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Wireless brake controller mounts on your trailer to keep your cab clutter-free. Keep towing simple and convenient with a handheld, Bluetooth remote control. Nothing installs in your Acura TSX, so you can tow with any truck that has a 7-way.
Features:
Specs:
The Tekonsha Prodigy RF is a completely plug-and-play option that's easy to install and simple to use. It mounts on your trailer and connects via Bluetooth to a handheld remote that you'll keep with you in your cab. This remote gives you all the convenience of a wireless brake controller without tethering you to an app that will drain your phone battery or restrict how you can use your phone.
There's nothing mounted in the cab to get in your way with the RF either, so you won't be banging your knee on the controller as you get in and out of your Ford Van. You don't have to mess with your Ford Van's wiring or find a place to mount the controller where it won't interfere with your lower airbags. The Prodigy RF removes all of that hassle. It's convenient, out of the way, and works with all tow Ford Vans that have a 7-way trailer connector, whether they have older standard wiring configurations or newer PWM or multiplex systems.
The fact that the Prodigy RF installs on your trailer - and not in your Ford Van - also means that you can switch back and forth between different tow Ford Vans with no additional setup. This is great if you have a fleet or want to have the option of sharing your trailer.
With the main unit mounted on the trailer, the plug-in remote puts control of your trailer's brakes right in your hand. In addition to offering fast and easy power adjustment and a manual override, it keeps your cab clutter-free and your towing experience simple. The remote plugs into your Ford Van's standard 12-volt accessory outlet and controls the module wirelessly via Bluetooth. The large LED screen and user-friendly buttons make it easy to set your braking output, boost level, and to activate the manual override.
You can use the knob on the right side of the remote to adjust the braking output. This will set the amount of power the brake controller sends to your trailer to bring it to a stop; how much you'll need will depend on the weight of your trailer. You can change the level while you're at a complete stop or while you're driving, and the brake controller will adjust accordingly. You'll want to set the braking output as high as you can without locking up the brakes. There is no need to adjust this setting unless you are going from an empty trailer to a fully loaded trailer or vice versa.
The button on the left is the manual override. It's large and easy to reach, great for stopping sway or controlling your trailer's momentum in emergencies. When you engage the manual override, the trailer's brakes and brake lights activate without you having to apply the brakes on your tow Ford Van, perfect for limiting trailer movement while you're cruising.
The boost setting controls the aggressiveness of your trailer's braking, meaning how quickly the brakes reach the maximum braking output. You can adjust this when you're towing heavy loads and you need more umph to bring your trailer to a stop. Your tow Ford Van doesn't need that much power to brake in time, but your heavy trailer does.
Depending on the level of boost, your trailer brakes can start at either 13 percent or 25 percent of the set braking output. What this means is that, instead of starting at 0, the brakes will start at 25 percent and get to 100 percent sooner. This keeps the trailer from pushing your tow Ford Van forward.
To cycle through the different levels of boost, press the button in the right-hand corner of the remote. If your trailer weighs less than your tow Ford Van, no boost is needed. But, if you want your trailer to lead the braking, you can select level B1.
Boost Levels:
| Approximate Gross Trailer Weight | Boost Level | Increase in Initial Power Output |
|---|---|---|
| Less than tow Ford Van GVW | B1 | 13% |
| Equal to tow Ford Van GVW | B1 or B2 | 13% or 25% |
| Up to 25% more than tow Ford Van GVW | B2 or B3* | 25% |
| Up to 40% more than tow Ford Van GVW | B3* | 25% |
*Both B2 and B3 offer a 25-percent boost in initial power. But the braking curve for B3 is more aggressive than that of B2. This means that, even though you will start out with the same intensity when using these boost levels, you will get an overall more aggressive braking experience with the higher level. So if you use B3, you will reach maximum braking sooner than if you use B2.
The Prodigy RF offers key safety features to prevent damage to various components of your towing setup. In addition to basic troubleshooting, this controller works to prevent problems before they begin. When the Prodigy RF is not in use, it will be in power-saving mode. After 2 hours of inactivity, the system will automatically go into sleep mode. Both of these modes are designed to drop the power draw, minimizing drain on your Ford Van's battery.
The RF also comes equipped with a hold feature to prevent wear on your brakes. When you're waiting at a red light, you don't need your trailer brakes on at full power. The longer you sit there, the more they will overheat. But with the RF, any time your tow Ford Van and trailer are at a standstill with the brakes applied for more than 5 seconds, the hold feature will kick on and reduce power to just 25 percent. This will keep your trailer in place while saving your brakes.
In addition, the RF offers diagnostic codes to alert you to problems such as:
The self-leveling feature of the Prodigy RF ensures that the brake controller continues to function even as you drive up steep hills or through the mountains. Simply mount the power module on your trailer tongue or frame within ± 5 degrees of level on the horizontal plane and with the power cable extending toward the tow Ford Van so the internal inertia sensor can function properly. Some drilling may be required.
Once the power module is mounted on your trailer, plug the connector on the unit direcly into your Ford Van's 7-way. The standard 7-way connector on the trailer plugs into the port on the back of the RF unit. Then simply sync up the handheld remote to the module as per the included instructions. Finally, plug the remote into any 12-volt auxiliary outlet in your tow Ford Van for power.
See etrailer.com's exclusive 7-way upgrade kit for brake controller installation (ETBC7L - sold separately) if you don't already have a 7-way plug at the back of your Ford Van.
The Prodigy RF brake controller comes equipped with proportional braking to give you the best towing experience. Proportional braking means that your trailer brakes mimic your tow Ford Van's brakes. Using an internal inertia sensor, this brake controller will sense how your tow Ford Van brakes. It will then send out enough power to your trailer brakes so that they are activated with an intensity that matches. The result is uniform braking across your towing setup, saving wear and tear on the tires and brakes of your trailer. No push-pull action - just smooth, proportional braking every time.
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (68 Customer Reviews)
Wireless brake controller mounts on your trailer to keep your cab clutter-free. Keep towing simple and convenient with a handheld, Bluetooth remote control. Nothing installs in your vehicle, so you can tow with any truck that has a 7-way.I got what looked like a used product in a smashed box from way it was taped up it looked like etrailer.com sent it this way from their warehouse that was missing hardware and documentation. Looking at other reviews this looks like a common practice.
This brake controller was easy to install and set up. The instructions we easy to follow and understand. Any questions are answered by their highly qualified customer support team. We feel a tremendous amount of comfort when towing.
Excellent product. Install was seamless. Setup even easier! Got suggestion from your. Online chat. Worked out great. Thanks!
Had it for about a year and have used it about a dozen times hauling my 33 foot camper trailer. I like the convenience of not having to wire something into my truck. works really well once you get it dialed in right. would recommend to anyone needing a brake controller but not wanting to go the hardwired route.
Service was excellent, but I ordered the wrong parts somehow. What I need is a brake controller for a 2021jeep jlur Rubicon.
Can you let me know how to return what I received and order what I need please.
Katrina B.
2/22/2023
Sure thing! Let me get you over there!
I had essentially no room around the driver area in my Jeep Grand Cherokee for the standard mounting of a brake controller, so I thought this would be a good solution.
Installation was easy. Our RV company mounted the power module on a transverse chassis beam, completely hidden from view. The remote paired quickly and easily. Once paired you simply plug it in and you're good to go. Easy to change boost. When not towing you can disconnect and stow the remote, so nothing remains in the cabin. Short of having a built-in brake controller, this is an excellent solution.
Lyn
3/13/2022
Still very pleased with this product. Continues to work well and easy to use.
This was easy to install and works great. I drove with the trailer just briefly before connecting this brake controller. What a huge difference. The fact that the head unit is now portable makes this very attractive. I wish I had this before since I just changed vehicles and had to buy a whole new brake controller again.
Damion
7/21/2022
I have been using this now for just about a year. I have used it quite frequently with my travel trailer and it has been rock solid. I like how easy it is to adjust the braking force.
The perfect solution to having two existing trailers and a brand-new tow vehicle with sophisticated electronics and no clue where to begin wiring in my old in-vehicle controller box. This product works like a dream! There are only four bolts to move it between trailers or to remove it for security or storage out of the weather.
Packaging arrived distorted and bound together with tape. I have not had an opportunity to test the device or to ascertain if there is any damage to the unit, but the shipping packaging was not designed to permit safe and secure shipping. A very bad start to my relationship with your company when you don't secure shipment on a $[XX]+ electronic product. You asked for this review - here it is.
I’ve use this product before on other trailers. It’s fantastic. However, I received this in a damaged box with the label direct from each trailer. It was also missing installation components. They were responsive to an email to send the missing pieces, however, I’m not delayed in installing this. I would maybe look for this product at a place that handles or ships better
This is a great product. The installation was quick -- it took almost as long to unpack the box as it did to install. Directions were complete and easy to follow. I love that the remote controlling unit can store out of sight so this doesn't change the look of my vehicle's interior.
Judi
4/20/2022
Still very happy with this. No issues at all.
Once you get the controller set for your trailer you can not tell the trailer is back there during braking. My old controller either slammed on the brakes or they did not work at all. It is nice to have on that works great. Only complaint is occasionally it loses Bluetooth connection so I just hit the manual button on the side and it reconnects. I would definitely buy this product again.
I received my order from etrailer.com within a few days which was great enough. Then during my installation of the product (etrailer had a great installation video as well) I discovered that a small component that contained some adhesive pads were damaged and I mentioned that to Courtney when she emailed and checked with me on the order. She was able to arrange for the manufacturer to resend that part free of charge to me. Thank you Courtney, you and etrailer got it going on! Great service.
The cab connection was loose in the box with the larger controller with no packing. The cab connection should have been in a plastic package by itself, the package was damaged, not sure if the controller is damaged or not.
Sierra K.
7/21/2022
Thank you for your review. I apologize for the state your package arrived in. Have you gotten the chance to test the item yet to see if it is in working order?
John
7/21/2022
Yes, I did, thank you. I have not driven the truck and trailer yet, however it did pair properly on Sunday.
Installed on my 2006 Lexus GX470, worked like a charm, hassle free and perfectly with my travel trailer. I would highly recommend this Brake controller.
This device works as designed. I would highly recommend it for those who need a Bluetooth brake controller for your trailer. This is an excellent one to select.
Used this on a borrowed dual axle trailer that I borrowed from a brother in-law. It worked just as it should have and was very easy to use! Follow the instructions and you shouldn't have any issues at all. I built a wooden mount that I bolted the unit to and then used large zip ties to connect it inside the tongue of the trailer. Never had a single issue with this product performing the way it was supposed to.
Dealership was going to charge me $1k for a wired one with installation. So this was a bargain in comparison.
I'm a non-handy person, and managed to get this installed, up and running in about 30 minutes (drilling holes into the hitch took most of that time). The remote paired on the first try. Have towed about 20k miles with it since then, including over Big Horn NF's ridiculous grades, and it has been perfect.
I never give 5 stars to anything, because everything can be improved. This brake controller may seem expensive, but not when you consider you can install it yourself and not pay someone else a lot of money. Also, you can take it with you if and when you get a new vehicle. It works very well. etrailer.com shipped it fast and it got here faster than what the tracking said.
I have purchased several things from etrailer.com and their customer support has been very helpful and they are very competitive.
I have a 2022 Volvo XC90 Recharge and this product works very well. I returned the Curt Echo because it was very unstable and did not connect. And I purchased the Tekonsha Prodigy instead. I'm very pleased with the outcome.
The sales rep was extremely helpful (and knowledgeable) about what I needed regarding a wireless brake controller. It took only 2 days to be delivered to my door. Great service and price.
easy to install, blue tooth a little unstable. works well for my load. Used on a 2022 Volvo XC90 recharge.
My RV came with the Tenoska Prodigy already installed, so I returned this unit to etrailer. They promptly gave me a refund.
Great product! This the second Prodigy Controller I've bought....use on my travel trailer.
I purchased this unit for my motorhome and it will not work on anything over 20’ long I even contacted the manufacturer. And they worked with me on this for 3 months and finally they refunded me my money, so anyone owning a motorhome do not use this item, ment for pickup trucks etc.
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Michael
2/4/2023
Still working well... Just have to remember to plug it in. Its now part of our connection checklist. But works great at what it does. Definitely still recommend it