Modern brake controllers all use a solid state accelerometer (like what's in your smartphone) to measure how fast your're trying to stop and send a voltage signal to your trailer brakes that is higher the faster you are slowing down. So, they are called proportional controllers. 

There will be two adjustments you will make on the controller once it is installed. The first sets the max voltage output so that the trailer brakes are just short of locking up the trailer wheels when you stop  using the trailer brakes only. That gives you the best stopping power in an emergency braking situation. Most of us find that when we do that setup we wind up at full 12V output from the controller and the trailer brakes still don't lock up. That's because rPod brakes are a bit on the wimpy side. 

The second adjustment (Tekonsha calls it boost level) sets the voltage output relative to how fast you are slowing down. That effectively sets the balance between how much braking action you get from your tow vehicle brakes vs your trailer brakes. That is something you can adjust depending on road conditions, trailer weight relative to TV weight, and steepness of grade you are descending. With a relatively light tow vehicle you can set the "boost" higher so that the trailer brakes do more of the work, for example. 

So, whichever controller you get be sure you know how to set it up and adjust it. That will also familiarize you with the manual control which you should use each time you hitch up to be sure that the trailer brakes are actually working. You can also use it if you ever start to get any trailer sway to bring the trailer back in line without touching your tow vehicle brakes which you don't ever want to do in that situation. 

+1 on the Carlisle tires. As for the suspension, my mods show what I did to strengthen the axle.

Welcome and congratulations on your RPod. I hope you have many fun adventures and make many great memories with it.

Welcome from another NC podder with a 179.

We love our pod and have done a lot of mods to make it work better for us.

The 179 is a great floorplan and has plenty of storage for us.

there is a world of experience on this forum-the people are not only knowledgeable, but also nice and happy to help with any problems or questions.

Travel Safe

Vann

Welcome! You already are off to a great start. I hope you have many fun adventures and make many great memories with your RPod.

I would be interested in seeing those outriggers.

Happy to join The Pod Forum,  we have have had our 2017 179 for 1 1/2 years taken about 10 trips mostly in the SC, VA, NC area,  will expand out as time permits.  I have enjoyed the number of posts and hope to be able to contribute the mods and changes that come with this rig which seems to be the fun part as we improve on the original design.  

Mods:

added Lift kit, 

changed from 14 in wheels to 15 inch with 225-75-15 Endurance tires,  the pod is much more stable, tracks so much better on the road,  less bounce.

Future Mods:  

Outriggers (under the slide out next to the frame)  acquired from Forest River

Floor support,  need to fabricate this

axle support, need to fabricate this

Interior drawer extensions

Converter replacement (original works ok now but will acquire as a precaution)

Interior:

Not too many changes yet,  using a number of Command Strip type of gizmos, added wood cover over the propane burners, small bamboo shelf on the countertop, kitchen cabinet shelving.  

Look forward to chatting especially with our NC/Raleigh area neighbors

Cheers!