Brake Controller Question
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Printed Date: 17 May 2025 at 5:24am
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Topic: Brake Controller Question
Posted By: IrishDream
Subject: Brake Controller Question
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 11:37am
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Soon-To-Be New Rpod Owner- New to the travel trailering world, although Ive been trailering a Coleman pop-up camper a couple times a year for the past 5 years using my 2005 GMC SLT RWD/AWD equipped with a 7-wire trailer towing harness. My GMC Envoy does not have a brake controller installed at this time: However, based upon what I’m now reading, not only does it look like I should have been trailering my Coleman using a brake controller in the past; it definitely looks like I will need one to trailer our new Rpod. Picking up our new Rpod 179 next month from the dealership, which plans to install a Blu Ox Sway Pro weight distributing hitch for our 2005 GMC SLT. Can I have a brake controller installed at the RV dealership, or will I need to have one installed ahead of time at the GMC dealership? My sense is that the Rpod dealership probably assumesnmy GMC is already equipped with a brake controller because it knows I’ve been trailering the Coleman pop-up for some time. I apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge, but I’ve already found this Owners Forum to be of great assistance, and I look forward to participating meaningfully myself at some point in the near future. Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated, Thanks much, Jack Kelly 2019 1/2 10th Anniversary Rpod 179 2005 GMC Envoy SLT |
Replies:
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 12:12pm
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Either shop can probably do it, or any other shop that does RV work for that matter. Might want to get a couple of quotes. You'll want a proportional brake controller like a Tekonsha P2 or P3 or something similar. Or you can do it yourself, takes a couple of hours and you do have to crawl under the truck to run the wiring. Do you already have a 7 way trailer connector on the GMC? If not you'll need that installed too. If you have the rProd dealer do it and that's some distance away it might delay you getting back on the road quickly, so getting that done in advance might be wise. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 12:24pm
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Oh BTW, while you're (wisely) checking that you have everything up to speed on your tow vehicle for your new rPod, have you confirmed that your receiver is rated for the heavier trailer and also for use with a weight distribution hitch? ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: IrishDream
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 12:30pm
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Thanks much Offgrid! Great advice in terms of having it done ahead of time. 7 way trailer connector factory installed on the GMC. Have made a couple calls and looks like I can have a Curt Manufacturing controller installed here at a local qualified shop for $175, so that’s my plan. Being recently retired, I told my wife that this old man can’t wait to learn lots of new tricks! As it relates to our upcoming Rpod Purchase, I cant wait! Assume you like your 179? The rear kitchenette sold us. With most all the grandkids grown now, we decided we didn’t need anything more than a queen bed. Although we did opt for the Rdome also. Thanks again! |
Posted By: IrishDream
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 12:36pm
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Offgrid- No I have not, but I will now sir!
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Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 12:51pm
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Yep, the extra kitchen space was a big selling point for us. We can pull things out and leave them on the counter without cluttering the dining table and still have room for a dish drainer. I'm sure you'll enjoy yours. We never have more than the 2 of us and our Pomeranian sleeping in the trailer so no need to use the dinette area for anything but eating and sitting. No need for a larger bathroom for us, its not a room we spend any more time in that we need to  .The only issue for us as far as space is concerned is that the under trailer storage area is small. We use the back of the tow vehicle for that. Security on that stuff is one reason I prefer an SUV to a pickup as a tow vehicle. Don't know anything about the Curt brake controllers, maybe someone else on the forum does. The $175 installed is a great price. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 2:39pm
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I took a look at the Curt brake controllers. Avoid the Discovery and Venturer models because they appear to be time-based. If the description says "No leveling required" or "Mount at any angle", then it likely means it's not proportional. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: IrishDream
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 3:50pm
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Thanks Alan (aka TheBum) ! Did some research based upon your comment and Offgrid’s last comment. Learned that the CURT 51140 Triflex Brake Controller is currently listed as the top Trailer Brake Controller according to bestreviews.guide with a score of 9.9. The previous quote of $175 installed that I’d been given earlier today was for the CURT 51120 model, which is the CURT Discovery that TheBum warned me about above. It’s bestreviews.guide score is an 8.1 and it’s listed as the 7th best trailer brake controller. Difference appears to be a mere $40 more for the 51140 model, which I’m planning on getting. The CURT 51140 is a proportional brake controller. Also, the shop specialist assured me that the factory installed receiver on my GMC Envoy SLT is rated for a weight distribution hitch like the BLu Ox Sway Pro. Listen to me! I almost (at least to myself) sound like I know what I’m talking about! Earlier this morning I didn’t even know there was a difference between a weight carrying hitch and a weight distributing hitch. And I had no idea what a brake controller was and whether I needed one. Now it turns out that I probably should have had both of them these past 5 years when trailering my Coleman pop-up! Best to all. Have a nice weekend. Jack 2019 1/2 Rpod 179 10th Anniversary Edition 2005 GMC Envoy SLT |
Posted By: crw8sr
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 4:12pm
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Welcome to the forum and R-podding. ------------- Chuck & Lyn Izzy, Morkie. RIP Zoe Joy & Gracie, Yorkie 2018 R Pod 190 2019 Traverse In moments of adversity;when life's a total wreck, I think of those worse off than me and really feel like heck. |
Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 8:05pm
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Since your truck comes with a tow package (i.e. 7 pin wiring pin), even though it did not come with the brake controller it probably has the wiring harness for one under the dashboard. Tekonsha makes adapters for all makes cars and trucks. We had the Tekonsha P3 installed in our Jeep Cherokee. Then when we bought our RAM truck we just purchased the adapter from Tekonsha (around $20) and took the unit out of our Jeep and installed it in the Ram. Took all of 10 minutes. It is plug and play. No need to find wires and splice into anything. Just look under the dash to see if you have an adapter or ask the service dept to show it to you. Your vehicle may already have a dedicated space on the dahboard for a brake controller. In that case it will look better and be able to use better if you have the dealer install a factory unit that is built in. It will cost a little more than any aftermarket controller but will look great as it is built in. All aftermarket controllers have to be screwed under the dash making it harder to reach and not look as clean. So do a YOUTube search for your truck and you may find your can simply plug in a brake controller in a few minutes and not have to pay someone to install it. So my recommendation would be have a dealer install a factory made controller that is built into the dash. If too expensive or there is no dedcated space for the controller have the dealer show you where the connector for it is. Then buy a Tekonsha P3 with an adapter plug made for the GMC envoy and install it yourself. ------------- OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2019 at 8:38pm
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+1 to Rich & Cindy. We have a factory (OEM) controller in our truck, and it is proportional by design, and it fits into a slot specifically meant for it. It also ties in with our console to indicate that it working & even how much pressure it's applying to the trailer brakes. I installed it myself, because it just plugs into the plug behind the dash. Easy peasy. Our truck did require it to be "activated" through the truck's computer system, but that was easy too with a tool (for Ford vehicles) called Forscan. I do have to ask how much your Coleman pop-up weighs? In most states, you don't need a trailer brake controller if your trailer is less than 3000 lbs (that number does vary state-by state,, but it's a good rule of thumb). Also a half-ton pickup "should" handle trailers up to around 5,000 lbs without a WDH. Notn saying you shouldn't use one (we do), but it's not a make or break kind of deal. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |