Is this right for you? Product Expert Kathleen M says:
Simple and rugged, this proportional brake controller has an intuitive design that's easy to use. Includes a straightforward digital display, 5 levels of sensitivity, and a push-button manual override. Hardwires to your vehicle.
Features:
Specs:
Once the brake controller is installed, you can use the buttons on top of the unit to set the gain, the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. You want to set it as high as you can without locking up the brakes. Typically, the gain is only readjusted when you experience changing road conditions or if you switch over from a heavy, loaded trailer to a much lighter, empty trailer, or vice versa.
You can fine-tune the gain setting by adjusting the sensitivity of the internal sensor using the buttons on the top. This controls the aggressiveness of your trailer's braking, meaning how quickly the brakes reach the maximum gain setting. You can adjust this when you're towing heavy loads and you need more umph to bring your trailer to a stop. Your tow vehicle doesn't need that much power to brake in time, but your heavy trailer does. A high sensitivity level will get the braking power to your trailer brakes faster and with more intensity so that it doesn't push your tow vehicle forward.
The manual override is within easy reach, great for stopping sway or controlling your trailer's momentum in emergencies. To engage the manual override, just press the big red button on the front of the controller. This will activate the trailer's brakes and brake lights without you having to apply the brakes on your tow vehicle, perfect for limiting trailer movement while you're cruising.
The Hopkins Agility can be mounted at any vertical angle, giving you plenty of options for where you want to install it. It is recommended that you mount it in your cab at an angle that is between -20 degrees and 70 degrees to make it easier to access, and it needs to be horizontally level and parallel to the direction of travel to function properly. The Agility comes with the hardware and bracket you'll need to mount the controller in place.
A pigtail harness is built into the Agility. You can either hardwire the controller directly to your vehicle with this pigtail, or you can wire the pigtail to a custom harness (sold separately) that can be plugged into your vehicle's tow package (if applicable).
Installation Accessories
See etrailer.com's exclusive 7- and 4-way brake-control installation kit (ETBC7 - sold separately) if you don't already have a 7-way plug at the back of your vehicle.
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
The Hopkins Agility brake controller comes equipped with proportional braking to give you the best towing experience. 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 Agility brake controller uses an internal inertia sensor to detect 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.
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Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (132 Customer Reviews)
Simple and rugged, this proportional brake controller has an intuitive design that's easy to use. Includes a straightforward digital display, 5 levels of sensitivity, and a push-button manual override. Hardwires to your vehicle.Overall a very good value. Instructions were clear, and it worked great for the 250 miles I've used it so far. Fine tuning was easy and it's now dialed in well. I really like the button manual control vs a slide too.
Things that could use improvement, I only took off star off for the first one:
- The side screws are not pre-threaded, and forcing a coarse thread on the sheet metal while in a cramped area under the dash was far from easy. Thread-cutting machine screws would have been far better, and pretaping would have gotten this 5 stars.
- The bracket mounting screws could have been self drilling for an easier install.
- Odd selection of crimp connectors. I actually only used the blue one because the yellow is far too large for my Ridgeline's harness. I'm not sure why it came with one splice-tap, I'd think you'd need 3 taps or no taps, but really so many trucks come with a factory harness that I don't know why anyone would need taps.
Using only the included wires and my factory harness I was able to get it mounted in the center area of my 2017 Ridgeline without cutting a hole for the wires, perfect fit!
Chris W - 11/04/2021The brake controller + wiring harness is a good price, but unfortunately the 2016 Subaru Forester is not factory-ready for a brake controller. Had the Subaru dealer install it, which cost $336, but I can go back to them if there are any problems and I wanted to negate any warranty issues with Subaru. Haven't pulled the Ural motorcycle on the trailer yet, so have not had a chance to fool with the power and sensitivity levels. The 7-pin hookup works fine as far as running lights, brake lights and turn signals.
I wanted to add brakes to my VRV flyer… it’s very lightweight, but I’m pulling it with a Ford Ranger. My internet and local searches left me feeling that etrailer.com was the authority on the subject of brake controllers! Their ETBC7 install kit was VERY complete. I’m sure I saved a ton just by not having to make multiple runs to the hardware store for those items I hadn’t foreseen!
Installation of the Hopkins Agility brake controller and the 7 pin plug took me longer than it would take most… It was Texas hot, so I only worked a few hours in the AM and in the PM. I’m old… retired, and not in a hurry! Toward the end of day one, I dropped a circuit breaker down in the abyss of the engine compartment. Day two AM was spent dissembling the wheel well housing to retrieve it! I’m very pleased with the neat, clean install, thanks in a large part to etrailer.com’s vehicle specific video and their wiring diagram. I heartily recommend them!
SG
Excellent product, easy installation, works great. Here is a pic of the mounting spot I chose in a 2012 Ram 1500.
etrailer has the BEST customer service on the web!
This brake controller works great. Glad I bought it a year ago for my travel trailer!
Affordable and it works well. I like the proportional action and the maximum level settings. I have the same one I've been running for about 10 years now through different vehicles and it has been a reliable work horse. Highly recommend.
Brake controller works great. Installed it on our Jeep TJ over the weekend....took my time ( that's what old retired guys do!!) and road tested it yesterday towing our new off road teardrop......No issues and the level of control options allows for adjustment to match the weight + or - being towed..... :-)
The Hopkins Agility controller has very easy to understand instructions,along with it's hardware makes the job easy! Folks at Etrailer are a wealth of information with what else you may need to make the project effortless! They also helped out when I became close on time , by expediting the shipping!!!!!
Gary K - 06/16/2014I have the same brake controller in 3 of my truck. Work like it should and easy to adjust.
I installed this in my '02 Toyota Tundra to pull a 20' hybrid camper. This truck doesn't have a plug and play option so used the wiring kit etrailer sells ETB7. Installed pretty easily. The way the unit connects to the mount is a little strange and difficult unless you have a lot of room on either side of the controller to fit a socket, which I did not. The red brake signal wire was too short to reach to brake switch wire in the truck, so had to splice in some extra. I've only pulled the trailer a few miles so far, but it actuated the brakes fine, and the override switch works well too.
I have a two axle 6000 lb 16' trailer and a 14000 lb. 20' 2 axle track loader trailer. I am using one of the two trailers a minimum of three days a week. I give this product the highest score possible. I can adjust it to any loadsize simply.
The wiring kit I ordered and installed using the online insructions from E Trailer made installation easy. The controller works great and was easy to calibrate. I am very happy. Thanks E Trailer, you guys are first rate!!
Excellent service, delivery was on time. Already have this brake controller installed in my truck and it works great, bought another one to install in 2nd vehicle.
I just received the product and looking at it it's well-built not a cheap flimsy piece of junk. I'm looking forward to using this controller. your service was outstanding the first one I received was broken due to shipping. I called I got an immediate answer and one was shipped out immediately to replace I got it in time to put it on the vehicle before we left on our trip. I appreciate your excellent customer service and look forward to doing business in the future
Products were just what I ordered, but I paid for 3-5 day shipping and received my order three days late. When I open the shipping box one of the packages had not been packed tight and had broken open, spilling the mounting hardware all over the place. Luckily all the hardware had stayed in the shipping box.
It was very easy to install and has worked great over the last year. Etrailer had the best price and shipped in very quickly. Overall very satisfied with my purchase.
Very complete kit makes installation very easy !
Daniel - 01/24/2018Very easy installation and the product works great. Installed it on a 1998 3500 series Chevy truck and works great with our car trailer!
Everything working well so far.very good experience working with staff and very helpful installation video.
Everything looked to be Quality parts.
Delivery was extremely fast.
I will definitely order my trailer parts from etrailer in the future.
Worked as I expected. I didn't use scotch lock connector as i don"t care for them have had problems in the past.
Awesome - Shipped super fast, everything was in the box, excellent instructions both in the box and video on web page. 15 min job on a 2011 Chevy Tahoe.
Good price, fast shipping and easy installation!
Great product, easy to install and has work great for the last year
Great product works great have had no p roblems.
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