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The large buttons and colored LCD display on this proportional brake controller make it easy to see and easy to use. Store and customize your settings so you can easily swap out trailers and drivers and get towing.
Features:
Specs:
Braking output is the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. How much braking output you need is determined by the weight of your trailer; a heavier trailer will need more power to bring it to a stop. Use the arrow buttons on the front of the module to set the output. You want to set the braking output as high as you can without locking up the brakes. Once you've set up the brake controller the first time, you shouldn't need to adjust this setting unless the trailer load changes, you switch trailers, or road conditions change. The LCD display will show the current output setting being used.
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 braking output. What this means is that, instead of starting at 0, the brakes will start at 25 percent and get to100 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.
Storable Settings
Customize the P3 and store your settings so that you can easily access them later. If you tow multiple trailers, or the same one but with differing loads, store the desired boost and power levels for each so that you don't have to completely reset the controller every time you switch between trailers. It's easy to swap between drivers as well. Program the P3 display with your desired screen color, brightness, and language, and you can easily return it to your preferred settings the next time you tow.
The P3's LCD display features a distinctive look with multiple color and contrast options. With lots of customized options, you can change the display to make it easy for you to see and check your braking status at a glance.
It also includes comprehensible and detailed roadside diagnostics. The P3 advanced diagnostics not only notify you of potential problems, but they can also tell you where to begin troubleshooting.
Diagnostic troubleshooting displays include:
Diagnostic warning signs include:
Safety Features
The Prodigy P3 offers advanced safety features to prevent damage to various components of your towing setup. Integrated reverse battery protection shields the brake controller and your trailer's breakaway system from shorts. When the P3 is not in use, it will be in power-saving mode. In this setting, it draws only 3.6 milliamps, minimizing drain on your vehicle's battery.
The P3 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 P3, any time your tow vehicle 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.
The P3 keeps the manual override within easy reach, great for stopping sway or controlling your trailer's momentum in emergencies. To engage the manual override, just twist the rotary-style lever from right to left. 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 self-leveling feature of the P3 ensures that the brake controller continues to function even as you drive up steep hills or through the mountains. Simply mount it in your cab at any vertical angle, and the controller will level itself automatically thanks to its 360-degree rotational range. This makes the installation that much easier. But keep in mind that the P3 must be horizontally level and parallel with the direction of travel to work correctly.
Installation is a snap. After mounting the P3 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 P3 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 (TK5906 - sold separately), you can even transfer the Prodigy P3 to another vehicle.
Installation Accessories
For even easier installation, a vehicle-specific specific wiring adapter is available for most newer trucks and SUVs. One end of the custom adapter plugs into your vehicle, and the other end plugs into the controller - no hardwiring required.
See also 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
The Tekonsha Prodigy P3 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 Prodigy P3 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: 4.9 out of 5 stars (5678 Customer Reviews)
The large buttons and colored LCD display on this proportional brake controller make it easy to see and easy to use. Store and customize your settings so you can easily swap out trailers and drivers and get towing.This was a very easy installation of the hitch, wiring harness and trailer brake. Less than 2 hours with some help from my wife. All of the electrical was plug-n-play. I'm sure doing it myself (with help from [online]) saved me a lot of money.
Tekonsha P3 brake controller was easy to install. Stacey got me the right wire adapter f ou r my 2022 Frontier. Basically Plug and Play install.
I purchased and installed the P3 controller in a 2018 Toyota Highlander XLE after reading many great reviews about it. Wanted a hard wired controller vs. wireless because a brake controller is too important to run over an unreliable wireless connection. Having an IT background I know how unpredictable wireless connections can be. Installation was fairly easy, the hardest part was running a few wires through the firewall of the vehicle.
A few notes, the installation of the actual controller under the steering wheel area was a little difficult because of the design of the mounting bracket. This could be designed better for easier installation. Also, I got a pre-collision warning on my instrument cluster whenever the brake controller was activated. To fix this I had to solder a 1 amp diode on the red cable, which I protected with heat shrink. I reached out to tech support about this error and they were very helpful talking me through a solution.
I like the adjustment capabilities of the controller. I have been able to adjust it so the brakes don't grab when stopping slowly. I really like the manual slide for activating the brakes. This has been very useful for applying brakes on the trailer in a few critical braking moments. The manual lever is also very useful for checking the brakes after connecting the trailer to make sure they are working correctly. I also like that the display shows the level of braking that's applied to the trailer. The color of the back-lit display can also be adjusted to match the vehicle's displays. I definitely recommend this brake controller.
This Tekonsha Prodigy P3 was recommended to be by a friend who works at an RV dealership service center. This is my fifth trailer brake controller over a forty-year period, and my first progressive controller. I really love this controller. My truck has a factory towing package, but was manufactured prior to inclusion of integrated controllers. Since the truck has factory towing, the installation was very simple. The installation instructions were clear and complete. I would definitely recommend this controller to anyone looking for a dependable, easy to install and easy to use controller.
John H.
8/4/2022
What truck did you install this on?
I mounted my Tekonsha P3 on the dash just to the left of the steering wheel. Has very easy access to quickly activate the lever on the bottom of the unit to apply maximum trailer brakes. But I needed a wiring harness almost double the length of the Tekonsha Wiring Adapter so I just purchased two and spliced them together to make one long one......yea I could have saved money and just sliced in longer wires....Am very happy with the Tekonsha P3, With this mount it makes it easy to disconnect and put into my Ford F150 or my Tacoma.
Wayne
8/1/2022
Still lovin it! Works Great!
I’ve used a Prodigy P2 for 8 years and have been pleased with its performance. I now have a new tow vehicle and will use the P3. The detailed product information on your website and the availability of wiring harness adapters is a convenient bonus.
Bob G.
7/16/2023
Superb. I’d buy it again and again.
The Prodigy P3 came on just as the instructions said it would. Although I have not used it yet it looks good in my ‘15 LX. I look forward to great service towing my 20’ flat trailer with tractor, rotary cutter and box blade. My to the staff at etrailer.
Dennis
8/29/2022
Rodigy P3 brake controller works good. It is especially helpful on the nearly mile long descent to the low water bridge crossed on the trip to the Woodz where I spend time maintaining the deer hunting acreage.
The support bracket for this is unacceptable because the standoff from the dash is more than 1" and it puts the controller against my right knee. The mount for the controller in your video was almost flush against the dash and that's what I thought I was getting.
Works great. It's super easy to use. It's programmable for multiple trailers and various settings but I still just use the up and down arrows to adjust it. When my dump trailer is loaded I turn it up to 6 or 7 and when it's empty I turn it down to about 1. I've never adjusted the various settings. Whether I'm pulling my camper or the dump trailer empty or loaded it works just like I'd want it to right out of the box. It does have the lever on the bottom side if you want to activate the trailer brakes without pushing the brake pedal. It will max out at whatever setting you chose.
I have used this type of brake controller in the past. This one is very good. The installation was fairly easy. If I needed another-- I would buy this product again.
Peter
11/26/2023
It is still working just as when it was new.
This product, the P3 Trailer Brake Controller, is replacing the in dash Ford brake controller. I was previously unable to get a dashboard readout, even though the brakes were working. I had replaced the brake controllers twice, the first one quit working completely, when I decided to install this one. So far I am very happy with it and it was very easy to install using the plug in wire adapter, #22292, I purchased with the brake controller. I installed it on a 2016 Ford F-150. We are pulling a 24 ft. travel trailer. Thank You!
The new controller is working great! Do like P3, better control than the primus. Chased 3 different issues getting brakes working again, all of which the online support from etrailer helped me solve.
The Tekonsha prodigy brake controller has been a great purchase. I use the setting for a electric over hydraulic disc brakes on a gooseneck trailer . I also use it on standard drum brakes on a variety of trailers from a snowmobile trailer to a equipment trailer. One of my favorite parts about Tekonsha prodigy is you can have different brake settings for different trailers or conditions. I will definitely buy again.
Hanging the controller was pretty easy—removed my ashtray and used the ashtray support frame’s two screws to attach the controller’s hanger—almost looks professional.
Finding out which stop light wire (there are four on my ‘98 Tacoma) to tap into and then actually doing the tapping was challenging. The four wires are very short (took my dash apart including removing the instrument panel and even so could barely reach/touch the four wires let alone tap into all four to test) and they end in a four-pin female/male plug that forms the top half of the stop light switch.
My solution was to install an 8” long, four-wire pigtail from the female half of the four-pin connector to the male half thus giving me 8” of access to the wiring to determine which stop light wire the controller red wire should tap into. You can purchase said pigtail online for about $XXX plus shipping, or you can make your own using scrap wire and male and female wire ends that plug into the female and male halves of the truck’s stop light switch. That’s what I did, spending $20 in the process. Once your pigtail is installed, it’s short work to test all four wires. After tapping into the correct stop light wire, remove the pigtail and reconnect the halves of the original plug (it’s less likely to come apart than if you used the pigtail permanently).
On my first test drive, the controller read-out showed two to eight volts were being applied to the electric trailer brakes. Obviously this would have huge engine overheating and gas mileage implications if it were constantly occurring but on my second test drive the read-out stayed at 0.0 volts as it should when not braking.
I’ve used this controller for a year, upgraded from the older red, yellow, green Tekonsha. This model has worked great on my 99 F 350 with both an older 5 ton flat bed trailer and a new 8 ton goose neck dump trailer. The proportional aspect works great and is a vast improvement of the on/off concept of older models. The manual control under the unit was also very helpful in breaking-in the new brakes on the dump trailer. I certainly recommend this unit based on my experiences.
Easy to hook up, the only thing I would say is that etrailer should suggest adapters to customers. I ended up buying one off Amazon but I would have got it here if I had known about them when I purchased the brake controller.
William
10/5/2023
Still works great!
Mike L.
10/19/2023
I replaced the original brake controller in my 2001 F-350 that I pull a 25’ gooseneck equipment trailer with! This was super easy to install and setup!! The braking is so amazing, I wished I replaced my old controller years ago!
I do not tow regularly, but I just finished a 10,000 mile trip with a 6,000lb, 2-axle trailer and this Tekonsha Prodigy P3 controller in a 2012 Nissan Titan. I think I've identified most of the pros and cons of this controller. My previous setup was a Redarc Tow-Pro in a 2006 F-150. While I really appreciate the stock look of the Redarc, I could've used more feedback on what it was doing. When we replaced the F-150 (RIP) wirth the Titan, I decided to get a controller more willing to offer up some information on its decisions. The Tekonsha tells you realtime what level it's feeding the brake system, which I found really helps with determining why the brakes may feel off and any accompanying setting changes. This is where the Tekonsha shines. I also like that the manual braking is via a continuous lever, rather than an on/off binary signal. With the Tekonsha, I can manually tap my trailer brakes a little or a lot. With the Redarc, I had on or off. To be clear, this is only the direct manual actuation. Both controllers are proportional in response to brake application and acceleration.
The only drawback I found with the Tekonsha is that it doesn't appear to differentiate well between accelerations in the direction of travel (like braking) and those in the vertical (like bumps). I quickly learned that I'd better have my foot off the brake when crossing railroad tracks or speed bumps, or the controller would jack my trailer brakes. My horizontal acceleration wasn't changing nearly as fast as the controller seemed to think.
All in all, I'd buy it again. For my use, it's a better solution than the Redarc, though I do wish I could manually calibrate it like you do the Redarc.
This is a must have device! Between this and the weight distribution hitch our ride comfort and safety have improved by leaps and bounds! Properly setup this controller improves stopping and trailer control. We'll never run without one again.
Jeffery
8/27/2023
Still meeting our needs and expectations! Great product!
Top quality brake controller. Automatic leveling. Get the wiring harness for your tow vehicle. This makes installation easy.
I have a 2018 BMW X2 that did not come with a factory tow package. I had an etrailer hitch and 4 way plug installed last year and has been perfect since. I just recently purchased a camper and needed to have a Brake controller & Brake controller 7 way deluxe kit installed. My mechanic installed them with the detailed instructions that the units came with without any issues. The Tekonsha P3 is extremely user friendly and is working flawlessly. A bit overkill for my car being I can only tow max 3500 pounds, and my camper is 1 axel. this unit is rated up to 3 axles. I look at it like this way, when I trade in my BMW I will take my P3 with me. etrailer is amazing with the support & products they provide and I highly recommend them to anyone who asks me.
Teresa
12/24/2021
Love the P3, so easy to use and will be using this on my next vehicle when I trade this in. Highly recommend this unit.
This review is not on the controller as I haven't installed it yet but on the condition of the product as received. The controller came promptly but it was not packed in a separate box. The factory box was damaged in several areas and obviously handled roughly. Upon opening I realized as well that the only protection is a single layer of cardboard in the box, no foam or other protection. The controller appears undamaged but I won't actually know until I install and tested it. I would have immediately returned it without opening it but I need it for a trip already scheduled in two days.
First, a huge "Thank You" to Janice!!! You are the best, and the main reason I am the proud owner of Tekonsha P3 Brake Controller! (see, I initially had an issue with my standard online payment service and almost canceled my order because of it) So I went old school and picked up the phone, one with a cord and spoke to a human being. Her name is Janice, and she made me feel confident that I could trust her and etrailer. And as a result, 4 days after placing my order with her I received my package. That's incredible. I am very happy and will most certainly do business with etrailer again in the future because of Janice.
I don't have any experience with brake controllers. So I can't really comment on how much better or worse this one is to any others. But since I am new to the B/C scene maybe this can be considered an unbiased, non professional review of the Tekonsha P3.
My general skill level is "requires supervision around all power tools". But I do have some mechanical ability (snicker). So I will just say, if I could install this thing anyone should be able to do it. Of course I also bought the OEM wiring harness for my vehicle so even I was able to figure out which plug went where. On A scale of 1 to 10 I give it a 3 (I'm somewhat large and getting under the dash wasn't easy or it would be a 1). And as others have said, deciding where to mount it actually took longer.
I attached mine to the top of the lower dash cowl and it fits almost tight to the dash but still within the 180 degree limit. This positions the controller at the same height as my knee and puts it within fingertip reach while resting my hand on my knee. I can see the controller perfectly through the steering wheel spokes. I went with the green screen background. it seemed to provide the best view in all lighting conditions.
The controller itself works perfectly and the set-up was a breeze. Once installed all the functions worked as described. The real time vehicle diagnostics are a plus. I like being able to monitor my battery voltage to the decimal place if I want to. I'm sort of a techno geek so this is really cool. I set the B/C voltage per the instructions and will only use the boost feature if I am in a hurry or feel the trailer is at max load, but my truck is 8k lbs so you may want to set yours to suit your own conditions.
I highly recommend the Tekonsha P3 brake Controller if you want the latest and probably the best controller out there in this price range. I highly recommend the OEM wiring harness if your skills are not pit crew comprable and want the easiest install possible. And, I highly recommend you buy it from etrailer if you want to get it at the best price available (I checked them all) and want the added security you're buying from one of the best online retailers that sells this product. And do yourself a favor, go old school for a change, use the phone and call them, and ask for Janice, although I'm willing to bet everyone there is as nice as her.
Rob
Tom
9/14/2015
How long is the wiring harness? I want to mount the brake controller on the right side of my steering wheel. It looks short in the picture. Thanks! Tom
Installed this on my GMC 3500 Duramax with factory integrated brake controller. Not happy with the integrated brake controller on my truck, had problems from the start on 3 different occasions with "Service Trailer Brake" warning on DIC, which of course means NO TRAILER BRAKES. Decided the P3 was the perfect solution. Many more features than the IBC, plus the P3 will also work with electric over hydraulic disc brakes should we ever need that in the future. Fairly easy install on this particular truck, the most difficult thing was running the brake wire from the controller to the 7-pin plug. (This is only required when installing in a vehicle with a factory installed brake control) Well worth the extra effort.
Ernesto
4/26/2015
Recommendation...dont mount it to low out of reach. When you have a trailer go astray...your seat belt will tighten and then you cant reach your controller to help you out. Believe me I mounted my too low and out of reach, and I was seconds from ditching the truck and trailer. Was very lucky. Just a recommendation.
Mel T.
11/11/2015
What did you do to complete the bypass besides cut blue wire and wire to new brake control
John S.
11/12/2015
Mel THere is the link that helped us, Good Luck https:/www.etrailer.com/question-43296.html
Rachael H.
11/13/2015
Helpful Links
Hi, I got my Item: 90195 and shipping was fast. I was able to get the break controller installed in my 2012 Cadillac Escalade Luxury using the etrailer.com video guide for a 2009 Cadillac Escalade. The install and wiring was the exact same as the video however my wires under the dash or wire bundle did not have a wiring sticker. The color of the wires were the same as in the video. This etrailer video is great and I used it to get my controller installed in about 1.5 hours. My install was trouble free.
This weekend I was able to test out the my new P3 90195 controller and get it calibrated with my 29 foot travel trailer this weekend. Used a B2 setting with 8.0 power. The user guide and instructions you get with the controller help you know what settings to use and how to set the power level.
This is my second controller as I got a P2 Tekonsha from etrailer about 4-5 years back and installed it in a 2007 trail blazer. This older 2P break controller is still working great. I have been rather happy with the quality of the Tekonsha controllers I have. I have not had to call etrailer for support or install questions but did receive a few emails from them to check in with me to ensure I got my shipment and offer me help. They do a good job supporting and responding to their customers and provide an A+ customer experience.
Bradg
10/9/2017
All good on my end. The controller is working with no issue. Getting ready for our 6th camping trip this year. Thanks for your follow-up.
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Ronald
4/27/2022
After a year of use, I am very happy with my beak controller. I would purchase this controller again, without any hesitation. I highly recommend it.