 1 month and dont expect any problems with these products.