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  1. Trailer Brake Controller
  2. Tekonsha
  3. Electric
  4. Proportional Controller
  5. Up to 3 Axles
  6. Under-Dash
Tekonsha Primus IQ Trailer Brake Controller - Up to 3 Axles - Proportional
Tekonsha

Tekonsha Primus IQ Trailer Brake Controller - Up to 3 Axles - Proportional

$87.67
Retail:$128.34
You Save: 32%
Trailer Brake Controller
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1991 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class trailer brake controller from Tekonsha. Product reviews from other SL-Class owners. Expert trailer brake controller advice with thousands of helpful questions and answers. Great prices and fastest shipping.
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Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller

  • Electric
  • Proportional Controller
  • Up to 3 Axles
  • Tekonsha
  • Under-Dash
  • Splice-In
  • Under-Dash Box
  • Single Trailer Only
  • LED Display

This proportional brake controller has simple controls and a digital display for diagnostic information. Includes 3 boost levels, a slide-bar manual override, built-in battery protection, automatic leveling, and continuous diagnostics.


Features:

  • Brake controller activates trailer brakes in proportion to your vehicle's braking action
    • Automatically adjusts trailer's braking based on deceleration of tow vehicle
  • Straight-forward controls keep settings within easy reach
    • Gain setting lets you adjust the amount of power sent to the trailer's brakes
    • 3 Boost levels let you adjust initial braking power and aggressiveness
    • Slide-bar manual override allows you to control trailer sway or stop in emergencies
  • LED display shows your current settings and diagnostic information
  • Built-in safeguards protect your vehicle, trailer, and the controller
    • Runs continuous diagnostic checks to alert you to any potential problems
    • Minimizes drain on car battery when not in use
    • Prevents trailer brakes from overheating by reducing power output to them during prolonged stops
  • Quick-disconnect feature lets you easily remove and store the controller when not in use
    • Replacement wiring harness (sold separately) and replacement bracket (6927 - sold separately) required to swap controller between vehicles
  • Easy installation with automatic leveling
    • Position anywhere from -90 degrees to 90 degrees up and down
    • Controller must be parallel with direction of travel and horizontally level
    • Included harness hardwires to vehicle and plugs into controller
    • Plug-in, vehicle-specific adapter (sold separately) available for select vehicles to reduce installation time
    • Mounting bracket and hardware included


Specs:

  • Application: trailers with up to 3 axles (6 brake assemblies)
    • Compatible with electric brakes only
  • Dimensions: 5" long x 4-3/8" wide x 2-1/2" tall
  • Mounting range: between -90 degrees and 90 degrees vertically
  • Limited lifetime warranty


Gain Power Adjustment

Tekonsha Primus IQ Gain

You can adjust the gain (also known as output) with the thumbwheel on the front of the controller. Gain lets you set the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. A heavier trailer will need more power to achieve smooth, safe braking, while a lighter trailer will need less. Typically, the gain is only readjusted when you experience changing road conditions or if the weight of your trailer changes.


Power Boost for Heavy-Duty Towing

The boost setting controls the aggressiveness of your trailer's braking, meaning how quickly the brakes reach the maximum braking level. 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.


Depending on the level of boost, your trailer brakes can start at either 13 percent or 25 percent of the set gain. 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 vehicle forward.


If your trailer weighs less than your tow vehicle, 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 vehicle GVW B1 13%
Equal to tow vehicle GVW B1 or B2 13% or 25%
Up to 25% more than tow vehicle GVW B2 or B3* 25%
Up to 40% more than tow vehicle 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.


To adjust the boost, use the blue push-button on the top of the Primus IQ.


Slide-Bar Manual Override

Tekonsha Primus IQ Manual Override

The Tekonsha Primus IQ comes with an easy-to-reach, slide-bar manual override, great for stopping sway or controlling your trailer's momentum in emergencies. To engage the manual override, just push the slide-bar to the left, towards the center 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.


Quick, Simple Installation

The Primus IQ can mount between -90 degrees and 90 degrees vertically, but the brake controller still needs to be horizontally level and parallel with the direction of travel.


After mounting the Primus IQ unit in your cab using the included bracket, hardwire one end of the included pigtail harness directly into your vehicle. The other end plugs into the brake controller. To remove the IQ for storage when you're not using it, just unplug the unit and slide it out of the bracket. With a replacement wiring harness (sold separately) and replacement bracket (6927 - sold separately), you can even transfer the IQ to another vehicle.


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: 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

Proportional Braking

What is proportional Braking

The Tekonsha Primus IQ 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 Primus IQ 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.



90160 Tekonsha Primus I-Q Proportional Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles

39528 Hidden Hitch Proportional Brake Control

20191 Draw-Tite I-Stop IQ Proportional Brake Control

Item # TK90160

Installation Details TK90160 Installation instructions

California residents: click here


Customer Satisfaction Score:

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

2153 reviews
This proportional brake controller has simple controls and a digital display for diagnostic information. Includes 3 boost levels, a slide-bar manual override, built-in battery protection, automatic leveling, and continuous diagnostics.

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Easy to install and very affordable.



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Quick install works Great



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Worked great!



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easy to install



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Just what the doctor ordered. Thanks



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The package arrived on time (actually a day early!). It came with the correct Harness. It was easy to install and is working properly!



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Great for the price



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Ordered as replacement for one that quit after 18 years. New plugged into existing wiring and even fits in existing mounting bracket. So far so good.



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was easy to install and works great



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Easy to hook up , works flawlessly



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Simple hook-up when using the model specific harness.



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Easier to install than expected. Works flawlessly



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Very easy installation.



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Haven't tried it yet but it was very easy to install plug and play if you have tow package already



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fast shipping, it installs easily. It's too early to comment on how good it works.


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Show More Reviews

See what our Experts say about this Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller

  • Which Way Should Diode Point on Highlander for Install of Brake Controller
    Yes you need the diode arrow to point towards the brake controller. That will allow the voltage to travel into the controller but not backfeed back on to the Highlander in any way. If you need a diode we have the part # RM-690.
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  • Mounting Dash Clip for the Tekonsha Primus IQ Brake Controller
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  • Does a Tekonsha Primus IQ Brake Controller Need to be Removed when Not In Use
    As long as it's not in the way for your daily vehicle use you will be just fine to leave your Primus IQ brake controller part # TK90160 installed all the time as that is what nearly everyone does with their controllers. Now if the controller is getting in the way and you are banging your leg on it or you just don't like it sitting there you could easily unplug it and store it till you need it.
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    The factory brake controller connector on your 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is located under the dash behind the hood latch, as shown in the provided photo. Keep in mind, the connector will only be there if the vehicle has the factory tow package which includes the 7-way trailer connector at the rear bumper. If you have the tow package, to install the Tekonsha # TK90160 Primus brake controller on your 2021 Grand Cherokee you'll need the Tekonsha # TK93VR wiring harness. One end plugs into...
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  • How To Prevent Tekonsha Primus Trailer Brake Controller From Draining Vehicle Battery When Sitting
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    Hey Bill, You can absolutely use your Primus IQ on your 2023 Ford Ranger! The installation will be a bit different, since there is not a plug and play adapter for your vehicle it will need to be spliced in. If you do not have the universal harness it came with originally we do have a replacement, # 20127. This would just plug into the back of the controller and then splice into the vehicle. For your Ford Ranger, the 4 flat plug that is on it would be considered "without a factory tow...
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    Both the OL (overload) and SH (short) error messages on your Tekonsha Primus IQ Trailer Brake Controller # TK90160 tend to suggest that either your trailer has too many brakes for the controller (6 are the maximum) or that there is a problem in your trailer's brake circuit wiring. You can start by inspecting both the vehicle and trailer connectors for any signs of corrosion or trapped dirt that could cause two circuits to become bridged together. Check both sides of each connector and clean/replace...
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    If your 2020 Explorer is equipped with the factory 7-way trailer connector, it will have the brake controller connector under the dash. The connector is located under the dash, above and to the right of where the driver's right knee would be. The connector will be rectangular, and will be gray in color. If you use a Tekonsha brake controller like the Tekonsha Primus, part # TK90160, the # 3035-P wiring adapter is the correct harness. If the vehicle doesn't have the factory 7-way, the connector...
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    The Primus IQ # TK90160 doesn't have instructions that come with a wiring diagram, but we have a picture/diagram on our site that shows which wires are connected to which functions on your vehicle. I attached the diagram for you to view, the wires will be connected as follows: White - Ground Black - 12V Power Blue - To 7-Way at rear of vehicle Red - Cold side of stop light switch If you are needing a new pigtail for your Primus IQ it is part # 7894. This same harness will work with most...
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  • Troubleshooting Weak Trailer Brakes That Won't Lock Up with Override Lever of Controller Slid
    This could be a magnet wiring problem. It is unlikely that the magnets are bad on newer assemblies, but if the wiring is not properly connected, it could cause problems. Check to see that the magnets are properly grounded to a clean, bare metal surface free of corrosion. A bad ground would not allow the circuit to be complete and lead to the brakes not performing like they should. I also recommend checking the trailer side connector ground and the vehicle side connector ground. Another...
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  • Instructions Manual for Tekonsha Primus IQ Trailer Brake Controller
    I have attached the complete written manual below for the Tekonsha Primus IQ Trailer Brake Controller # TK90160 that you can use for reference. As long as everything is wired correctly the brake controller should detect your Cougar Camper as soon as you connect the 7-Way on your F-150 to the 7-Way on the trailer. Please just let me know if you have any other specific questions or issues regarding the Primus IQ and I will be happy to help!
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    Your dealer should be able to provide the details you're looking for based on the VIN. I'd agree, since that fuse is installed, you very likely have the factory 7-way tow package. Although most 1997 Dodge Ram trucks will have the connector under the dash, not all of them will. If present, the connector will be located atop or next to the white rectangular box on the firewall behind the emergency brake pedal, as shown in the provided photo. If you've found a flat blue 4 pin connector...
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  • Plug-In Brake Controller for a 2019 Subaru Ascent
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