Curt Venturer NEXT Trailer Brake Controller w/ Plug-In Harness - Up to 3 Axles - Time Delayed
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2020 Ram 1500
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2020 Ram 1500
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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 keeps it simple with bar indicators, 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.
Once you have the gain set, you can fine-tune your braking by adjusting the load control. 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 Venturer is large and easy to read at a glance. It will show you what setting the brake controller is on as well as give you information for troubleshooting. You can adjust the screen brightness or trigger night mode so it won't glare obnoxiously on your dash.
Because inertia plays no role in the functioning of this controller, you do not have to mount the unit at any particular angle. Your mounting options are limitless, so long as you can still easily access the controller and 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 there. I'm Michael with etrailer.com. Today we're gonna take a quick look at this CURT Venturer NEXT Trailer Brake Controller. Now, if you're not familiar, if you have electric trailer brakes on your trailer, you are going to need a brake controller in order to activate those brakes. Otherwise, they're not really doing anything for you. There are several different kinds of brake controllers out there, different features and that sorta thing.
This is really gonna be your more basic option. So it's not gonna have some of the more advanced features that allow you to control the intensity of your braking in the moment, but this is going to be enough to get your brakes functioning. So if you are just looking for the base model that's gonna do the job for you without having to pay a whole lotta money, this is gonna be a great way to go. This will work for your trailers that have up to three axles, so six brake assemblies. Basically the way this works, every time you apply the brakes in your vehicle, a signal is sent via your brake switch to the Venturer.
The controller is then gonna send that power out to your trailer brakes to activate them with an intensity that's preset by you. It does also have the predetermined rate, which is also set by you, and we'll get into what those two terms mean, but this is going to be a time delay system. So unlike some other brake controllers that are proportional, this is going to apply the brakes at the same intensity whether you're tapping on the brakes or slamming on the brakes in an emergency sorta situation, that your trailer's brakes are gonna apply at the same rate either way. Both the amount of your braking power, called the gain, and the rate of the application, which is called the load, can be adjusted to suit your preferences, the road conditions, the type of trailer you have, and the weight of your load. We've got the switches here that are going to allow you to very easily access that and adjust.
So we've got 10 different gain settings. You select a higher setting for your harder braking and a lower setting for your more gradual braking. You do wanna go as high as you can without your trailer's brakes locking up. That's a good indicator that you've gone a little too far, so you wanna come back down a little bit. Typically your gain is only gonna be readjusted when you're experiencing changing road conditions or if the weight of your trailer changes.
So if you've taken off your load, you might wanna adjust it so that it's not engaging as hard with that lighter empty trailer. This also provides nine different load settings, and that's gonna control the aggressiveness of your trailer's braking, meaning how quickly the brakes reach their maximum braking level. So you've got all that adjustability to preset it, but then once you apply the brakes, it's going to apply that same power and as quickly each time. So again, whether you're tapping on the brakes or you're slamming on them, the trailer's brakes are gonna apply that same amount of pressure. So unlike your proportional systems which will apply the trailer's brakes in proportion to how intense you're applying the tow vehicle's brakes, this is not gonna have that feature. It does have a very simple LED display that's gonna show the amount of power output. So you can adjust that in one-digit increments so that you can know where you're at, you know how much intensity you've got. The brightness is also adjustable, so you can view it optimally either. No matter if you're driving during the day or at night, you can adjust that brightness level. We also have the pinch trigger that's going to give you that manual override capability, so very easy to reach if your trailer begins to sway or if you're stopping in an emergency situation. You can activate your trailer's brakes and the brake lights without having to apply the brakes on your tow vehicle just by pushing in on that switch or that trigger there. This is gonna be very quick and easy to get installed. There really are no mounting restrictions. So with a proportional system, you have to have it mounted in a certain orientation for the internal components to sense the inertia. This, you don't have to worry about that. They've got this mounting bracket here with the included hardware that you can get mounted flat on your dash, and then it just kinda slips in place there, so basically flush with your dash. Very simple to get installed, and you don't have to worry about getting a certain orientation. You can mount it basically whichever way is gonna work best for your setup. You can see our width there. We're looking at approximately 3 1/8 of an inch wide. Our length, we're sitting at approximately four inches, and then our thickness, call it about an inch. So keep that in mind when determining where you're gonna mount this. Now, to get it wired in, it's gonna depend on your setup. If your vehicle is already equipped with a plug-in brake controller wiring harness, all you have to do is just connect the unit to it, so very simple there. If you don't have a built-in system, there are some plug-in vehicle-specific brake control wiring adapters available that are gonna help to reduce your installation time, and of course, that is gonna depend on your vehicle. So I'd recommend using our vehicle fit guide here at etrailer.com. You'll select your year, make and model of your vehicle. We'll let you know which products will work for you. So specifically for those vehicle-specific kinda products, that's more important, but if you do have one of those available, I'd highly recommend going with that. Otherwise, if you are just going to wire it in place, you are gonna need either the 20-amp circuit breaker if you have a two, three or four-brake application, so with two or four-brake application, or you'll need the 30-amp for a six-brake application. So depending on your setup, you'll need either one of those, and again, if you don't already have a seven-way plug at the back of your vehicle, I highly recommend our ETBC7 seven and four-way brake controller installation kit that you can see on the screen there. So that's gonna give you that plug at the back of your vehicle so that you can plug in your trailer's wiring and make sure everything is connected properly. This does come with a limited lifetime warranty. So if you we're to have any issues with it, you're more than welcome to reach out to us here at etrailer.com, but like I said, this is a very basic model. I think it's gonna get the job done for you. It's not gonna have a whole lot of bells and whistles and that sort of thing, but it is gonna help to apply those brakes on your trailer, and that completes our look for today. Again, I'm Michael with etrailer.com. Thanks for watching.
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!
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.
Worked perfectly with the Curt Spectrum.
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
I am using this for a test fixture. I have found it to be easy to use and having a reliable ramp rate for EOH brake actuation.
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.
I replaced my previous Curt venturer with the new one and it was easy. Just plug it in. Used it this weekend and did great with easily adjustable trailer brakes
Milt
It was easy to install. Just plug in and ot works. Fast shipping.
You guys were very helpful and I'm having the tow hitch and wiring installed with AP Automotive.
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.