Where would you put your trailer brake controller?

[Marlinvx]

Yep. I was skeptical a couple of years ago, but it’s been perfect. Zero complaints and I have multiple vehicle/trailer combination profiles stored.

Other than initial setup, does the phone have to be connected to it? I am not sure what frequency of bluetooth it uses, but my phone is connected to my watch and the truck. Not sure if I can have more than that connected at once? I know if I want to connect to my rock light controller, I had to disconnect from either the truck or my watch.

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[WILDHOBO]

Other than initial setup, does the phone have to be connected to it? I am not sure what frequency of bluetooth it uses, but my phone is connected to my watch and the truck. Not sure if I can have more than that connected at once? I know if I want to connect to my rock light controller, I had to disconnect from either the truck or my watch.

Nope. You can lose your phone. It’s only required for setting changes.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Nope. You can lose your phone. It’s only required for setting changes.

Right. I had the exact same concern, “What if I lose signal or even lose my phone?!.” Not to worry.

The only thing I did worry about on the long trip is it would be quite easy to steal. I doubt too many know what it is other than once installed it look funny because it’s long. It comes with sort of rubber strap to keep it from falling off on the road. But I wasn’t all that impressed with that feature and kept checking it at every gas or rest stop. Never came loose but I worried anyway because yeah, I’m “that guy”. Ha ha.

 

[Marlinvx]

I just ordered one, I have a tekonsha P3 from my last gladiator, but there is no great place to put it. I only tow heavy over any distance 3 or 4 times a year. I think this will be much better for what I am doing with it. I looked at the button add on, but same issue, app must be running in foreground for it to work, that defeats the purpose.

 

[Jaxmax]

Any trailer brake controller should have the emergency button that can be reached by your passenger if possible,.We had a long ,long down hill in a Tahoe towing our Whaler with surge brakes fishtailing across two lanes, I realized it was swaying back and forth but was staying sort of straight but if I hit the brakes at the wrong instant we would be done, tractor trailer followed us all the way down the hill going across the lanes to keep other cars back.
Trucker and us talked at the bottom he said,I did the right thing, the next right things were airbags in rear, the electric over hydraulic trailer brakes. Problem was soft rear, some firewood for camping and speed it didn't happen until we were doing 60, I could not take my hand off the steering wheel to hit a button that wasn't there anyway. So if Curt has an optional emergency button I would buy it, I have never put a brake controller where it is hard to reach, left of steering wheel or can't be hit by my screaming wife!....jack

 

[legacy_etu]

Yep. I was skeptical a couple of years ago, but it’s been perfect. Zero complaints and I have multiple vehicle/trailer combination profiles stored.

Yeah, I picked one up too. I did have issues where my phone wouldn’t connect to it no matter what I tried. I eventually got my iPad and that worked seamlessly. Went for a drive to set it up and that went well. Heading to Maine tomorrow on our first trip with it.

Not happy about the fact that I need to have my IPad with me in order to have access to the manual override button. I will probably try syncing my wife’s phone with it at some point tomorrow.

 

[Bananaman]

So, I went in this direction, following some of the advice I got here. It's not for the faint of heart; you have to be spot on while drilling the hole and there's a fair amount of support plastic on the back side you need to trim away.
Best of both worlds. It's close to hand for emergencies and I still use a GPS that requires a 12v outlet.

 

[kickingaz]

I was recently debating the same question because I was about to drive from SoCal to Seattle to pick up my nephew's new 16 ft. enclosed trailer and tow it back to Central CA.

I opted for for this Curt brake controller and it works fantastic for a 1000 mile tow. It's pricey but no more so than if I'd had one permanently installed on my truck.

Also, it is available if someone borrows your trailer and has a truck without a brake controller.

 

[Trailman]

I got the Redarc with the circular mount add-on to fit in the 12v. In two years I've never used the 12v plug, and I still have one in the rear if I want it. Looks great in that spot. With all the plugs on these things I don't know why people want to hang on to an extra 12v on the dash, but hey, we've all got options for us.

 

[Bbannongmu]

I put my Curt controller on the left side of the steering wheel.

 

[Elff]

Curt Echo for me as well.
This is what I tow

and this is where I put my O-shit add on Button

 

[Gladgobi22]

Right. I had the exact same concern, “What if I lose signal or even lose my phone?!.” Not to worry.

The only thing I did worry about on the long trip is it would be quite easy to steal. I doubt too many know what it is other than once installed it look funny because it’s long. It comes with sort of rubber strap to keep it from falling off on the road. But I wasn’t all that impressed with that feature and kept checking it at every gas or rest stop. Never came loose but I worried anyway because yeah, I’m “that guy”. Ha ha.

Thinking about going the Echo route as well but I am sure I'll check it every chance I get. Found this as an possible option - it ain't pretty but would ease the worry? (YT video):

Curt Echo wireless brake controller clamp to hold device in tv recepticle

 

[cgm]

i considered the echo but ended up going with the mopar one. It performs very well, when I brake i can't tell the trailer is there when it is on the right setting. 3.5 on the dash controller works perfectly when towing my 3500 lb (unlloaded) camper. In the mountains in VT, I bumped it up to 4, but could feel the camper brake harder than my jeep going down hill... it was weird. I bumped back to my usual setting and it was great. I have needed to make a couple of panic stops and it was stress free.

At some point, I will try to relocate the 12 volt plug... but I really don't have a need to do it any time soon.

 

[tamu12th]

Right. I had the exact same concern, “What if I lose signal or even lose my phone?!.” Not to worry.

Other than initial setup, does the phone have to be connected to it? I am not sure what frequency of bluetooth it uses, but my phone is connected to my watch and the truck. Not sure if I can have more than that connected at once? I know if I want to connect to my rock light controller, I had to disconnect from either the truck or my watch.

I agree with all, no phone needed for active operation. The phone is used for setup, adjustments, changing profiles, and has the panic button. You would have to leave the phone screen open and handy (and charging for long hauls) if you want the button feature to be realistically available. There is also the available add on external button. I do not mess with either. I only open the Curt app to do my token brake test in the driveway before the journey. I use a WDH and feel like the Echo is dialed in. You can feel the brakes working when set up properly.

The Echo has an accelerometer that brakes according to inertia (or something like that) rather than the brake petal exclusively. The pedal activates the brake, but it senses how hard to brake based on your braking situation. When I press the brake, I feel perhaps a slight delay at times before the trailer brakes kick in, sometimes no delay at all. I am not sure if it is an actual delay or just sensing how hard to brake for a moment. If I have the app on, the brake indicator lights up right away, I assume thus indicating an instant brake. Anyone else experience this?

Asking for everyone's opinion:
I have always set my trailer brake controllers to where I feel like the trailer is braking slightly harder than the vehicle brakes.
A) I figure the trailer is less likely to jack knife that way because it is "slowing the vehicle" also.
B) I use my trailer a lot less than the tow vehicle, so I would rather wear out the trailer brakes than my TV. Realistically I wont keep the trailer long enough to ever have to worry about brake pad changes.
C) I like to feel the trailer brakes working
D) Maybe that is just how the old man taught me how to do it
How does everyone set up their controller "feel"?

Another question. What is the difference between Max Output and Sensitivity setting? I don't know the difference, so I adjust the settings until I like the feel.

 

[tamu12th]

I forgot to post a pic, just for fun. The Curt Echo handles the RV like a champ.

This pic was before I added the airlift bags and adjusted the WDH to help the squat. Also before I adjusted the hitch to level the trailer. Also before the drought gremlins killed all green stuff in a 200 miles radius. Also I am annoyed that the forum does not allow .heic pics so I had to convert this to jpeg first.

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