Which Brake Controller Style is the Best

Expert Reply:

The best brake controller will depend on your towing situation. If you only tow occasionally and are not towing very heavy loads, a time delayed brake controller like part # 5504 is a good option that will be less expensive and serve you well. The time delayed models apply the same amount of stopping power each time you stop so it needs to be set for each trailer and the setting needs to be changed when the trailer or the load changes.

If you tow more often or tow heavy loads, then a proportional brake controller like the Prodigy P2 brake controller, part # 90885, is the way to go. The proportional controller senses the amount of braking to apply by how quickly the tow vehicle is stopping and applies the correct amount of pressure which reduces wear on the braking system by spreading the breaking power evenly between the vehicle and the trailer.

I would recommend a proportional controller so that if your towing needs change in the future you will not wish you had bought the better controller to begin with. You may also want to select a controller that has settings for towing multiple trailers, like the Prodigy P-3 brake controller, part # 90195.

You can compare the installation procedures for the units I recommended at the links provided.