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Any feedback on this curt brake controller

Tanners Owner

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I have a gas 21 Sport S with max tow pkg. I’ll likely be towing a small trailer with some household goods and am looking for a convenient brake controller & this sparked my interest. Anyone have thoughts on this? Thanks in advance
Curt Echo Wireless Brake Controller - 7-Way Plug Mount w/ Bluetooth App - 1 to 2 Axle - Proportional

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Br...ladiator/2021/C51180.html?VehicleID=202170678
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Jobofly

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I use it and it does well. I do wish I installed the factory brake controller though.
 
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Tanners Owner

Tanners Owner

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Curious why you wish you had the factory installed one- ease of use, convenient, looks, performance?
I use it and it does well. I do wish I installed the factory brake controller though.
 

Jobofly

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Ease of use. The Curt is a pain because it can come loose. It comes with a strap to secure it but it doesn’t last.
 
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Tanners Owner

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^^^Thanks

anyone else?
 

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^^^Thanks

anyone else?
I’ve been using it for a couple years. No big issues yet. Yes, it’s loose fitting in the connector, but I haven’t had it come disconnected. I think it’s a good option if you’re not towing a lot and don’t want to modify your interior. I only tow a boat a camper during the warm weather. Maybe 8 times a year.
I did try installing the OEM controller but broke it in the process. Long story.
I went with the curt because I needed something quick for a trip. It’s been working so l stuck with it.
 
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^^thanks
 

Jrhz06

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Been using it for a few years. No issues and like the convenience of not having to get a new controller when i change vehicles. The strap they provide is pretty useless so i use a velcro strap to secure the controller, works perfectly.
 

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My suggestion would be that if you go with that, get the button you can get for it to use in case you need to apply trailer brakes only. Otherwise, there's no emergency button like with almost any other controller unless you have your phone up and running the app with the button on the screen.
Yes, people who have towed enough, often enough, and in enough different environments and places will say - you may need to apply the trailer brakes only.
This won't allow that without the app or that button you stick on the dash. (wireless, of course)
I'll never tow without the ability to apply the trailer brakes by themselves.
There's a reason the others have that ability - and that Curt sells that as an option contrary to what others may say "you never need such a thing".
I've even applied trailer brakes only to maneuver into and out of really tight spaces. (and also check the trailer brakes, etc. that way)

Now here we'll go with the "naw, you never need that because I've never needed it" and such things.

Like anything else, there's pros and cons.
Curt has been in the towing equipment business for a long time so no worries about them being some cheap startup company.

I simply put a trailer brake controller in any vehicle I plan on towing with. It's not hard, not that expensive considering it's safety equipment.
I've always wondered how that Echo would work with a camper pulling pretty high amperage through that power pin back there since the Echo must use that same wire to power the trailer brakes and some brakes pull some decent amperage on their own. Would it blow a fuse if my camper battery was low and the camper was pulling a fair draw then I needed to apply full trailer braking and the trailer brake controller suddenly pulled power from that same line to apply trailer brakes? It has no other choice so it's a shared wire at some point.
 

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I used it for two years and put thousands of miles on my TT with it. Worked every time without issue. I ultimately installed the mopar controller because i wanted to be able to not have my phone screen on all the time to access the emergency button.

its a great controller, but you can get the mopar one for nearly the same price and its a VERY easy install.
 

whiteglad

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I have used the inexpensive, hardwired Curt Venturer 51110 and 51120 Discovery with harness 51527. They work fine. 51458 harness works if you swap blue and black leads at the connector to the vehicle harness.
 

legacy_etu

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I have the Curt and it works fine. Three things though, you have to keep the phone running and the app on so you can access the trailer brake activate button and the pairing process has shown to be not the smoothest. Then the strap they provide isn’t the best but that’s easily fixed with a Velcro strap. Mine has stayed put and have had no issues. I’m going to be installing the Redarc in my Mojave when it comes in though since I want the button on the dash all the time and don’t want to worry about having the app on and accessibility. Good unit overall though.
 
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I saw on YouTube the tight positioning of the Mopar controller under the steering wheel lower dash- was it difficult/ frustrating? Any recommendations for install/ tools to do this?
I used it for two years and put thousands of miles on my TT with it. Worked every time without issue. I ultimately installed the mopar controller because i wanted to be able to not have my phone screen on all the time to access the emergency button.

its a great controller, but you can get the mopar one for nearly the same price and its a VERY easy install.
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