Curt Echo Brake Controller Full Review

Beautiful concept. Ugly execution. If I'd have paid attention to the 1.5 stars on Apple store for this software. I own one of these. It's going back to e-Trailer. Silicon Valley has had 40 years to figure out consumer software. It's amazing the tech world still gets away with this crap. The paper instructions were written by someone unfamiliar with English. Lots ambiguity. The software itself trips over its own shoelaces at every opportunity. Screens freeze. Circling donuts circle forever without give the user a clue. It's full of programming box canyons - the software stops giving the user no way out. Installation is a very delicate process. I stopped after two hours of my time, when the manufacturer decided no retail customer was important enough to answer the phone. I was in my driveway, thank god I wasn't on the road needing service. Lippert owes me $200 in wasted time. I'll remember this.

How might the C51180 work with an ID.4? It appears that with the outlet angled downward, it might scrape on the ground. I

I have a Thor Four Winds on a Mercedes Sprinter chassis (25' long) RV. I am going to be pulling a dolly with a Maverick Pickup truck. I am wondering if I could get this and the dash button, set it up on my phone, and once rolling, turn off the app, and use my phone as normal, with the dash button handling anything when I need the dolly brakes. Thank you for the review...

I have a 2022 Jeep wagoneer series one that came from the factory with class IV hitch and plug set up but no brake controller. Will this wireless work even though my vehicle is already wired ?

Do you still recommend this after it’s been out for a while?

I must be reading the instructions wrong. I used this echo brake system on a long haul with a tow behind camper. A lot of times I've lost connection with my phone. Is there any other way to use this system without a telephone? I started using low gears to slow my trailer down when stopping or going off and off ramp. A lot of times I end up losing my Bluetooth on my phone so the connection was lost to the brake system. Please teach me how to use this system properly I spent way too much for it and don't want to throw it away.

If I use this with a Tri axle trailer will 4 brakes work? Or none?

Hello I've got the Echo Smart brake controller and find out that my phone (HTC U11, Android 8.0) isn't compatible with the app. I can installing the app but when I turn it ON, the system UI craches making the screen to flicker non stop. I have to reboot the phone to regain access. I've got two different HTC model phone and both, with Android 8.0, reacts the same way. Is there any incompatibility with certain phones or OS versions? I've tried a 2019 Samsung with Android 4.4.2, I couldn't event download the app. Curt's web site mentioning that the app is compatible with Android 4.3 and up. Maybe that cheep phone isn't equipped with proper acceleration sensors... What do you think? thanks for your help

Whoever designed this unit has their head up their butt. The major flaw is that the "Vehicle Hazard Lights" switch. In the "Off" position causes the trailer brakes to pulsate. This feature caused major risk to our safety and catastrophic damage to our vehicle and new RV. The only response I get from tech support is "we recommend you read the manual"

I have the Echo and have a problem with it "grabbing" the trailer brakes at low speeds. When I'm at a camp ground, gas station or just at intersections in traffic. As I apply the brakes, the trailer grabs to the point of locking up the wheels, no progressive braking at all. I've tried adjusting the power and sensitivity up and down on the app but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Any suggestions as to settings that could help would be appreciated or could I have a problem with a faulty unit or the trailer brakes?

My 2020 ram 1500 limited seems not to work with echo. I have solid blue light after paired with echo, however, it won't calibrating after plugin trailer, no response at all, no green light. Any possible cause? Thanks In the meantime, my test trailer is 2018(it has Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF Electronic Brake Control) which works on my ram.

My Curt Echo has to have the setting on 100% to be less aggressive. The lower the number the more aggressive. Do I have something hooked up incorrectly? My tow vehicle is a 2017 Highlander. Any help would be appreciated. Thank You

I was just wondering if there would be an issue with using this if I am already using a 4-flat to 7-pin adapter?

will this brake controller work with a Bean Trailer? Teardrop.

I'm looking at a CURT Echo wireless bluetooth trailer brake controller for my 2019 Toyota Tundra SR with a 4.6L engine. Is the controller compatible with the 2019 Toyota Tundra SR with a 4.6L engine ? Thank you

Don’t have this controller, but I’m sure a lot of people have old smart phones laying around, just repurpose it as a dedicated monitor for this brake wireless controller only.And if you don’t just buy a used phone off of EBay because your going to be using the Bluetooth option only.

Will the Echo work with an older Truck, 1970, C10, equipped with a 7 pin... But no brake controller...?

I have a 2007 40’ Fleetwood Providence Motorhome, will there, could there be any issues with connectivity between the controller and my phone due to the length of the Motorhome?

Can you use the phone with this app on.

Could this be used on my 7 way plug in to my motor home and plug in to my Jeep that I toe behind it to slow the jeep down when I apply the brakes?

Does the trailer hitch have to be connected to the trailer ball in order for the echo to work? I downloaded the app. I plugged the echo into my 7 pin connector and my trailer into the echo. I got the orange O on my phone and when I touched it the blue circle went all the way around until i removed my finger. However, I do not have the numbers 1-5 showing up on my display, and when I pressed the brakes, nothing happened, no blue ring. My settings are as the are when they come from the factory. The blue tooth is working properly. Can you tell me what I may be doing wrong and why the brake bias does not show up?

For whatever it is worth, Im a retired RF Radio Frequency engineer with about 40 years of automotive industry experience. And Im here to tell you that the industry has spent lots of money trying to prevent their onboard electronic systems from being hacked or destroyed by external forces, including nearby lightning strikes. Remember the stories of hackers taking over control of an adjacent vehicle in traffic via remote wireless access to its data links? There are some “hardened” systems out there, but NOTHING is hack-proof. And out here in the real world there are all kinds of remote RF linked systems operating 24/7, some legitimate and some not. I installed my Tekonsha controller wired across three of my vehicles the fourth having a factory installed system. While not perfect, the Tekonsha has been very good almost as good as the factory system. Ive done lots of towing, all over the country, usually of trailers between 5K and 10K pounds. If you pull enough you occasionally encounter near critical/dangerous situations moments after which you were glad your equipment was all functioning. I can easily envision circumstances under which a wireless anything could be inadvertently or deliberately disturbed by electrical interference. With my luck it would probably occur during one of those “critical moments”. This is not an indictment of Curt or any other products just my personal observations. So Ill stick with the “old, low technology”, meaning that Ill continue to pull old fashioned wires through my trucks. If/when the hackers discover that, driven with enough RF amplifier power, even hard wired systems can be overtaken, Ill have to switch from common wire to double shielded coax cable. Wireless tire pressure monitoring is just fine. When it breaks you just keep on truckin. Its not a safety critical system. Brake control..........thats a bit different.

Works great. Love it. After setup, disconnect and place in drawer to prevent loss until needed again. Like the phone app and interface.

I see in your comparison chart that the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite scored the same or better in all categories but versatility. Why is that?

Does this replace the built in controller on my Yukon? Is there a need in this instance?

I have the Echo and I don’t think you need to leave your phone on or the app open to make it work. You use your phone to adjust the settings but they stay locked in until you change them again whether you have your phone on you or not.

The only concern I have is the 8/10 rating on reliability. Does that refer to the number of times it fails to stop the trailer as it should, or does that mean it is likely to break sooner than, say, a Prodigy P-3. Breaking is one thing, not braking is something else all together! Thanks.

I bought the CURT Echo to pull a 23 ft dual axle travel trailer. My 1st trip with it I traveled 400 miles. After 300 miles we were going through San Bernardino the Echo app on my phone had an alarm saying Electrical overload check trailer wiring at that point it quit working. I got to my destination & asked a friend to hook up to my trailer to check trailer brakes. They worked fine with truck. Icalled etrailer & told them what had happened & They promptly sent a replacement CURT Echo. I connected the replacement & it worked. However on the return trip after about 100 miles we had bumper to bumper traffic and got the same alert on the phone. For some reason they overheat or over load in stop & go traffic. Seems like a good idea but they need some work.

You might want to warn potential buyers that this unit does not like motorhomes. I have a 36 ft Tiffin Red, and once you settle into the drivers seat, you lose all communications with the controller. Repeat calls to Curt left me scratching my head with no clear resolution. Now Im stuck owning a very expensive paper weight.

How dose this apply the brakes? Does this have a brake-away system?

I bought one of these to use in the motorhome so I didnt have to wire up a box into that already complicated wiring. My coach is 40 long and this controller doesnt work for me in this environment and as of the last phone call to them Curt didnt offer a repeater for the controller to give the reach I needed. I loved using it on a friends vehicle that didnt have a box controller but needed to figure out why it wasnt supplied power to the 7 pin that this runs on. Most vehicles that have the 7 pin connector but did not come with the brake controller need a couple of fuses or relays installed before this will work. It isnt necessarily plug and play in every vehicle with the 7 pin. Workable...yes if you know how to troubleshoot. Was NOT usable in my RV which is why I bought it.

I agree it’s easy to steal, because someone stole mine! I got another one and Bluetooth didn’t work on it, so I had to send it back. A third one I’m using now makes the trailer lights cut in and out intermittently it’s not the harness or the truck because it only does it when the Curt is connected. I emailed Curt support about this and never received a response. So yes, it’s convenient and works reasonably well, but is easy to steal, seems to have an anecdotally high failure rate, and support is lacking.

What if I lose service

Will this work with my CarPlay,music and gps

I own one and love it. It is the best way to go.

John, I own a Curt Echo. It was sold to me by NIRV National Indoor RV, Atlanta Unfortunately the Unit is no good for my Class A 34’ Newmar NewAire. The Bluetooth signal does not reach through the coach back to the unit, unless I lean out of the window. Please advise folks of the unsuitability for even “short” Class A’s as mine. My Curt Echo is for sale. I hardwired a Tekonsha.