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Brake controllers.

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by Dakota53, Jul 8, 2016.

  1. Jul 8, 2016 at 7:38 AM
    #1
    Dakota53

    Dakota53 [OP] New Member

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    I just bought a RV Trailer. and I want to install a brake controller. Anyone have suggestions on which brake controller are good.
     
  2. Jul 8, 2016 at 7:57 AM
    #2
    T-Rex266

    T-Rex266 Elon approved Staff Member

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    Welcome. Do some exploring around the towing section.
     
  3. Jul 8, 2016 at 3:50 PM
    #3
    joonbug

    joonbug °°°°°°°°°°

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  4. Jul 8, 2016 at 5:50 PM
    #4
    LOTSOFTOYS

    LOTSOFTOYS Toyota Whisperer

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    Plenty of threads on this
     
  5. Nov 25, 2016 at 5:06 PM
    #5
    balou

    balou Texas Tundra

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    Tekonosha brake contoller is excellent. If you read forum seems to be go to controller for tundra. I have one on an 06 dodge cummins and i like alot more than the factory on 2016 tundra. Thinking about installing one in my tundra
     
  6. Nov 25, 2016 at 9:38 PM
    #6
    computeruser6

    computeruser6 Gott Mit Uns

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  7. Nov 25, 2016 at 10:35 PM
    #7
    balou

    balou Texas Tundra

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    You have a 2014. There is a truck vendor that sells the panel that replaces panel section where tc and tow mode switches are activated. It looks like factory install actually mounted on yout dash panel. Not sure of name esp truck specialties but if you look around on this site you can find it
     
  8. Nov 25, 2016 at 10:39 PM
    #8
    joonbug

    joonbug °°°°°°°°°°

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    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  9. Nov 25, 2016 at 10:44 PM
    #9
    joonbug

    joonbug °°°°°°°°°°

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  10. Nov 26, 2016 at 9:11 AM
    #10
    havasubud

    havasubud Owner ESP Truck Accessories Vendor

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  11. Nov 26, 2016 at 7:04 PM
    #11
    felixth

    felixth New Member

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    Nothing yet :)
    I have same set up as junebug and it looks almost factory......good choice all way around.
     
  12. Jan 21, 2017 at 8:14 AM
    #12
    lehminh

    lehminh New Member

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    Does the OEM brake controller not work in any Tundra or is it hit and miss? If it's all, then class action lawsuit to get Toyota to fix/pay to replace?

    I may get an RV trailer in the summer. Any way to test out theOEM controller ahead of time to see if I need to replace the controller?
     
  13. Jan 21, 2017 at 8:51 AM
    #13
    Duke_26

    Duke_26 New Member

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    Ok, so I let my P3 go with my '12 Tundra when I traded it for the '17 since it came with the factory brake controller. I have a 30' travel trailer, but have not towed it with the new truck yet to see how the factory brake controller works with it.

    Couple of questions, what seems makes the factory brake controller so bad? and second, if I find I don't like the factory controller once I've tried it and decide to go back to another P3 with the ESP panel, does the truck recognize the P3 in the instrument cluster screen?

    Has anyone replaced the factory controller with a P3? Is there still a connector by the kick panel?
     
  14. Jan 21, 2017 at 9:01 AM
    #14
    balou

    balou Texas Tundra

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    I get best results with hydraulic setup. I saw on etrailers that you can install ps3. Just disconnect battery for about 5 min to clear code. But to my understanding you loose the trailer display on your dash screen. Alot of issues with running electric setting. Works fine with manual adjust but just doesnt seem to work as good when on auto
     
    Duke_26 likes this.
  15. Jan 21, 2017 at 9:26 AM
    #15
    lehminh

    lehminh New Member

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    According to this vid, haudraulic is great except when slowly backing up because you are applying braking:
    https://youtu.be/wKZGP4gVGvI
     
  16. Jan 21, 2017 at 10:00 AM
    #16
    balou

    balou Texas Tundra

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    On the tundra you have 2 settings on oem brake controller. Electric and electric over hydraulic. I tow a 7000lb. trailer and have found that electric over hydraulic gives the trailer better braking than just electric. The brakes on my trailer are electric. But for me I have found that electric over hydraulic gives me better braking than just electric setup. Going in to dealer for 1st service and I am going to ask why. Alot of tundra owners are doing this because electric set-up just doesnt seem to work properly.
     
    Duke_26 likes this.
  17. Jan 21, 2017 at 10:58 AM
    #17
    lehminh

    lehminh New Member

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    So the OEM controller works for you?
     
  18. Jan 21, 2017 at 11:18 AM
    #18
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    There are several threads on this. Mine works, many don't. Test it thoroughly before you are in traffic or on a mountain grade.
     
  19. Jan 21, 2017 at 11:21 AM
    #19
    balou

    balou Texas Tundra

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    It works best on hydraulic over electric. The electric setting alone just doesn't seem to work as well. Its due its first service at dealer in a few weeks. I will inform dealership of issues. The electric setting seems to be an issue for most tundra oem controllers.
     
  20. Mar 29, 2017 at 6:37 AM
    #20
    PapaRoe

    PapaRoe New Member

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    I'm new here, and just purchased a 2015 Crewmax, without the OEM brake controller. We are planning on purchasing a 20-24 foot TT. I've read the mixed reviews on the OEM unit. Can anyone who has one of the aftermarket units answer the question posted by Duke_26? I have the same question: does the aftermarket unit display in the instrument cluster?
     
  21. Mar 29, 2017 at 8:05 AM
    #21
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    Nope, doesn't display on the instrument screen. My 2015 also came without the controller but I installed the factory one since the 2015's do have the complete harness and program. Some people who have done this don't believe that the controller is working correctly, some do. For me, it seems to work fine
     
    040Tundra, PapaRoe, MakMurph and 2 others like this.
  22. Mar 29, 2017 at 8:11 AM
    #22
    havasubud

    havasubud Owner ESP Truck Accessories Vendor

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    If you get rid of the factory controller and go with the P3, it will not show up on the display. When installing you need to have the battery disconnected otherwise you will get an error on the display. The plug is right behind the panel on the dash. You will actually use the same plug for the factory controller. Using the electric over hydraulic seems to be the setting that works the best, but you should not have to do that.
     
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  23. Mar 29, 2017 at 11:49 AM
    #23
    PapaRoe

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    Well thanks for the display answer. Now I just need to decide which direction I want to go, OEM or P3.
     
  24. Mar 29, 2017 at 11:59 AM
    #24
    gosolo

    gosolo You Don’t Know Who I Am But I Know Where You Live

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    Yeah, OEM is awesome but iffy. I was really relieved when mine worked cause all the problems cropped up after I had ordered it. I've heard that the P3 is bulletproof but can't vouch from personal experience. Another factor may exist if you tow frequently and are towing rigs of different weight and axle: have heard the P3 can have presets loaded and keeps you from having to make gain adjustments. Again, I'm not speaking from personal experience.
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  25. Mar 29, 2017 at 12:12 PM
    #25
    PapaRoe

    PapaRoe New Member

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    Thanks gosolo, I really like the idea of it showing up on the display in the instrument cluster, rather than taking my eyes off the road longer to look down at the tiny display on the P3. I'm not planing of pulling multiple trailers. In fact we haven't even purchased a TT, nor even look at one. However, our plan is to purchase a TT, so we can take our time traveling, and not having to worry about reservations. It's just the wife and I, with 25 pound dogs. So we are not planning on a 35' 5th wheel.
     
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  26. Mar 29, 2017 at 3:25 PM
    #26
    SOB

    SOB Big Member

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    My 2 cents. The P3 and P2 are identical hardware wise but the P3 has a fancier user interface and presets. I bought a P2 used on eBay for $45 with wiring harness (half price) and works great. If your going to pull a TT occasionally I don't think you can go wrong with the lower features of the P2. I set/check mine when I first leave and never look at it again on that trip.
     
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  27. Apr 12, 2017 at 5:27 PM
    #27
    rideandfly

    rideandfly New Member

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    Took the Tundra out today towing a 5000 pound travel trailer. Using the OEM controller, tried electric over hydraulic setting at #5 gain, it was too aggressive with the trailer brakes.

    Set it on electric brakes followed the operators manual, #10 gain is about right on my rig, with very aggressive brakes using manual control.

    The 5000 pound travel trailer has two 5200 pound capacity Dexter axles with four 12" electric drum brakes.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2017

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