tekonsha

luvmytab

OK, decided to get Tekonsha proportional brake controller.....39510    and the custon wiring adapter  3041-P
Total cost is $99.03.  Proportional is more expensive but it is newer technology than the time delays and make for a less bumpier experience.. I will have my son ground the one wire. The mechanics wanted $180 ( i provide brake controller) all the way up to $350. Ordered through E-trailer who were very helpful.
I feel the mechanics were trying to rip me off since I had so much in place already to install it. Hope I am making the right choice!!

atlasb

Got the Tekonsha P3 and vehicle specific harness also from etrailer.com.  Great people to do business with.  Installed in a snap.  Waiting for the new T@B to get in and try it out.  Our current T@B has surge brakes.

dsatwork

I use the P3 and couldn't be happier. However on the Sorento there was no snap-in wiring for the brake controller. There was however a easy connection for the 4pin trailer wiring. So I did the install on the hitch and 4 pin and the 7 pin and the brake controller all in one night at my friend auto shop on his lift. Even with that it was 6 hours work, but the hitch install with all of this would have cost hundreds. I think they wanted $350 controller install and $150 hitch and never got a quote for running the power for the 7 pin, it may have been a small adder with the controller power.

ScottG

@luvmytab, I did the same thing you did. It was the same controller the dealer was going to install, and I was more than happy to do it myself and save a few bucks in the process.

I'm curious to hear your opinion of the Voyager 39510 controller. I've never really been able to adjust mine to eliminate grabbing at the last minute when coming to a slow stop. The problem seems a little worse when I'm pointed downhill. I'm not sure if the issue lies in the controller or the brakes themselves, but it's aggravating enough that I keep my controller dialed pretty far back most of the time.

I've gotten a few insights here, but since most seem to like the more spendy Tekonshas, there aren't many opportunities to compare real-world notes.  

ericnliz

@ScottG, Both mine do the same thing as far as the "grabbing" goes ( and they're different manufacturers, one in the Chevy P/U, and one in the Avalanche ) I also have to "dial" mine back quite a ways. They are REALLY finicky to adjust, and patience preservers when you're trying to adjust. just curious, what do you have for a TV? Seems to me, the bigger the TV, the easier it is for the T@B brakes to grab like that.  

ScottG

Thanks, Eric. Do you have the same controller? (See below.) I'm towing with a Nissan Frontier V6. It's not huge, but it's plenty substantial for the T@B.

ericnliz

@ScottG, First of all, thanks for makin' me go look!  I was wrong, they are BOTH Tekonsha controllers, just different models.
My Avalanche has the Tekonsha Voyager (same one you have pictured ) came with the Avalanche factory tow package.
My Chevy P/U has the Tekonsha Primus IQ Model #90160 ( installed by my dealer ) when we bought the T@B.
That being said, BOTH are real touchy to adjust, just the same.

wizard1880

I also get that strong brake surge just before the stop, with the Tekonsha P3.  I've found dialing the power back a bit helps out somewhat.  If it feels that it reduces braking overall too much, you can try "BOOST 1" or "2", which causes the brakes to grab earlier and harder, to compensate.

It just takes time and patience to get it all set up the first time.

dsatwork

wizard1880 said:

I also get that strong brake surge just before the stop, with the Tekonsha P3.  I've found dialing the power back a bit helps out somewhat.  If it feels that it reduces braking overall too much, you can try "BOOST 1" or "2", which causes the brakes to grab earlier and harder, to compensate.

It just takes time and patience to get it all set up the first time.

I too had the same experience with my P3 and dialed it back to 65% which seems to resolve the problem nicely. I will keep in my your trick to dial back further and increase to b1 if needed.

Ratkity

@datswork ditto with the P3. Works great putting it on Boost 2 and dialing it back some (rem, I'm hauling a lot more weight than the T@B with Retro Toy Hauler).

Photomom

The Tekonsha P3 manual has instructions so you can set the power level properly. No grabbing! I assume other controllers have similar procedures. 

luvmytab

Update, I took advice here and got the Tekonsha brake controller  from etrailer...with the wiring adapter so I did not have to have dealer install for $200 to $300 (quotes by mechanics). My son will install and it only has to be ground with a simple screw. Wish me luck....will let you know. PS: parts got lost in the mail and Troy at e-trailer accomodated me so I could get a new one expedited without waiting the 2 week processing time they usually follow for lost packages.

3041-P	Tekonsha Custom Wiring Adapter for Trailer Brake Controllers - Toyota	1	$15.09
39510	Tekonsha Voyager Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional	1	$78.95
Shipping: Economy Shipping 4.99: Sales Tax: Total:			$4.99 $0.00 $99.0

pthomas745

The second time I took the T@b for a drive my brakes were tugging and pulling...so I learned all about the setup process on the Tekonsha P2.  Now I go through that little setup process at the start of each trip, just to make sure the setup hasn't changed.  I wonder if the controllers vibrate themselves out of whack a bit while driving without a trailer attached.