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Most brake controllers stick out under the dash, but this one hides the main unit completely. The Tow-Pro Liberty’s control box mounts out of sight while a tiny knob—just 9/16" wide and 1-7/8" long—sits cleanly on your console. It looks like it came from the factory, not an aftermarket kit. That single knob does everything: adjust braking power, press for manual override, and show color-coded LED feedback while you drive.
Towing feels steady with true proportional braking. The internal 3-axis accelerometer senses how hard you’re braking and matches the trailer brakes to your input for smooth, even stops every time. Whether it’s a light tap or a full stop, it keeps your trailer in sync and eliminates that push-pull feeling. It works with trailers up to 2 axles (4 brake assemblies) and supports both electric and electric-over-hydraulic systems.
Wiring doesn’t have to be a project. The custom plug-in harness connects straight between your vehicle and the controller with no splicing needed. Mount the main unit wherever it fits best—on a kick panel, under trim, or tucked along the dash—and plug it in. The included universal mounting panel gives the finished install a clean, factory look.
When sway or steep grades call for quick control, just press the knob to activate manual override. That triggers your trailer brakes and brake lights independently from your vehicle’s brakes so you can settle things down fast without overreacting at the pedal.
The Tow-Pro Liberty is engineered for durability and tested to meet UNECE R21 and FMVSS 201 safety regulations. It runs at 9V–16V with an 18-amp continuous output rating and a maximum charging voltage of 12V DC. Once calibrated—about twenty normal stops—it stays dialed in automatically so you can tow with confidence trip after trip.
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hey, everybody. Ryan here at etrailer. Today, we're gonna be checking out the REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty trailer brake controller. If your trailer has brakes, you're gonna need a way to apply them. That way, you can slow everything down safely. And that's where a trailer brake controller like this REDARC here is gonna come into play.
What this is gonna do whenever you hit the brakes, it's going to apply the brakes on the trailer, bringing you to a complete stop. One of the things that really sets the REDARC apart from some of the other brake controllers is the size. You know, it looks a lot different. The only thing you're gonna be able to see is the adjustment knob here. And the rest of the main body of the brake controller, I guess you'd call it, sits up behind the dash.
So, you're not gonna have this big box that's always in the way and an eyesore bolted up to your dash. And with this one, I think it turned out really good. We actually had some factory switches and whatnot here already. We had a blank one, so we we're able to mount this up in there. And so, it looks almost factory and a really clean appearance, and still really easy to get to.
One of the things with a brake controller like this as well is the fact that it's what's called proportional. So, what that means, more or less, however hard you apply the brakes, the trailer brakes are gonna match that. So, it just makes it a lot smoother and a lot better braking experience. So, to kind of give you an example of that, let's say, if you're going down the road and approaching a stop sign, and you're halfway on the brake, trailer brakes are going to do the same thing. On the other hand, let's say, if you're going down the highway, maybe an accident up ahead or something along those lines and you gotta really stand on the brake to slow things down, trailer's gonna do the same thing.
So, you're not gonna feel the trailer dragging or wanting to push you around. You're actually gonna be stopping as one hole unit. This particular brake controller is gonna be good for trailers that have either one or two axles. And there are some adjustments so you can change your brake force. So, you have the knob here. That's 10. That's zero. So at zero, you'd have no braking force. And so, you can kind of fine tune it. So, let's say, a good place to start is probably five or below. Let's say maybe you got a light trailer and nothing in it, you're gonna pick something up, you might only need a one or two, something like that. But then you load it up and realize it's not braking quite as hard as you'd like it to, you can always dial that up a couple clicks. So, you can really fine tune it for your particular load and what you're gonna be doing, and your particular driving style. It's also gonna have a manual override button and all you do is you just push down on this. And so, I'm actually hooked up to a test box, which simulates a trailer. That's why we're getting these lights going and everything. But you can see when you push down on this, that light's gonna glow red and that means you're gonna be just applying the trailer brakes. So, let's say, if the trailer starts to get swirly, kind of gets away from you a little bit, you can hit that, slow the trailer down, straighten it back out, and continue on. As far as installation goes, ours was not bad at all and I think that'll be the case for most people as long as your truck has a factory tow package. Essentially, all you gotta do is find the connector, plug it in, mount up the the box, and then mount up your knobs. So, it's more tedious than anything, but as long as you take your time, you should be in good shape. I do wanna mention, for those of you, if your truck does not have that factory tow package, so if you don't have the factory seven-way connector back there, you are gonna have to get a couple of other things, which is just probably gonna be rare for most of these vehicles. But we'll need a four-way flat trailer connector, etrailer.com universal brake controller install kit, and the REDARC universal adapter plug to make everything work. But like I said, chances are really good this info will get you going in the right directions. And that'll finish up our look at of the REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty trailer brake controller..
Customer Satisfaction Score:
93% were satisfied with this product
7% of customers were not satisfied
Ratings & Reviews
Working well through one season. Hoping for many more.
I installed the Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty in my 2021 Subaru Ascent. I used the Universal Wiring Harness for Redarc Tow-Pro Brake Controllers Item #RED69FR spliced onto the Subaru trailer wiring harness (color to color) included with the dealer installed hitch. Subaru’s harness included a fuse. At that point it was plug-and-play. I chose to locate the dash mounted Control Knob right below the cover for the fuse box in front of my left knee (there really isn’t any other place with access). A bit lower that probably preferred, but still readily accessible. I’m pulling a small travel trailer with a 2000lb. GAWR and the controller functions very well. As always, the etrailer staff was helpful and efficient.
So far the Liberty has been fine. Install was pretty straight forward. The learning progress took a bit longer than expected but its now calibrated and working fine. Other than me picking the cheapest shipping and waiting 3.5 weeks for it to arrive via covid shipping. My only complaint is my own fault again which is that the one I ordered didnt come with a universal harness (pigtail) that plugs in to the controller. IMO there is not enough warnings in bold that say you need one. The Elite comes with it as part of the kit. I'm not sure why this option is even offered on the liberty. Needless to say I figured this out a week after ordering, and I'm still waiting for the harness to arrive. Had I known this I would has either gone for the Elite, or the CURT spectrum, because CURT actually makes a plug and play harness for my 2014 VW Touareg, and Redarc doesn't. I didn't bother going to VW for the OEM plug and wires as per the etrailer install video. In Canada that was over $xx from the dealer and [online store] wasn't any better. I found the CURT harness PN:51522 for Audi Q5, SQ5 & Q7 for $xx and snipped the CURT end off it (got here in 3 days). Hence why buying the CURT Spectrum would have been nice. Currently I'm using female spade connectors (not recommended for long term) to hook up the controller until the harness arrives.
Installed this in my 4runner that I use to haul several thousand pounds of metal boxes on an aluminum heavy variant tilt deck trailer. Install was fast and easy, the main unit is small and is easily tucked up under the dash. I drilled one small hole and placed the small lighted selector (small blue light) on the key side of the steering wheel area (see pics) and looks like it came factory from the truck. Its sasy to adjust and robust enough that it wont move settings on its own, even in rough off road conditions that a 2WD vehicle cant go. Ive had other controllers in the past but am super happy that I had lucked out and found this proportional one from Redrac with the dash knob.
Overall, I’m completely happy with the REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty controller. The design and execution is elegant, the installation is fairly simple, and the completed appearance -in my opinion- is unmatched. I’m slightly annoyed that the REDARC product doesn’t come with some basic accessories you need, leaving you to hunt for and assemble things they know you’ll need like a fuse, fuse-holder, and the basic wiring harness to even connect to the REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty. So, if you’re price shopping different brake controllers I recommend factoring in about another $50 worth of accessories into the overall cost of the product when considering the REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty and comparing it to other brake controllers. The folks at etrailer, of course, make that simple by suggesting the items you’ll need automatically.
There is one “feature” of the REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty that is made VERY clear in the owner’s manual, that perhaps should be made clearer when advertising the product: The Brake Sense wire, which is the wire that connects to your brake lights and tells the controller you’ve activated the tow vehicle brakes, is bi-directional. In other words, in normal proportional operation it senses the 12 volts from your brake lights, but when in manual mode it also outputs 12 volts with the intention to activate your brake lights if you manually activate the REDARC controller. This matters a lot if your tow vehicle has factory automatic braking and collision avoidance or adaptive cruise control as the REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty can back feed these systems and cause a lot of damage. When the Mazda is in adaptive cruise control, or if the factory collision-avoidance system activates, the Mazda also activates the brake lights. A blocking diode is the solution and the placement is critical.
I have a 2020 Mazda CX-5 with AWD and their turbo 2.5-liter engine and the factory adaptive cruise control and collision-avoidance systems. The vehicle has a 2,000-lb towing capacity. I am towing a teardrop styled camping trailer that weighs 1,200-lbs, so I’m well within the capability of the vehicle. Trailer brakes just enhances the safety. Mazda is curiously quiet on their recommendation of how to properly wire this, and the dealership really wasn’t any additional help. This set me to find schematics and figure it out on my own.
The solution included two devices. The REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty, and the Tekonsha model # 118746 Trailer wiring module; both from etrailer. I installed the Tekonsha trailer light wiring system first, then installed the REDARC controller. Instead of connecting the REDARC brake sense wire to the normal brake lights, I connected it to the positive side of the wire that feeds the rear center brake light on the Mazda. This is where I installed a 50-cent Schottky diode to allow the brake light to send +12v to the REDARC controller but prevent the REDARC controller from sending +12v back to the center brake light when the brake controller is in manual mode. I’ve included a schematic in this review as one of the photos; I hope this helps others.
The result is beautiful. You get the aesthetically pleasing factory appearance of the single-knob REDARC controller in the dash, that operates perfectly in both automatic proportional mode and in manual mode, AND the Mazda’s adaptive cruise control and automatic collision avoidance system still operates perfectly and will also automatically operate the REDARC controller and your trailer brakes. The REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty can install in any orientation, which makes installation a breeze, the proportional braking is smooth and confident. I’m extremely pleased with both products: The REDARC controller and the Tekonsha wiring model # 118746 and thrilled with eTrailer.com who offered both at a reasonable price and reliable shipping/delivery.
I purchased the Redarc Liberty for a new Honda Ridgeline which replaced an F250 with an old technology two dial proportional brake controller. This Redarc not only installed easily and cleanly in the more confined cabin of the Honda, its advanced one dial adjustment makes it more user friendly to adjust, and the settings are easily repeatable. For example, my trailer empty on hardtop gets 4, trailer with tractor 5.5, trailer with 1 yard of gravel a 6.5; on a dirt or gravel road just subtract 1 position on the knob.
The photos reflect my mounting technique which consisted of constructing a small open-back box of 1/4" MDF. The Universal Mounting Panel accessory worked well with the MDF. A coating of textured paint to match the interior makes it look almost OEM. Velcro holds the box securely yet allows for easy removal for whatever reason. The wire tucks neatly between the lower steering wheel valance and the console trim--can't see it even if looking for it, and no holes drilled in the dash.
Overall very happy with this product and with etrailer answering my questions and processing the order quickly.
SUPER EASY to install in a 2021 Frontier. The controller box can be easily screwed/ziptied to the under dash structure in a couple places, and the adjustment control fit nicely in a blank plug in that was in the dash. The unit plugs right in to the Nissan brake controller.
It works well with a 5000 lb trailer I pull. I use a load distribution hitch and didn't realize at first that the '5' setting was using too much trailer brake. For my setup, 3.5 to 4 is perfect. It works well, and there's not a clunky controller box to bang your knees on. You'll like it!
The controller and dash knob are solid and nicely crafted. Both are made to be easy to install. The dash knob works great and is simple and easy to use. The manual is well written, and has detailed and very useful information. Be sure to get the REDARC Tow-Pro Harness (TPH-025), too, which is needed to complete the hookup of the controller.
Mounting the brake controller up and out of the way under the dash of my 2023 Tacoma required some thought. I chose to fabricate a bracket from a piece of 3/4" aluminum angle (bolted to the underside of the dash) and anchored the brake controller to it with zip-ties.
This review includes the following items: Item #RED69FR - Wiring Harness, 30A Breaker kit and Item # ETBC7 Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat and Item #RED24FR Controller. I wanted to be sure I had everything. A local place Custom Coach on Pulaski Hwy, Baltimore did a fantastic job on the install, Sorry I can't remember the techs name. I have a 2018 Kia Sorento SX V6, AWD with 4 pin Tow Pkg. car rated for 5k/500# load. Trailer is a 2022 Palomino Real Lite RL-186. I've logged 2 trips so far 1 to NYS mostly highway and to Cass, West Virginia area. The controller adapted quickly, I went to a '5' to a '4' setting even in the mountains it was smooth no jerking. The one picture shows installation ubder the dash totally out of the way. It works great!
I was surprised how nice this brake controller is - clean install with the unit up under the dash. I installed the knob in one of the 'blanks' in the dash for a really clean look. No banging knees on older-style controllers under the dash. Thanks!
The hardest part was getting the zip ties tightened around the module without completely removing the trim under the steering wheel. I chose near the shifter for my location so it’s easy to reach but still out of the way.
I love the separate controller and knob. The knob fit into a factory blank and the end result is factor clear. We picked up of 7x16 cargo trailer yesterday and the controller worked perfectly.
With the vehicle specific harness the install was very straight forward.
Highly recommended
i have ordered 2 of these in the last 2 years and both times the kit was missing parts, last one i ordered the knob was missing and this last order the nut to hold the dial in place was not in the box. the product is good, but replacement pieces are not easy to find, fortunetly i had to order a complete dial kit for the one i ordered last year and i saved the rest of the parts.....
Etrailer is great. Service is outstanding even the return policy. My go to for trailer needs
Expedited shipping was super fast with no problems. I installed the unit myself and it was fairly simple. I recommend getting the exact fitting wire harness (huge time saver) and I’d recommend getting and exact fit knock out to install the dial in. (Another big time saver). I drilled a hole in my own blank or knock out thingy and I’m pleased with it but it took a little time. I’ve got a 2010 Honda Pilot. Funny thing, after rushing to install the brake controller, our trailer had to go in for repairs before we even completed the transaction. It will be another month before I actually use the brake controller.
On the Promaster when you take the BCM cover and upper dash cubby hole piece out there is a spot right above the BCM. Since the Redarc can be mounted any direction I simply added two 4mm Rivnuts to the bracket and bolted the controller in with stainless hardware (Bolt, washer, lock washer). The rest of the dash is kind of hard to find a spot, as I wanted it reachable with my right hand as I drive with my left typically. The lower instrument panel knee bolster comes down with a few screws and the inner dash piece has a hole from the factory that is perfect for the switch wiring. I used a unibit drill and a small square file to make the hole for the switch. The 90 degree cat cable is nice as it sticks through the inner hole and holds itself in place so it doesn't fall out into the bakc of the dash during assembly of the switch and there is enough room in the rear to not impede anything factory. I used a tap from O'Reillys's to tap into the brake wire suggested by the Mopar trailer wiring install guide. Typically I'd solder it, but it looks way better than a typical scotchlock connector, which I would not use under any circumstances. Ill chck its tightness in a few months and see how it holds. Used the factory wiring harness runs to run to the battery box under the floor. Used proper friction tape and braided wiring loom (O'Reilly's find) for a factory look. Seems to work ok, but need a trailer with brakes now.
This controller works amazingly well, considering the ease of installation, especially with the vehicle-specific wiring harness. I made several trips between Missouri and Colorado last year, loaded and unloaded, and a small twist of the dial compensated for the weight differences and braking requirements.
The break controller works great...no problems. I've since sold the single axle trailer and purchased two more, one single axle new and one double axle used. I plan on stripping the cargo trailer and replacing the breaks and anything else that needs it for the suspension, creating a type of mini-home or tiny home on it. Thanks for reaching out. I will use your services for this new build. Thank you and keep up the good work!
Being new to towing a larger trailer requires research. After doing a lot of it, both through user reviews and manufacturer websites, we landed on the Rearc Liberty Brake Controller for our Tacoma. We have just over 1000 miles towing with this unit. It has performed extremely well. Towing for us includes city, highway, mountains, and even off-road to access our mountain home. Installation was straight forward and the ability to install the controller in virtually any position is an added bonus. I was able to install the dash knob in a blank panel giving the Tacoma a factory appearance, and controller located under drivers seat. I installed this unit on a non tow package Tacoma, so wiring was a bit intimidating at first. But using etrailer’s web site as a reference had everything operational in a couple afternoons. Great product so far and we look for years of use. Highly recommend.
I purchased the Redarc Liberty brake controller because I couldn’t find a place to mount my Tekonsha where I wouldn’t bash a knee or shin on it or cover an airbag.
So far, I’m very happy with the Redarc Liberty brake controller; although, I haven’t used it for towing yet, and I’m not sure it is operating properly. Apparently, I should have blue lights while it is learning which way the control unit is oriented but I don’t have blue lights.
Anyway, let me share information on the installation. I purchased the wiring harness for my vehicle, which I highly recommend as it was same cost as the universal harness, and a big time saver. I did not buy the blank switch panel for the switch installation as another reviewer stated he was able to modify the original switch blank. Big mistake, I highly recommend buying the appropriate switch panel for your vehicle. My Toyota blank switch panel was excessively complicated so I had to saw and melt a pile of plastic (see the picture) out of it without damaging the visible portion or the clips which hold it in.
Finding a suitable location to secure the controller up under the dash is a challenge with modern cars. After removing two pieces of plastic trim, I did manage to pull the panel below the steering column far enough out to complete the install. The unit it does look good. Very clean.
We’ll be towing the big trailer next week so I hope it works.
The Redarc Liberty was exactly what I wanted for my ‘20 Ridgeline. I ordered the custom pigtail and mounted everything behind the dash panel on the left side of the steering wheel. There was a blank switch cover available on the dash panel and I cut away the webbing on the back side of it (very soft plastic, Swiss Army knife) which allowed the control switch to fit right in, between the retaining clips of the blank. The drill bit sizes indicated in the instructions were not big enough for the control knob and plastic bezel so I just increased the bit sizes until the holes were big enough. Honda provided a pigtail with bare ends; I didn’t want to crimp any wires. Honda also said to put their provided fuse in slot 3 in the under hood aux fuse box; the fuse was the wrong type and there was already a 20a fuse in the appropriate slot. My Honda service tech advised Honda usually includes the wrong style of fuse and also usually installs the right one anyway. Go figure. I finished the install the night bf I picked up my new TT; took about 3 hours. It wasn't difficult but I’m pretty OCD. The most work involved routing the wires so as to avoid pinching or bending them too severely. I set the control on 5, tested it with the trailer hooked up in the sales lot and bumped it up to 6. I never felt the trailer on braking at all on the way home. Very smooth and I like the fact that it looks like a factory install. I couldn’t be happier with this controller. E-trailer’s video for the install was a great help, although I mounted the control box in a slightly different spot. This is my second purchase of towing accessories from E-trailer and I am pleased with the service and pricing both times.
I didn't realize when I bought a new Frontier truck that I could no longer use traditional underdash brake controllers like I had for past 40 years. This meant that this Redarc was one of only a few brake controllers that I could use.
Mounting it was a bit tricky and the supplied instructions weren't good. Fortunately others before me had figured it out and posted better step by step instructions with pictures.
The brake controller itself works very well and provides the best and smoothest braking control I've ever experienced with my twin axle camper on multiple trips this last summer including one trip of over 1,000 miles around the UP of MI and northern WI.
Its simple and fits in the dash like it should be there. It controls the trailer as it should. it only lights up when the trailer is connected so you don't see any annoying light during normal driving. I would recommend, it has worked for me. installed in a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Installed it on my 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness. Ordered this without the harness so had to order that separately. I think the RED52VR is what I should have ordered to include the harness. Did not like the access and the very small wire gauge on the brake pedal the instructions said to tap into so when running the wire from the 7 pin kit ETBC7 from the back of the car I ran a 3rd wire which I tapped into the brake signal going to the factory 4 pin control box in the spare tire well. I ran the wires up underside the driver side and up through the floor by the drive door rather than into the engine bay. Found a neat location to mount the controller and ground wire. Installed the control switch after drilling and dremelling the blank as shown in the great video etrailer has. Unit calibrated and worked just as advertised. Been on short test run. Need a longer trip to experiment with the brake level setting.
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