Proportional brake controller automatically levels when mounted within a 90-degree vertical range. Includes digital display, 3 boost levels, battery protection and continuous diagnostics. Easily transfer between different automobiles.
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. Just set the initial power level, select a boost setting, and you're good to go.
As long as the Primus IQ controller is properly mounted and is pointed in the direction of travel, it will sense - via an internal inertia sensor - 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.
Aside from smoother, more efficient braking, Tekonsha's Primus IQ brake controller also offers a boost feature that gives you more initial braking power for those times when you're towing heavy loads. You can switch boost levels so that the power output to your trailer brakes automatically starts out at either 13 percent or 25 percent of the predetermined power setting.
So, if you boost the initial power so that your trailer brakes activate with 25 percent of the overall intensity at the start, the brakes will reach maximum braking faster. This is particularly beneficial if you are towing a heavy load because the intensity required to stop that load may be far greater than that needed to halt your vehicle. Therefore, sending out more initial power to the trailer brakes - and causing them to reach maximum braking faster - allows you to better control the trailer so that it doesn't push your tow vehicle before coming to a complete stop.
If your trailer weighs less than your tow vehicle, no boost is needed. But if you wish to set the boost so that your trailer leads the braking of your towing setup, you can select level B1. The following table gives an indication of when you might use the different boost levels and the power increases that they offer.
| 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.
Safety Features
The Primus IQ offers advanced safety features to prevent damage to various components of your towing setup. For example, when it is not in use, this brake controller will be in power-saving mode. In this setting, the power draw falls to minimize drain on your vehicle's battery.
When you stop at red lights, or any time that your truck and trailer are at a standstill with the brakes applied for more than 5 seconds, the Primus IQ's "hold" feature will activate. When this happens, the power output to your trailer's brakes will be reduced to just 25 percent of the preset power setting so that the brakes will not overheat.
If ever there is a time that you need to brake your trailer separately from your tow vehicle - when traveling down a steep incline, for example - the manual override is easily accessible. Pushing this slide bar engages the brakes on your trailer with full power. In addition, when you activate this override, the brake lights on your trailer will illuminate, properly warning those behind you of the braking action of your rig.
In addition to all of those safety features listed above, the Primus IQ offers diagnostics such as:
The self-leveling feature of the Primus IQ 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 a vertical angle that is between 0 degrees (level) and 90 degrees, and the controller will level itself automatically.
Note: The Primus IQ must be mounted on a level horizontal (side-to-side) plane and must be lined up with the direction of travel for the internal sensor to function properly.
Installation is a snap. 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 transfer the Primus IQ to another vehicle or to remove it for storage, just unplug the unit and snap it out of the bracket.
Installation Accessories
For even easier installation, a vehicle-specific wiring adapter (sold separately) 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.
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
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.
California residents: click here
Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (1337 Customer Reviews)
Proportional brake controller automatically levels when mounted within a 90-degree vertical range. Includes digital display, 3 boost levels, battery protection and continuous diagnostics. Easily transfer between different automobiles.Cheapest Tekonsha progressive controller (progressive is quite important with heavy loads, transient road conditions, short tow vehicle wheelbase, etc). Bought it with the OEM integration harness (thanks etrailer, this made things SUPER easy) mounted the "clip" bracket at the bottom of my console below the 4WD selectors with double side tape and the screws provided for good measure. Haven't tested yet but went through all the diagnostics and worked great! 548728
I ordered and received my Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller with wiring harness for my 2012 Ford Expedition. To keep from drilling mounting holes for the contoller, I double backed taped it to the top of the center console. In order to hide the wires, I had to strip some of the braided wire loom protective cover away so to be able to push the wires through the gap between the dash and console. The installation came out very clean and access to the controller couldnt be better. Hooked up the trailer and took it for a drive. Within a few "stops" I had the brake system dialed in.Working perfectly. PICTURES ATTACHED. 493750
Installation was straightforward with help from the online videos. I also installed the ETBC7 universal installation kit. At first I thought etrailer had shorted some parts, but it turns out that the 18140 bracket is sold separately. Had to take back the choice words I uttered under breath. Ended up mounting the provided bracket directly to the hitch with screws which was a little more difficult. As a safety measure--and a little on the overboard side--I also used a dremel to cut a small slit in the center of the provided bracket so I could attach a hose clamp similar to the one in 18140. Space inside the cab for mounting the brake controller was tight. Nonetheless, all works fine per my test meter. Don't yet have a trailer to connect, but meter checks out fine. 443359
This was bought with a 7/4 plug and a Tekonsha adapter cable for a 2012 Expedition for use with a 26 foot travel trailer. Very happy with this purchase. It was a pretty easy installation, but I did solder & used heat-shrink tubing for the wires in the back if the truck for a permanent connection. Up front was extremely easy. Ford was nice enough to wire all the Expeditions the same, regardless of whether it had a "tow package". The size of this unit is about average, but the bracket is not a large one, so the controller sits closely to the mounting surface. It mounts horizontally or vertically, so I mounted it almost straight up and down, which is good for me. My wife is short, leaving only a few inches from the dash to get knees, and there is no interference or banging into it, even though it's right out into open on the lower right of the driver's side dash panel. There were not a lot of location choices, so that's really it for ease of reach for manual use and adjustment if necessary. It is adaptive, so it does not try to engage too harshly, which makes it super easy to adjust to your truck and your braking style. Brake hard, it engages hard; brake gently and it engages only a little. Press softly, then harder, it reacts likewise. For anyone who'd like a nice controller at a nice price point, this is definitely a great choice. 527500
Replaced an older brake controller with the TK90160. Installation was very straight forward and took less than a half hour. Hooked up the trailer, went to an empty parking lot, tested everything and adjusted the Boost feature. This unit is a superior brake controller. I do a lot of freeway driving as well as mountain roads (ie steep stuff) and I love the feeling of the trailer and the truck’s brakes working together. 563689
Renn - 09/10/2019THANKS for the Brake Controller unit from ETrailer. It arrived w/in 5 days from your MO location to my So CAL residence. Even as an Engineer/Scientist from the Delta IV rocket program and no experience with brake controllers, I was able to install this unit by myself. Your continued (live human) support and online video clips proved to be the key elements to this installation...without my symbolic pocket protector. I have attached a few images of the unit, mounted to the fuse-panel cover (3/16 attachments with locking hex nuts) in a 2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5 (with factory tow package). The placement of the unit onto the panel cover allows a new panel cover (no holes drilled) to be used when it is time to sell the vehicle. 85308
J - 12/19/2014The brake controller that I received worked very well. The plug and play brake controller adapter (3016) - not so well. After looking at all the reviews I decided to order the Primis IQ brake controller along with the wiring adapter (3016). I talked to Susan (customer service) and asked how long the wiring adapter was. I wanted to make sure I had enough wire to go from my fuse box to the controller. She told me the length was 35 inches. This was enough for me so I ordered it. Everything came to me in just a few days. Unfortunately I didn't measure the adapter wiring prior to installing the brake controller. When I started to wire the adapter to the controller I found out that the wire is only 27-28 inches long including the plugs. With a lot of stretching I was able to just get the adapter connected to my fuse box and my controller. If you purchase the adapter (3016) make sure you measure the distance from your fuse box to your controller prior to drilling holes in your dashboard or you may have to relocate your controller. I am pleased with instructions that are sent with the product. They are very well done and easy to understand. 568074
Grateful for the fast response and shipment. Got the controller within the specified delivery time. etrailer communication is the best. The added dual plug-in adapter made the install a breeze...Thank You! 574572
The brake controller and corresponding cable were exactly as advertised. Everything was delivered promptly and all items arrived in excellent condition. The videos of the installation provided on the website were very good and made the decision of the purchased easy. I am using this to help with electric brakes on a 38 foot travel trailer. The ease of installation was fantastic.The site has a wide variety of products and I am extremely pleased with my purchase. I will continue to do business with your company in the future and I will recommend it to anyone who has a trailer or travel trailer. Awesome experience all around 543923
I have not hauled with this brake controller yet, but given the ease of installation and simplicity of controls i'm not sure how i could be disappointed. For my hauling needs (Only a 6k gvwr 2 axle trailer) this is perfect and a reasonable price for a proportional controller. Better yet was etrailer.com not setting false expectations on arrival. There are "two-day guaranteed" shippers that often fail to meet, while etrailer estimated a realistic travel time and actually beat it by a lot! 554652
This is the best proportional brake controller! Have bought multiple units to put in the different trucks we have and all of them work excellent and perfectly. 564885
Product could not be installed in my Ford Escape as recommended. Had to trade it at the installers for a different model. Disappointed. 572598
Mike L - 10/11/2018I have installed the Tekonsha Primus IQ Brake Controller with the ETBC7 Brake Controller wiring kit on my 1990 Chevy Blazer Scottsdale. Everything that I needed was included and the installation instructions were simple. We will be trying it out for the first time in early November when we are going to rent a small travel trailer. If we like the experience we may buy a travel trailer to go with our brake controller! Before and after pictures attached. Thanks for the quick service and support. 228964
V J - 10/02/2016Installed in my 2014 GMC Acadia in about 30 minutes. Used the GMC plug-in wiring adapter. No problems. Looks like it was made for that location. 556263
Terry G - 08/21/2019installed on a 2009 F-150 everything was as advertised. It was plug and play. My truck had the wire plug behind the dash so was easy to hook up. I installed it in the hole below the coin holder. To reach the pre-wired plug you have to remove the panel anyway. I don't like any wires showing or anything I might hit with my leg. So did not mount it on the lower dash. You have to pull the plastic box out to unplug the connector. So just cut off the back of the box off and run the connector through the hole and connect to the controller. This way you can remove the controller anytime you want. Also you can see the readout much easier then mounting it on the lower dash. See pics 333618
alan - 01/18/2018Primus Iq Brake Controller installed in a Mercedes Benz 2017 Sprinter. The van's electronics interface with the Primus, and it can detect when the trailer brakes lock-up, which lights an dashboard indicator lamp. I used the Mercedes-specific plugs under the driver's seat and ran the cables through the battery box to the dashboard. 489003
IT WORKED PERFECTLY. This is my first time to purchase, install, and use a brake controller. Add to top it off, it was my first time to pull a trailer. It was on a Saturday, exactly six days before a scheduled tent-camping trip, when my wife found a good deal on a used pop up camper. The camper was equipped with electric brakes, so it was required to install a brake controller on my SUV. It was Sunday (next day) when I ordered the Tekonsha TK90160, along with the other necessary part numbers #118449, #A0500, #18136, #ETBC7. I was planning to take the parts to a shop to have it installed as soon as I received them. I was hoping I can get them on Tuesday, but UPS dropped it off to the local post office, which caused it to be delivered at 3pm on Wednesday afternoon. The shops that I went to either did not have an installer available, or were all booked for the week. I had to "take courage" and install it myself. I am so thankful that etrailer.com provides extensive videos of reviews, installation, and operation of the products that they sell. I made the connections as shown and hoped for the best. I picked up the camper on Thursday, and was sooo relieved that it worked perfectly. We took off on Friday and the camping trip was a success. We are looking forward to making more good memories with our camper. Thank you etrailer! 276385
install would have taken minutes on our Flex if Ford had left a few inches more wire on the connector. After getting supplied connector (Ford sent both halves of connecter in case of hard wiring) off, install was easy and everything worked as I hoped. 556799
Installed this in my 2018 Tacoma TRD Off Road. After removing the sill trim and Kick plate to find the Factory Plug. I took the Bottom left dash down (3 Bolts) and some clips to gain access to the small cubby on the left of the steering wheel. Popped it out, trimmed it to fit with my Dremel and held the Unit in place with 3-M automotive trim tape. I only had to cut the sides of the cubby and a square hole for the plug to the unit. Looks Factory installed. All in all it took a couple of hours to do. my truck has only 135 miles on it so I was extremely careful. As you can see by the pics it's not in the way at all. It could also be put in the center console but it has a wireless charger and I didn't want any Electronic interference or block access to my coffee cup holders. 490872
Installed quickly an easily into my 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD by wiring up to the factory harness. Be sure to watch the etrailer.com video to see which wires need connected at the fuse box in the engine compartment! (Easy hook-ups, just need to make sure you see which ones get hooked up and where.) And if you don't use your ash tray, these brake controllers squeeze nicely into the ash tray compartment/recess in the lower part of the dash. Makes a great place to keep most of the controller out of the way and it's easy to install (you will have to create 2x new holes in the plastic detachable controller mounting bracket but its very easy - you can see the mounting screws in the 'new' holes and the old holes go unused as shown in the photo). Only had a trailer hooked up once, but the controller functioned as designed. I think the 'Boost' function will come in handy if I use a well-loaded trailer and need some additional stopping power from the trailer. 135875
I had one of these before and it worked well. Etrailer had a great price on it and when I needed to put one on a different vehicle I bought from them. I couldn't be happier. 73894
Mike R - 10/02/2014Worked great on our two hour trip coming home from the R-Pod dealer. Good paper instructions. The video on U-Tube was helpful when drilling through the fire wall. The Toyota factory harness for the 2011 Highlander gives you no brake wire access, made worse by a knee air bag. After dropping the lower dash panels I was able to insert a flat bladed electrical connector into the back side of the plug going into the brake light switch and zip tie the connection in place. The Universal Installtion Kit ETBC7 is worth evey penny and makes the installation professional. The ETBC7 plugged into the existing four pin trailer plug and completed connections to the vehicle's battery and controller. Two suggestions: 1- The TK90160 should come with longer pig tail leads to reach the brake light switch (I added 4"). 2- The ETBC7 does not come with a plastic wire protector for the fire wall entry point. 469662
2011 H - 01/25/2019I realy do not know where to start. 1) products and service were prompt and very curtious, but there was a major problem. 2005 tundra trailor hitch, break controller and wire harness. I first ordered and installed a trailor hitch on my truck. I needed the hitch for a tundra that had the drop down bumper with trailor ball holes drilled. Everything went as advertised. However it was necessary to use clips to pull the hitch to the frame to drill the aditional holes. 2. Here is the however. Before ordering a wire harness and controller I read the instructions on your web sight to determen if I had a tow package. I looked for the white plug behind and above and on the left side of the instrument panel to determine if I had a tow package. No white plug could be found. In all of my conversations with sells and letters to techneshions I said I had a 4 pin plug but no 7 pin plug. I had the step bumper with trailor ball mount holes but no white plug. Every one determined that with no white plug I did not have a tow package imstalled. I order a controller and the wire harness. I mounted the seven / four pin harness and the wireing from the rear of the truck to the engine compartment and mounted the fuses. The next day I removed the instrument panel lower trim and the air duct and begin to look for the wiring harness and the grommet in the left side of the firewall to rout the wireing into the cab. I looked and felt around the wire bundles and felt the white plug taped with black electric tape on the outside of the wire bundle. It was impossible to see the white plug even with the trim panel and air duct removed and black tape installed over it. After looking at other web sights I learned that if I had taken the VIN number to the parts department of the Toyota dealer I ould have learned that I had a tow package. If I had known that I had the tow package I would have ordered the upgraded brake controller with the less expensive wire harness. Johnnie Reaves 335964
This will be more of an overall etrailer review as opposed to a specific product review as I've yet to actually test the product. So, you might ask, how can I feel confident enough to review a company whose product I have not tested. The answer is simple and solid...I, in all actuality, tested the very fabric of etrailer itself; their employees (specifically Bill and Kristin, my many kudos to you both). I tested their patience. I tested their gumption. I tested their resilience. I even tested the very foundation of their courtesy. With my innocently incessant questions, concerns and over-dramatizations, I pulled, tugged and prodded at the very essence of, what I can only assume is, their corporate ethic. I begged, probed and, most likely to some extent, annoyed their customer service with email after email for days; although, I'm sure to them it must have seemed like an eternity of overtime. Not once, was a single one of my inquiries met with even the slightest hint of aggravation or delay. If you think that I'm just touting because I love talking, you're sadly mistaken. Never in my long years have I ever "reviewed" anyone or anything online. I don't Facebook. I don't Twitter. I don't even go to the customer service desk at the grocery store. It's not my style and it probably never will be. But, I would feel remiss if I let this one go. There is a reason why their site comes up so frequently when searching for answers to new questions and available products...their company is clearly founded on successful ideals and, every effort of their service department proves it beyond a doubt. In the end, this old man was wrong. And, I suffered them through an unnecessary ordeal. But, I've come to find, that, in life, we get tested, often when we least expect and even more frequently, without knowing why. I can not say that there is a better reason for the tribulation they so positively endured other than to give me the confidence to proceed. But, then again, as customer's, is that not but what we seek. I sought affirmation and reassurance that I wasn't just shoving my money into a machine but, instead, shaking hands with an old friend. I was not disappointed. And, I doubt that you would be either. In fact, in my humble opinion, I believe that you'd have to be downright incorrigible to meet any dissatisfaction with their service. In an online generation where almost every site has almost every thing, and all at pretty much the same price, I can see no excusable reason to overlook the absolute value of total confidence in your purchase. The fact is, that at some point, I will need to order something for or have a question about my RV again, and every time my browser search shows results from etrailer.com, I will go their first because I have the experience to know that they know that the way they treat me will bring me back. 474860
Pictures of the install. Approximately a 20 min job. First picture my finger is pointing to the factory plug with the etrailer supplied harness plugged in. Note the harness did not specify that the white common with the ring terminal should be connected to ground. But then again that SHOULD be obvious. I will be towing this weekend so I will rate the product then. One minor gripe is that there is always power to the unit which is a battery drain (as evidenced with the key out of the ignition and the unit stayed on) Not sure as to the impact but the controller can always be unplugged or removed. Sorry for the dirty floor mats in the photos. 115201
Patrick B - 01/30/2014Do you have a question about this Trailer Brake Controller?
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