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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 (1619 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.
Works like a dream on my single axle 3200 lb travel trailer and my 2017 Toyota Tacoma. Like many of the other Tacoma owner reviewers, I mounted my Tekonsha Primus IQ controller in the small cubby to the left of the steering wheel and ran a couple screws up through the lower switch access to mount the bracket hidden inside the dash. Ended up looking like a factory install, exposing just enough of the unit to access the controls and read the display.
I bought a new truck and needed a new trailer brake controller. I wanted something that didn't have the jerk everytime I braked with my trailer(26 foot KZ Sportsmen). After searching on line and reading different reviews I settled on the Tekonsha PRIMUS IQ . It was easy to install and set up. I really like the progressive brake control. The more brake I call for the controller applies more brake. Gone is the jerk I would get with my other controller. No matter how I set the old controlle I would get the jerk and it got worse with a higher brake setting. No issues and would buy it again.
Dave G - 05/01/2021etrailer.com has been an easy company to work with. They were helpful in making sure we had what we needed to install our trailer hitch successfully. Thank you for your help. We have recommended you to friends and family and will continue to do business with you in the future.
Debbie H - 05/13/2021I've been running the Tekonsha Primus IQ for just over a year now. Very pleased w/ it. Simple set up & operation. I tow a variety of trailers w/ my '07 2500 HD including dump trailer w/ firewood, car hauler, and enclosed cargo trailer. The weights are anywhere from empty, to 5k. Very easy to adjust as conditions change. I borrowed a trailer from a family member and the controller picked up a short. Come to find out a wire was pinched from ramps being slid in on the underside. The digital screen notified me before loading it up and hitting the road. I would recommend this product.
Very happy with the proportional controller. When braking I don’t notice that the trailer is behind me because the controller works so well. I installed the Tekonsha in a 2012 Tundra that I bought used. It had a Tekonsha style connector but the brake controller had been removed by a previous owner. There was an installation note in the box. It said that the red wire should be 12 volts positive when the brake is applied and must not be grounded when the brake is released. If the red wire is grounded and the brake control is operated manually it will destroy the control. I checked my connector because I had not installed it my self. The Red wire was grounded when the brake pedal was released and 12v when depressed. I removed the cable and found that it is pin for pin the same as the cable listed for the Tundra. The easiest way to fix that problem was to put a diode in series with the red wire. (put the bar marking on the diode towards the control and check with a meter or test light) The directions said to wire directly to the brake pedal switch but that is a messy way to do it.
THANKS 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.
J - 12/19/2014Product was delivered on time. Installation vehicle was a 2012 Ford Expedition Limited with factory tow package and was a breeze. I purchased the pre-wired pigtail which fit the Ford connector with no problem. I used the snap-in plastic bracket, mounted on the knee panel as close as possible to the center console. I held the bracket in place using painters tape to check the mounting position before driving in the self tapping screws. Start to finish was less than 10 minutes. I pull a 29' tandem axel travel trailer which comes in around 7,000 lbs and so far, stopping has been smooth and even with no jerking.
Steve M - 12/27/2017I 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.
V J - 10/02/2016Pictures 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.
Patrick B - 01/30/2014installed 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
alan - 01/18/2018Great controller ,, easy to set up and with the on line instructions everything went smooth .. only issue is after you set it up check the trailer connector as the MANUFACTURE SWITCHED THE BRAKE WIRES and I had to switch them back .. it locked up the trailer brakes ...Just use the trailer connector tool to make sure everything is good before you go.
Best brake controller I've ever owned and I've been towing trailers since 1995. Compact, provides excellent feedback to the user, works as designed.
Andrew M - 12/14/2020We occasionally pull a 10K dump trailer with two axles. This brake controller is easy to install and works well. Flawless performance for the past year. The etrailer ordering procedure was easy and we were kept informed of status of our order up to the day it arrived. Good job etrailer!
Brake controller works great, installed perfectly. etrailer is the only place I shop for stuff like this. They make it easy and will help when I cannot figure it out.
My Tekonsha Primus IQ (cool name) works well controlling the brakes on both of our trailers.I did a careful professional installation on our 2008 Ford Escape after watching a really good vid on etrailer site and that coupled with the Primus being a well designed unit should give us years of trouble free service.
Great high quality product. Easy plug & play installation. Very happy with the performance of this brake controller.
Steve L - 03/20/2021I just received the controller yesterday. I read all of the instructions and was ready to mount the controller when I found the snap on bracket cracked at the mounting holes. I don't know if it would be wise to use it in that condition. I have decided to wait for your reply on this matter before I proceed. Other than that seems like a good product.
Tyler M - 04/13/2021Installed 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.
This is a great controller, recommended by my trailer manufacturer. I actually don't know too much about it, how it works, etc. But it doesn't require much knowledge to use it. Install it like instructed by etrailer it just works. You can see the number goes up as you apply more pressure on the brake pedal, and the trailer stops with no problem. It's magic. The only thing I wished they do is to supply a longer length of the thin wire to connect to the break line. For my 2013 CRV, the break line you need to tap into is on the left side of the steering column, if you want to install the break controller on the right side, the wire is a little so short; but you can make it, it's just a little tight. I want to install the break controller to the right side of the steering column because I don't want to accidentally bump into it every time I get in and out of the car. It's a great, the best product though.
Shipping was great. Stared at it for a couple of days before unpacking. The trailer connector mounting was easy with the holes almost matching the existing holes on my 2013 Toyota Highlander. The first four wires are a snap, they are just plugged into the existing four pin connector. I routed the two wire cable towards the front using ty wraps and improvised L brackets fixed to existing chassis screws. I mounted the Circuit Breakers on the inside of the left fender making sure there was hood clearance (see photo). Then I hit a snag. There was no easy way to get the brake and 12V power wire to the brake controller inside the car. For grins, I goggled "brake controller video" for my car and came up with a video made by "eTrailer." (Thank you eTrailer) Three things from the video helped me: wire access from inside the car through the firewall, a place to mount the controller and how to locate the brake wire. After the installation I had 18" of two wire cable left over. The install took me about six hours. (I'm 71 and I took my time.) A couple days later I connected the trailer for a test ride. The brake controller worked like a dream. Things I liked: Retaining the four wire trailer plug setup next to the seven wire trailer plug. Controller display works but you don't have to look at it. The two wire cable was adequate for the job. Being an Engineer (retired) I worry about things like that. Thing I didn't like: The mounting plate for the trailer plug is a little weak. A stiffer plate would have been better suited for me. and, oh yeh, somebody else to install it. ;=)
This proportional controller is a great budget model if you don't need all the bells and whistles of the P3. Once you dial it in the braking response is fantastic and much better then time delay controllers.
Brake Controller has been great. We pull a 30ft gooseneck horse trailer daily with it.
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.
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!
Installed 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.
Terry G - 08/21/2019Info for this part was:
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