Mount the control knob of this proportional controller on your dash or console, and set up the main unit in an out-of-the-way spot. 3-Axis accelerometer ensures unit works no matter its positioning. Switch modes to get preset braking for off-roading.
Features:
Specs:
With a proportional brake controller, you can get heavy-duty emergency braking, general braking or slow-to-an-idle braking for your trailer automatically. The intensity with which your trailer brakes are activated and the rate at which they are applied are dependent on the deceleration of your tow vehicle. This means that, unlike time-delay controllers - which send the same amount of preset power to your trailer brakes every time - proportional controllers are able to adapt to every braking situation differently. So, if you slam on the brakes in your truck, your trailer brakes will activate with that same extreme intensity. And if you merely slow down as you approach a red light, your trailer will gradually brake in the same manner.
Once the Tow-Pro Elite is mounted, it will sense - via an internal 3-axis accelerometer - how your tow vehicle brakes. This inertia-based sensor responds to the deceleration of your tow vehicle as you brake by signaling the controller to 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. No push-pull action - just smooth, proportional braking every time.
The dash-mountable control knob makes it easy to control your trailer's brakes. In addition to offering fast, simple power adjustment, this knob has an LED indicator that changes color to display different information about the controller.
While the unit is initially calibrating, the LED light will signal its progress. The LED display will flash green/blue as it seeks to take in information about your vehicle's direction and speed. When the display turns solid blue, the system is set and functioning completely in proportional mode. After this process is complete, the unit will remain calibrated for the next time that you tow. If recalibration is required, it will happen automatically and without LED indication.
You can use the knob to set the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. Typically, this power 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. To get more power to your brakes, rotate the switch clockwise. To decrease the power output, rotate it counterclockwise.
When you apply the tow vehicle's brakes, a red LED light will inform you that power is being sent back to the trailer brakes. As you increase the power with the control knob, the light will glow brighter, indicating the increased braking power.
Should you want a higher degree of control over the trailer's braking, you can use the control knob to switch over to user-controlled braking mode. To change modes, rotate the knob counterclockwise and apply your vehicle's brakes. Then push down on the remote knob twice (2 times within 1 second) and release the brakes.
User-controlled mode is signaled by a green LED. In this mode, the Tow-Pro Elite will apply your trailer's brakes with the same preset amount of power each time you activate the brakes in your vehicle. While in user-controlled mode, the braking power can be adjusted by turning the control knob in the same manner as when you are in proportional mode.
Having this level of control over your braking is particularly beneficial when overlanding or towing a trailer off-road because you may need to alter the trailer's braking based on the specific terrain and situation that you find yourself in. Set the power low if you're towing through sand or mud so that the trailer doesn't stop with too much force and act as an anchor on your vehicle. When on a steep descent, set the power to a higher level to ensure that the trailer's momentum doesn't cause it to push against the tow vehicle.
The Tow-Pro Elite gives you easy access to manually apply the trailer brakes without using the tow vehicle's brakes. To engage the manual override, just push down on the control knob. This will activate the trailer's brakes, helping you to control its momentum.
The manual override will activate your trailer's brakes differently depending on the mode you have selected. While in user-controlled mode it will apply the brakes at the power level set on the control knob to ensure a predictable braking response. When in proportional mode the manual override will activate the trailer brakes in a light manner, which is great for limiting trailer movement while you're cruising.
Unlike most proportional controllers on the market, the Tow-Pro Elite has almost no mounting restrictions. It comes in 2 pieces - the main electronic unit and the control knob. Because the only part that you need to be able to access is the control knob, the main unit can be mounted in an out-of-the-way location. So you no longer have to worry about a bulky brake controller scraping against your leg or causing interference with your vehicle's lower airbags.
The dash-mountable control knob can be mounted in a convenient spot that is easy for you to see and access. This can be a blank switch panel, an open area on your center console, or wherever there's space on your dashboard. A universal mounting panel (sold separately) is available to ensure a clean, from-the-factory look. Custom-fit panels are available for certain vehicles as well.
Once you have determined where to mount the control knob, you will want to find a good place to install the main unit. The only mounting restriction for the unit is that the included 3' plug-in cable is able to reach between the main unit and the knob.
Thanks to the 3-axis accelerometer, the main unit can be positioned at any angle. There is also an active calibration feature, which constantly evaluates the direction of travel of your vehicle. This enables the unit to recognize any change in position that may have resulted from potholes or back-country roads and automatically correct itself. Because this feature can read the direction of travel, the main unit can also be mounted facing any direction, allowing for even greater flexibility in mounting.
The included wiring harness hardwires into your vehicle's wiring and then plugs directly into the main unit. You can also use a vehicle-specific wiring harness (sold separately) to cut down on installation time. These harnesses are available for most newer trucks and SUVs. One end of the custom harness will plug into your vehicle, and the other end will hardwire onto the Tow-Pro harness that plugs into the main unit. Once all connections are made, securely mount the box using screws or double-sided tape. Do not zip-tie the box to wiring or cables that can shift as you drive.
For assistance in properly wiring the Tow-Pro Elite, please refer to the diagrams below:
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: A 30-amp circuit breaker kit (331-CBK30-EB - sold separately) may be required for installation.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (448 Customer Reviews)
Mount the control knob of this proportional controller on your dash or console, and set up the main unit in an out-of-the-way spot. 3-Axis accelerometer ensures unit works no matter its positioning. Switch modes to get preset braking for off-roading.This brake controller works as advertised. No need for a bulky unit. Love the fact that the brains of the unit don’t have to be level and can be tucked away out of sight. The use of the factory style switch blank and harness made the installation a breeze.!
So far, so good; no trailer connected yet. I installed this on a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with tow package all by myself. I meant to take pictures to show exactly where to install the control switch underneath but forgot. To avoid any conflict with the gear shift, simply install it as close to the mode selector switch as you can (towards rear of car). I think some others may have installed it more forward and had to do filing down on control switch. Also, you will need a dremel ($10 at Harbor Freight) to shave down the plastic edges underneath console. Note: wiring does not match color codes; be sure to check against Jeep color codes (ie, do not connect black to black, white to white, etc). Good luck.
Install was a breeze in my TRD Pro Tacoma. Looks completely OEM.
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