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This proportional brake controller keeps it simple with intuitive controls that are easy to use. Includes a large, digital LED display, 3 boost levels, battery protection, and continuous diagnostics.
Features:
Specs:
You can adjust the gain (also known as output) with the thumbwheel on the front of the controller. Gain lets you set the maximum amount of power that will be applied to your trailer's brakes. A heavier trailer will need more power to achieve smooth, safe braking, while a lighter trailer will need less. Typically, the gain is only readjusted when you experience changing road conditions or if the weight of your trailer changes.
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 gain. 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.
Safety Features
The Prodigy P2 offers key 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 P2 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 P2 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 P2, 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 P2 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 Prodigy P2 also offers diagnostics such as:
The self-leveling feature of the P2 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 P2 must be horizontally level and parallel with the direction of travel to work correctly.
Installation is a snap. After mounting the P2 unit in your cab using the included bracket, just plug the custom harness directly into your vehicle. The other end plugs into the brake controller. To remove the P2 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 (P7685 - sold separately), you can even transfer the Prodigy P2 to another vehicle.
Note: If you don't already have a 7-way plug at the back of your vehicle, take a look at our exclusive 7- and 4-way brake controller installation kit (ETBC7 - sold separately).
The Tekonsha Prodigy P2 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 P2 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.
Alternate Instructions
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
When it comes to choosing a brake controller, a lot of them are gonna look very much the same. And two of them that I really like are from Tekonsha. We have the Prodigy P2 and the Prodigy P3. So, they look very similar, but they do have quite a few differences and we're hoping to break that down, that way you can decide which one's best for you. Here we have our P3 installed and really it comes down to it has more bells and whistles than the P2, otherwise it's pretty much the same controller. The P3 does have a nicer/easier to use display.
It's a little bit more user friendly. It uses some icons here that, you know, show you a trailer and that way you know pretty quickly what boost level you're at and it's really easy to read. It's a nice digital display and you can change a lot of that. Also, it has a little bit more diagnostics. So as far as, instead of just having error code with the P2, this one will actually tell you exactly what it is and there's a host of diagnostics so that way you can look at it.
You won't have to troubleshoot the code by looking at the owner's manual. It'll tell you right away what's happening. The P3 is also really nice if you have a bunch of trailers in your fleet, you can set up presets, up to five of 'em, and that way when you hook up to said trailer, you can select that and it's gonna be preset to the boost settings and also the gain that you may have dialed in. That way you just hook up and you'll be ready to go. Multiple trailer settings are gonna be nice, especially if you have a work truck and you're hooking up to a bunch of different trailers, you can get that dialed in, but if you tow the same trailer over and over, or you know that you're only gonna have one trailer long term or maybe two, that's really not gonna be a function that is necessary.
Now with the P2 installed, you can see right away that the display is obviously not as fancy as the P3, but you again have all the same functionality. There are less buttons, so that kind of keeps it simple. If you just need a brake controller, this is a great option. You still have your power knob, you have your boost button, and you still have essentially the same manual override, which I do like on the Tekonshas, you have a nice modulation here. But really when it boils down to it, they are very, very similar.
The size is gonna be almost identical. They're gonna mount up the same, they're gonna install the same. Again, you have that same proportional here. They both work for one to four axles. They're both proportional. So pretty much the same thing, just more bells and whistles on the P3. If it's something that you're gonna wanna keep for a long time on your vehicle, a P3 is pretty sharp. I do like the display, and something to think about too, you can always take a brake controller from one vehicle to the next, so, but if you're just need to tow a trailer and you need a brake controller, P2 you're not gonna go wrong with. I just like the fact that there is diagnostics that are a little bit more straightforward with the P3. And if you're worried about if it's gonna work with your trailer, they're both gonna work with the same kinds of trailers. You can have electric brakes, you can have hydraulic brakes, it doesn't matter. These are gonna work with either one. So hopefully this video helps break down some of the similarities and differences to help you decide which Tekonsha Prodigy Brake Controller is gonna be best for your needs.
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars (3 Customer Reviews)
This proportional brake controller keeps it simple with intuitive controls that are easy to use. Includes a large, digital LED display, 3 boost levels, battery protection, and continuous diagnostics.This has been an amazing company to work with. Their chat (a live person!) had the correct list of products I needed for my truck. In less than 2 minutes. Their follow up and dates promised were on target-every time!! I've now used the brakes on 2 trips and they work correctly and are easy to adjust as needed. It has been a pleasure in every way to do business with etrailer!!
I purchased the brake controller and wiring harness from you all and installed it watching the video on your website. I followed the instructions to an absolute T. Got everything ready and tested the product and got an SH error code for the blue brake wire shorting out. I pinned and measured resistance and everything was coming back fine (4+ ohms resistance). I then hooked a power prope to it to find the short along the frame and nothing. I had power from the female connector all the way up to the brake controller. After 4 hours of troubleshooting, I found that the female trailer connector was shorted internally. See the attached picture. The blue and green ring terminals inside of the female trailer connector were touching. Replaced the trailer connector and now all is well.
This is the second one I purchased. The first was 10 years ago and installed in my 06 GMC. It has worked flawlessly allowing for safe and smooth stops from normal braking to a few of the panic stops that had to made over the years. The new owner of the truck likes the way it works too. I have multiple trailers and with one initial setup on the lightest trailer was able to tow all of them without changing anything but the boost setting to compensate for the different trailer weights.
When needing for a controller for my 07 Silverado there was no other unit that would fill the bill. This P2 looks the same except for the blue display instead of the red. The install took 20 minutes using the direct fit cable ordered with the controller. Setup was easy as with the first unit. I wanted the placement above the parking brake pedal so the OBD II connecter had to be moved. I did the same with the 06 GMC. It is a comfortable place to reach and it keeps the light away from the passenger's eyes at night.
As good as the Tekonsha controller is it is even a sweeter deal buying it from etrailer. The quick shipping, excellent pricing and knowledgeable staff are second to none in customer service.
Installed this in my 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport. I thought that I would add some input on installation that would help others.
I found a way to route the power distribution wires in the frame of the Jeep that did not require the use of a fish tape. If you look at the frame just behind the rear tire you will see a hole in the face of the frame. Start pushing the wire bundle foreword. It will rise up and over the U shaped frame portion of the rear axle and then down along the passenger compartment area. About there, you will be running out of pushing stiffness. Look for the wire bundle to appear at a similar hole in the frame in that area. Grab it a and pull out approximately 4 feet and then push it right back in the same hole going foreword. This time you will look for the wire bundle to appear at again a similar hole just foreword of the driver compartment. Now is the time to grab it and start heading up to the engine compartment outside the frame. Do the same procedure for the wire going aft for the plug end of the installation. For the wires going through the firewall, Jeep has conveniently added a nice foam lined hole to route wires through. You will see this hole position in the attached photo with a green wire coming through. The plastic cover around the steering column pulls down from the top and hinges at the bottom. Remove the metal plate with two bolts to get to the brake switch. Twist and pull the brake switch out foreword and go for the brown stripped wire as your brake circuit. Do order the LONG frame bracket adapter for the switch plug at the rear. To drill the steel for the supplied plug bracket just takes too long. Now that you have it installed you will notice that the power will remain on the unit after you turn the key off. Don't sweat this as it will not stay on long. I doubt a few milliamps draw is going to kill your battery!
The online video showing the installation of the Prodigy P2 trailer brake control into a 2011 Ford Ranger was excellent! It made the installation into my Ranger simple and straight forth.
I have yet to hook up to my travel Trailer and adjust it for brake setting, but all readout displays thus far are as stated in the instructions.
Having previously installed the trailer connector, I did not purchase the installation kit and in retrospect for cost effective and simplicity would recommend anyone to purchase the kit along with the controller.
I believe I am going to be very pleased with this product.
Thank you
Was plug and play after adding one 30 amp fuse to the under hood fuse panel that we already anticipated.
very nice controller, very smooth and you don't have to mount it flat!! e trailer is the best company i ever worked with. they have pics, video, email support(exellent) and just flat out make it easy for you to do it yourself instead of paying some dirt bag $300 to install at your local trailer shop. i also installed kit #ETBC7 and once agian it was awesome. COMPLETE with DETAILED directions. i'm not a mechanic or hack employee at local trailer shop....BUT dealing with etrailer and there parts made my install very easy and CLEAN!!!
I had a Prodigy P2 controller in my last pickup and was really pleased with it. So wanted to install the same thing in my newer truck Everything worked smoothly on installation. Made the necessary adjustments to controls after hooking to the trailer and it works great!
I called eTrailer on a Sunday afternoon and customer service picked up the phone on the first ring. Brandy helped me select the right harness adapter for my Tekonsha trailer brake. I got an email that the package arrived before I even checked the mail. I was able to install the set in about ten minutes. Awesome service, all other retailers should be this good!
Very easy to install and setup. Came with very simple instructions and my old controller bracket was the exact same as this one!
Shipping was fast, the controller was easy to install and the etrailer wiring harness made it easy to complete the installation
I didn’t have a good location that was reachable while driving so I mounted the controller on top of the dash. I leveled the bracket with a spacer and ran the harness by an access panel. I used about 70’ of the duplex wire due to running the cable to front and then back to the house batteries inside the coach.
The access panel made it easy to make the connections and run the wires through the firewall.
I mounted the 40 AMP and 30 AMP circuit breakers up front in the main fuse panel box. I drilled a hole through the box and firewall to run the wires from the brake controller to the breaker and to the blue wire for the tow connection at the back of the coach.
I ran the battery connections to my house batteries up front instead of using the engine batteries in the back.
I found the brake connection wire under the coach in front directly below the brake pedal.
I mounted the converter in a beam in the back with lots of zip ties
The plug adapter worked well and made installation easy. However I tried to reach out to Robert S at etrailer to find out what to do about an annoying rattling noise that it makes driving down the road when the road is not perfectly smooth. Even light irregularities in the pavement causes the brake controller switch to rattle. I have not heard anything back from Robert S at etrailer.com. So I sent a "1" rating on the brake controller switch because of this annoying rattling noise. I'm about to just disconnect it and leave it in the glove box and connect it back when or if I ever need it. Any comments?
Great product, very easy install especially with the OEM harness. In about an hour had it installed and trailer set up with controller. Thanks,
Greg
Used in conjunction with harness kit for my 2002 tundra, this year has no provisions for towing trailer with electric brakes.
The controler itself has proven itself nicely, with no issues with installation or use, adjust easily.
The mounting location I chose may have some slight interference issues with legs on taller people, but I have not had any @ 5'11". The truck is a midsized so room is more limited. I'm towing a tandem 14' trialer with 4 seat RZR, tracking and stopping is perfect, even under hard breaking.
Installed hundreds of various controllers, by far the best mounting bracket I have used for them!!
I was a bit surprised by slow shipping and poor tracking but it finally made it so I'm a happy camper in the end. I expect this P2 to last. It's a duplicate of one in another truck, first purchased in 2005, and migrated to second and third trucks in the almost two decades since. That one's still working perfectly but now that I'm at a point with two trucks in my fleet I didn't want to swap it back and forth and have tweak gain. That's more about me than the product I suppose but it gives an idea that it's solid product all the same. As for etrailer service I admit I was a little disappointed but stuff happens so I'm over it.
I have a Tekonsha controller on my 2001 Chevy Silverado and it worked like a charm for over 18 years.I'm sure that the new Prodigy P2 will do the same.
I recently bought a 2018 Chevy Silverado LTZ. It was equipped with a towing package but no brake controller. Not wanting to alter the interior of the truck too much, I called etrailer for advice. Robert S was very helpful. He suggested the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 brake controller and jumper wire that I was able to hide neatly under the dash using an existing screw. I have been very pleased with etrailer and their suggested product.
Great Brake Controller, used it with the Universal Install Kit for Brake Controllers and No-Drill Mount Bracket, Short - 18140. It only took me 2.5hrs to have it fully installed in my Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 2013. Videos were great. Also having some 1/4in water tubing helped for phishing wire thru frame.
Wish I had watched the video a couple of times before buying and also purchased the extra wire to go from the battery to the brake controller, but had extra wire from another project that worked.
This brake controller works great as we tow a <3500lbs Travel Trailer with our Jeep.
Comes with a great card that helps with settings, keep it in the glove box for future reference.
Brilliant design, I used on a 2019 Honda Ridgeline, so just plug and play.
Great Brake Controller This was my first time using a brake controller and installing one as well. The directions were easy to follow for both the install and setup.
2012 Ram
I ordered this brake controller about a week ago and received it today (4-18-20).
Im always working on things and my old lady gets bored, so today was sort of our day! Well i decided id make a bet, 20 bucks i can have it installed in 15 minutes!! She agreed and the race was on!! I ran out, grabbed my drill, a small drill bit, a hex head bit, and got to work! I opted for the removable bracket for worry somebody may break in and steal it.
It marked two holes, drilled them with a very small bit, and then screwed the proveded screws in, i then popped the brake controller in, ran the wiring ( sepratly provided
by etrailer.com, for my specific vehicle, a 2004 gmc yukon)above everything to the plug box under the dash, plugged it in, put the cover back on, and wallah!! 15 minutes exactly!
This thing looks great, works great, and is priced great!
I know this isn’t a pic of the item, BUT it wouldn’t have been possible without. Plug and Play. I bought this because we bought a trailer from a dealer and they required the truck to have trailer brakes. This plugs in under dash, if your truck has 7 pin. I did it without checking to make sure it was activated. Went to dealer, 130 miles away and 4000 feet in elevation to pu trailer. As I was pulling out and first hit brakes the trailer locked up. (There is an adjustment device, that purchased separately, or in a kit pugs into wiring harness that plugs into truck to activate trailer brakes). So I adjusted it and everything worked beautifully. Oh my gosh I have pulled trailers for years but never a TT. Tons of car trailers but never with brakes. Brakes are awesome when going over passes of 5k elevation.
THIS COMPANY ROCKS. The only issues I have had with this company is my own ordering fault. I have used them for years and indirect people to them.
THANK YOU.
I installed this model 90885 Prodigy P2 Brake Controller using the ETBC7 Brake Controller Wiring Kit on my 2007 Dodge Nitro. On a scale of 1 to 10, I consider myself about an 8 where it comes to automotive mechanical and electrical work. I also strive to get as close to perfection as possible. To do the job right, it did take some time and it did require paying close attention to the directions for both the wiring kit and the controller. However, the directions were "right on", and all the needed "goodies" to do the job were furnished. My hat is off to ETRAILER for the informative videos they provide and their customer service, which includes very quick shipments of their products.
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