First Camper Trailer

So my wife and I plan on buying a camper this weekend. It weighs approx. 3700lbs. I just had new brakes installed on my 2008 tundra and was wondering how does a trailer with brakes work. I read about the prodigy brake controller but how does that communicate with the trailer? The wire harness on the Tundra connects to the prodigy and I assume the round connector by the hitch is what communicates but not sure. If anyone can explain that would be greatly appreciated.

 

First off you need to use a cable and harness system on the truck that mates to the trailer wiring completely enough to send a brake control voltage to the trailer.
Just having the right connectors between the two does not always mean that a brake control signal can be sent as sometimes the truck is not wired entirely as it might seem and without the control wire,no braking.

The Brake Control sends a voltage down the wire in the harness to the trailer brakes and the brakes activate based on that voltage.
There are different types of controllers and the early and now cheaper ones send a fixed voltage basically that you can set from the control but that is not always in any way related to the braking that the trailer/truck combo needs at any time,just a constant set voltage.

The better controls and they are not too pricey really send a signal proportional to the brake pedal pressure you are applying to the vehicle at any given time.....in theory at least.
So the harder you brake the truck the harder they brake the trailer.
This is what you want.

The Prodigy and in fact all of the Tekonsha brand controls are widely accepted as the best of these and work great for me and everyone that I know that uses one.

There is also a lever on the controls that let you apply added brake as needed in case you need to panic stop for example or want to use the trailer brakes independent of the truck brakes for controlling sway for example which can be really handy too.

Does that answer the question?
This is without going into much detail of course too.

 

I have a Tekonsh P2.

You buy the brake controller and the harness that connects it to your Tundra. Then your camper to the 7 way plug on the back of your Tundra. If everything is communicating properly, then the display on my P2 shows “C”. I think when it is not connected or not communicating correctly, then it shows either “n” or “na”.

You can also test this by applying the brakes manually on the controller with the lever. While driving slowly, apply the manual brakes on the controller and you should feel the camper slow you down. You don’t want it to fully lock harshly, but you do want it to be able to slow the camper and truck down without using the truck’s brakes. There are YouTube videos you can watch about adjusting the camper’s brakes at the drum and adjusting the power at the brake controller.

Good luck and congrats.

 

Thank you guys that’s what I wanted to hear. So I checked the 7 way plug and mine was really corroded and actually a pin broke off since it was so corroded. I called the dealer and they have 1 in stock so getting a new one today. I just hope I can get the rusted bolts off.

 

make sure to soak the new one in dielectric grease so that doesnt happen again

 

What make and model? Looks like about what my wife and I are looking for.

 

2005 keystone zeppelin 2, 24’ long

 

Do you need the brake controller harness? I have one.

 

looks like you could use some airbags in the rear, to level out when towing.

 

Sweet! What does a trailer like this cost?

 

My wife and I paid $5600 for it.

 

We'll start shopping soon. We have two children under 5 and staying in hotels isn't easy.