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  1. Trailer Brake Controller
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  4. Proportional Controller
  5. Up to 2 Axles
  6. Under-Dash
Dexter Predator DX2 Trailer Brake Controller - Up to 2 Axles - Proportional
Dexter

Dexter Predator DX2 Trailer Brake Controller - Up to 2 Axles - Proportional

Part Number: 58-8
In Stock
$173.00
Trailer Brake Controller
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This brake controller likes to keep things simple, with a thumbwheel on the front to adjust the output settings and a lever on the side for the sensitivity. The digital display is large and simple so you can read it with just a glance. Great Prices for the best trailer brake controller from Dexter. Dexter Predator DX2 Trailer Brake Controller - Up to 2 Axles - Proportional part number 58-8 can be ordered online at etrailer.com or call 1-800-940-8924 for expert service.
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  • Reviews (43)
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Dexter Trailer Brake Controller - 58-8

  • Electric
  • Proportional Controller
  • Up to 2 Axles
  • Dexter
  • Under-Dash
  • Splice-In
  • Under-Dash Box
  • Single Trailer Only
  • LED Display

This brake controller likes to keep things simple, with a thumbwheel on the front to adjust the output settings and a lever on the side for the sensitivity. The digital display is large and simple so you can read it with just a glance.


Features:

  • Brake controller activates your trailer brakes in proportion to your vehicle's braking
    • Automatically adjusts trailer's braking based on deceleration of tow vehicle
  • Large, digital LED display shows your controller settings and monitors voltage output
  • Simple, intuitive controls
    • Adjust gain with the thumbwheel
    • Activate manual override with a quick pinch of the slide bar
    • Fine-tune braking aggressiveness with lever on the side
  • Built-in safeguards
    • Current limiter protects vehicle from shorts in the trailer wiring
    • Hazard flasher immunity prevents pulsing of the brakes when flashers are activated
  • Easy mounting with included bracket and hardware
    • 90 To -35 degree mounting range - must be horizontally level
    • Pigtail harness hardwires into your vehicle
  • Made in the USA


Specs:

  • Application: trailers with up to 2 axles (4 brake assemblies)
    • Compatible with electric brakes only
  • Dimensions: 6-1/2" long x 3" wide x 1-5/8" tall
  • Mounting angle: -35 degrees to 90 degrees vertically
  • 7-Year limited warranty


Gain and Load Adjustment

Dexter Predator DX2 Power Gain Wheel

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.


Adjusting the gain on the Dexter Predator DX2 is super simple. Use just one finger to move the wheel on the front of the unit up or down to increase or decrease braking power.


Dexter Predator DX2 Deceleration Sensor Level

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.


Adjusting the sensitivity is just as easy as adjusting the gain. Move the lever on the left side of the unit forward or back.


Installation

Because the Predator DX2 operates with an internal inertia sensor, it must be mounted between -35 degrees and 90 degrees vertically. It also needs to be horizontally level and parallel with the direction of travel to function properly. During installation, the deceleration sensor lever must be positioned straight up and down. After mounting the Predator DX2 using the included bracket, hardwire the controller directly into your vehicle.


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).


Note: One of the following will be required to ensure proper installation:

  • 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

What is Proportional Braking?

What is proportional Braking

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 Predator DX2 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.



058-008-00 Dexter Predator DX2 Electric Brake Controller with Inertia Sensor - 1 to 2 Axles - Proportional

Replaces 58-8




California residents: click here


Customer Satisfaction Score:

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

43 reviews
This brake controller likes to keep things simple, with a thumbwheel on the front to adjust the output settings and a lever on the side for the sensitivity. The digital display is large and simple so you can read it with just a glance.

by:



by:

I am very satisfied with the Dexter Axle Predator Electric Brake controller. I purchased the Dexter brake controller to be compatible with Dexter car trailer axles on a 16 foot car hauler. The braking unit is very useful when towing in very steep and winding mountain terrain. I feel that the braking is a necessary safety item when towing in a hilly or mountainous environment and the Dexter Predator brake controller provides the great control and driver peace of mind knowing that a heavy load can be managed. The unit installs very easily with the proper adapter.



by:

The parts I ordered were shipped and now are installed on a enclosed trailer that carries a variety of motorcycles. The roads are mountainous and treacherous here so I have to be able to 100% depend on my trailer brakes. The brakes have been flawless, giving me total confidence. Perfect parts, great price. Customer service was a 10. Thanks for all your help !



by:

My brake controller was a great match for my needs. I have a 4 brake trailer which gets the proper control from my Dexter unit. From empty weight to heavy load the adjustment is just a slight roll of the knob. I like the digital read out so I can glance down to check system operations. It does great f or me and fit right in to the factory wire set up in my truck



by:

I installed this controller in my 1982 Chevy K20 pickup.
It works perfectly! Etrailer exceeded my expectations with their level of customer service from the time the order was placed to the products arrival at my home. Truly 5-star service!
The video tutorials are straight forward and very helpful.
The universal installation kit literally had everything needed to complete the job.
Side note:
I would have liked to see the (2) 10ga wires in the insulation to be black and blue, not black and white, no biggie, black on black and white on blue.
Thanks again!



by:

Item was shipped promptly and was easy to install works great on my 20,000 pound felling goosneck trailer with 4 electric over hydraulic disc brakes.



by:

Just finish installing the brake controller so I have not seen it in operation. Everything that was needed for installation was contained in the package. Due to limited access due to the chosen mounting location getting two of the side screws started took some effort.



by:

Finally a brake controller that does what I set it to, not what it’s little computer brain, designed by someone who has never pulled a trailer thinks it needs to do.



by:

This is a great product, installation was easy, instructions accurate and product works as advertised. I would do this all over again if needed.



by:

Easy to install and adjust, seems to work well with my Pathfinder. The butt connectors that were included were not the correct size but i wouldn't have used them anyway.



by:

A great product. Had it installed by my Benz dealership. No adjustments needed.....factory settings were all I needed to tow my boat and trailer.



by:

was difficult to find a good mounting location away from leg room



by:

Great service from etrailer. I have never had a problem with any products I have bought.
Excellent company.



by:

All my ordered parts arrived have not installed yet but so far perfect experience.



by:

good quality product, instructions are easy to follow.



by:

FAst shipping



by:

So far so good all products worked as a dvertised



by:

Everything as described.



by:

Easy install and reasonably priced !



by:

Easy to set up and use.



by:

Delivered on time and the right parts



by:

PARTS SHOWED UP ON TIME . HAVE NOT YET INSTALLED



by:

Everything was sent that I ordered. Thank you



by:

Quality product at a good price.



by:


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Show More Reviews

See what our Experts say about this Dexter Trailer Brake Controller

  • How to Wire Dexter DX2 Brake Controller on 2013 Chevrolet Silverado
    The red wire from your Dexter DX2 brake controller # 58-8 needs to be wired to the cold side of the stop light switch, which on your 2013 Chevy Silverado corresponds to a light blue wire with a white stripe. This wire should ONLY be hot when the brake pedal is applied. The rest of the wires actually match up with the same color wires on your truck as follows: Dark blue on brake controller - To dark blue on vehicle White on brake controller - To white on vehicle Black on brake controller...
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  • Recommended Trailer Brake Controller For a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 With Factory 7-Way
    I recommend installing the Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller # RED52VR on your 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. This controller is proportional and takes up much less room than the Dexter Predator DX2 Trailer Brake Controller # 58-8 you found. This will make is easier to reach and give you a much cleaner look with the brake controller. I have linked an installation video below for the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller # 90195 that will accurately walk you through all the...
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  • Location of Brake Controller Connector on 2012 Ram Truck
    The connector you are looking for will be located taped to another larger wiring harness just to the right and above the emergency brake pedal, as shown in the photo I have edited for you. You can confirm that this is the correct connector by testing it with a circuit tester like part # PTW2993. One pin should show a constant 12-volt power supply, another should show voltage only when the brake pedal is pressed. Unfortunately, my contact at Tekonsha was not able to shed any light on...
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  • Recommended Trailer Brake Controller for 2012 Chevy Silverado
    For your 2012 Chevy Silverado, I highly recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller # 90885. This is an excellent proportional controller that will activate the brakes on your boat trailer at the same time and with the same intensity that you apply to them in your truck. It features an easy-to-read digital display, 3 boost settings, and continuous diagnostics that will alert you to any potential issues. This unit is well known for its reliability and ease of use. If your...
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  • When to Use a 20 or 30 amp Circuit Breaker When Installing Brake Controller
    You'd want to use the 20 amp circuit breaker like # PK54220PL unless your trailer has more than two brake axles. If that's the case you'd want to use the 30 amp breaker # 38630.
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  • How to Wire Dexter Predator Brake Controller on a 2013 Town and Country With a Tow Package
    In my research, the 2013 Chrysler Town and Country with a tow package does come with a wiring harness and should have a 7-way. To install the Dexter Predator # 58-8, you will need to run the wires from the brake controller to the 7-way connector on your vehicle. You are also going to need Draw-Tite # 5506 which gives you the extra length you will need to hook up your brake controller to your 7-way connector. I have attached a FAQ regarding trailer brake controller installation information,...
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  • Dexter Predator Brake Controller 58-8 Installation in 2005 Ford F150
    If your 2005 Ford F-150 has only 4 wires at the bumper (or only a 4-pole connector) and you need to install a 7-way vehicle-side connector, you could use the Hopkins # 37185. If you already have the 7-way connector on your truck, you will need to make the additional wire connections for the brake controller. (The 4 wires you have carry the brake light, running light and turn light signals for your trailer, plus a ground: white = ground, brown = running/brake lights, green = right turn signal...
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  • Troubleshooting Electric Brakes with Dexter DX2 Controller
    The manual override lever does not move when you hit your brake pedal but the digital display will light up and give you a reading. The slide is only for the manual emergency braking or to apply additional braking pressure to your trailer as desired and should not move when you hit your brake pedal at all. The description you gave is that your manual override is sticking and not releasing the braking pressure some of the time which would definitely lead to burning up your brake shoes...
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  • Troubleshooting Predator DX2 Brake Controller that Only Works with Override Lever
    The controller shouldn't have been showing voltage without a trailer connected. Typically this is caused by corrosion on the 7-way which is putting a slight draw on the circuit and causing the controller to think a trailer is connected. If the controller isn't applying the brakes with the brake pedal typically that's due to an issue with the red wire of the controller though. This wire needs to see 12 volts to know you are applying the brakes so that it can then start activating the trailer...
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  • How to Install a Trailer Brake Controller on a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 with Factory 4-Way
    On a 1996 Dodge Ram that came with a factory 4-Way trailer connector there is a factory harness you can plug into to install a brake controller. The harness is located underneath the dash, to the left of the steering column, taped to another harness near the emergency brake pedal. I have included a link to a video that should help. For the Dexter brake controller, # 58-8 you referenced, you would need wiring harness # 3020-P. To wire in your 7-Way that you have you will need to hardwire...
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  • Installing Dexter Predator DX2 Brake Controller on 2008 GMC Envoy
    As long as your 2008 GMC Envoy is equipped with the factory 7-Way connector there will be blunt cut wires located inside the vehicle on the driver's side under the instrument panel to which your Dexter Predator DX2 Brake Controller # 58-8 can be directly wired. Based on my research there should be a red/black wire that connects to the black (12V power) wire on the controller, a white wire that connects to the white (ground) wire on the controller, a light blue/white wire that gets connected...
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  • Where Do the 4 Wires of a Brake Controller Go for Installation in Vehicle
    The four wires and their functions are: White: Ground wire, connected to negative side of battery. Blue: Electric brake wire, ran to the brake output circuit of your 7-way with 10 gauge wire like # 10-1-1 sold by the foot. Black: 12v power wire, connected to the vehicle positive battery terminal with a 40amp circuit breaker, part # 9510. Red: Stoplight switch circuit. This will get run to the wire on your stoplight pedal assembly that sees voltage only when the brakes are applied. Use...
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  • Brake Controller Installation on 2006 Ford F150
    The brake controller installation on your 2006 F150 is pretty easy. The connector for the brake controller is located under the dash, behind and to the right of the OBD port as shown in the video I've linked for you. You'll need the brake controller wiring adapter, part # 3035-S. The adapter will plug into the connector, and the bare wires on the connector would wire to your Dexter Predator brake controller, color for color. If your vehicle is equipped with the 7-way trailer connector,...
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  • Mounting Bracket for a Dexter Predator DX2 Brake Controller
    You should be able to use bracket # 2178. I have included a picture showing the measurements for you. I was able to read the instructions for the controller from the Dexter site but I can send you a copy in a separate email.
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  • Installing a Brake Controller on a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country Van
    The 2016 Chrysler Town and Country did not come with a factory installed tow package and a 7-way trailer connector. You will have to hardwire in a 7-way and the all the wiring so you can install your controller. None of the wiring is pre-installed on this model vehicle. The first thing you will need to do is wire in a 4-way flat trailer plug if you have not already done so. You will need a wiring harness, I recommend the Curt T-One harness, # C56331. This harness is custom-fit to your...
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  • How to Install a Brake Controller in a 1996 Dodge Ram
    If your 1996 Dodge Ram has the factory 7-way connector at the rear of the vehicle, then all of the wires for the brake controller have been run. You will just need a brake controller wiring adapter. I recommend using part # 3020-P and cutting off the black plug. This adapter plugs into the brake controller plug under the dash, to the left of the steering column taped to another harness near the emergency brake pedal. The four pigtail wires on the other end will be butt-connected to the...
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  • Should Brake Controller Draw Power All The Time
    You won't have any problem with power going to the brake controller all the time. This lets the brake controller keep all of its settings and not lose them every time the vehicle is turned off. Brake controllers are designed to enter a sleep mode after a period of time when there is no activity. An idle controller draws very little current and will not drain the vehicle battery.
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  • Troubleshooting Brake Controller with 1.5 on Display All of the Time
    Sometimes brake controllers need to be reset as they get a weird internal bug. Try unplugging yours for a minute or so and replugging in and see if that helps. Here's how to test the controller though: Testing the brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester like the Tester, part # PTW2993, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you...
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  • Trailer Brake Controller Recommendation for a 2014 Chevy Silverado 1500
    If you are concerned there is no where to mount a brake controller (something that comes up a lot since truck interiors are more and more car-like) then I have the perfect solution for you. You can use the Curt Echo Wireless # C51180 that uses a mobile device so it requires no wiring or mounting in your vehicle. If you determine you want to use a more traditional style controller like the Spectrum # C51170 for a physical button, you will need to cut off the end that plugs into the controller...
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  • Recommended After Market Brake Controller For A 2022 Ford F-150 With Factory Tow Package
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  • Display of Dexter 58-8 DX 2 Predator Brake Controller Lights Up Without Trailer Connected
    According to Dexter Axle, it's perfectly normal for the display to light up and display .0 when a trailer isn't connected. This will happen regardless of if the vehicle is running, as the controller has a constant 12V connection to the vehicle battery.
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  • Fuse and Circuit Breaker Installation Help For Dexter Predator Brake Controller in 2008 GMC Sierra
    When installing the Dexter Predator Brake Controller # 58-8 in your 2008 GMC Sierra you will want to follow the Dexter instructions and install the specified fuse and self-resetting circuit breaker as indicated. The vehicle manufacturer installs fuses to protect the OEM electrical components in the vehicle so any aftermarket accessory that is added will need to be protected independently of the factory fuses and circuit breakers. To correctly install the Dexter Predator you will leave...
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  • Troubleshooting Brake Controller that Won't Work with Brake Pedal
    If a brake controller is detecting a trailer connected when there isn't one connected that indicates that there is a load somewhere on the brake output circuit that is confusing the controller. Typically this is corrosion on the 7-way and cleaning the pins with fine grit sandpaper will do the trick. If a controller will work with the override but not with the brake pedal that indicates a problem with the red (stoplight circuit) wire of the controller. What you will need to do is check...
    view full answer...
  • Brake Controller Does Not Have Full Power When Used
    First, I would go to the 7-way connector and test to make sure you have power. You will want to use a circuit tester, part # PTW2993 to test the wires. Start by testing the Black wire for power, then test the blue wire for brake controller output. To test the blue wire you will need to have a friend help you. With the vehicle in power accessory mode, in park, and parking brake engaged, have them activate the brakes. Next I would check to make sure the Red Stoplight wire is connected and...
    view full answer...


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