Heavy trailer loads put additional stresses on your tow vehicles brakes. This added stress can, over time, lead to breakdown or failure. If you’re towing heavy or awkward loads, like an RV or tiny house, trailer brakes are highly recommended.
There is nothing more unnerving than trying to stop a heavy load while approaching a busy intersection full of traffic, and having your trailer pushing you forward from behind as your brakes struggle or fail to slow you down quickly enough. Trailer brakes help you avoid these stressful and extremely dangerous situations.
WE had our team test and review the best trailer brake controller models to keep you safe on the road. Here’s a quick look with our detailed reviews below.
Snapshot: The 5 Best Trailer Brake Controller Models – Short Reviews
Whenever you want to buy trailer brake controllers it’s important to check the reviews to help you in deciding which one to go for. Here are my top 5 picks of best trailer controller brakes:
| Product Name | Quality | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tekonsha Model 8507120 Brakeman IV | A | ||
| Tekonsha 90195 P3 Electronic | A+ | ||
| Tekonsha 90885 Prodigy P2 | A+ | ||
| Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF | A | ||
| Tekonsha 90160 Primus IQ | A+ |
| Product | Type | Display | Number of Axles | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tekonsha Model 8507120 Brakeman IV | Timed | LED | 1-4 | Limited lifetime |
| Tekonsha 90195 P3 | Proportional | LCD | 1-4 | Limited lifetime |
| Tekonsha 90885 Prodigy P2 | Proportional | LED | 1-4 | Limited lifetime |
| Tekonsha 90250 Prodigy RF | Proportional | LED | 1-3 | 15-year limited warranty |
| Tekonsha 90160 Primus IQ | Proportional | LED | 1-3 | 15-year labor warranty |
Two Main Types of Brake Controllers
Trailer brake controllers come in different types. They differ in several aspects such as appearance and even in their functionality. All these types of trailer brake controllers can be classified into two broad categories i.e. Proportional and time delayed brake controllers.
Time-Delayed Brake Controllers
Time delay brake controllers allow the driver to select how much braking force they want on the trailer. That force is generally arrived at by estimating how much the tow load is, and then setting the controller to compensate via the “Sync” function.
Because the force applied will be a static (the same amo