Just bought an 29' '83 glendale travel trailer. I'v never owned or towed a travel trailer or anything with electric brakes for that matter.
I am in need of a brake controller, have a friend who bought one for his '04 Z71 Chevy and said it was only $20 or $30 and it plugged right in and worked great. I was under the impression they were several hundred bucks.
Can you guys steer me in the right direction as far as what brake controller to get for my 94 250 XLT, and possibly a good place to find one. Is there a spot for one to plug in? The trailer is daul axle but I'm not sure what type of brakes they are if there are different types (I know they aren't just brake away braks though).
Thanks in advance.
-Rob
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'94 F250 XLT 7.3L. Turbo Diesel 4X4 "OFF ROAD" package, X-Cab, 4.10 grears, Now a 5 speed, original IP, just did injectors,"Wallace mod" 3.5" turbo outlet housing and 3.5" DP and straight piped exhaust, 113K on the clock. Repainted it black. Ispro pyro and boost gauges, turned up pump.
For a "newbie" so-to-speak, I wouldn't go with anything less than the prodigy. Maybe not actually the prodigy brand, but one that is proportional based and not time based. I tried several of the cheaper ones over the years, and they usually end up making you want to throw rocks at 'em at one point or another. My last one was the prodigy and it was second only to the integrated I have in this truck. I gave the prodigy to my dad and even the old guy who's been towing for 55+ years was amazed.
2006 F350 CC LWB Dually XLT Oxford white manual 4x4 6.0 PSD 6 speed. 4.10 LS front and rear, Built May05. 4" turbo back, 100gal aux fuel tank. A real pig from a stop, but give me 10' and she'll lite'em up.
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Just bought an 29' '83 glendale travel trailer. I'v never owned or towed a travel trailer or anything with electric brakes for that matter.
I am in need of a brake controller, have a friend who bought one for his '04 Z71 Chevy and said it was only $20 or $30 and it plugged right in and worked great. I was under the impression they were several hundred bucks.
Can you guys steer me in the right direction as far as what brake controller to get for my 94 250 XLT, and possibly a good place to find one. Is there a spot for one to plug in? The trailer is daul axle but I'm not sure what type of brakes they are if there are different types (I know they aren't just brake away braks though).
Thanks in advance.
-Rob
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You can definitely spend that much on a controller, but it is not necessary. I just got a Tekonsha Prodigy for 98 bucks and the Ford wiring harness for 12 bucks and while it was a pain the doo dads to get to the connector under the dash, once I got it plugged in I set once and was done. Took all of 10 minutes to install and set the controller. They make less expensive models that require a little more setting, particularly after you tow, unhook and then hook up again. Prodigy seems to work well, but I only "test" towed today so it would be unfair for me to say just yet exactly how good it is.
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2004 F350 Crew XLT 4x4 long box, SRW, 3.73 Gears
Bone Stock
Prodigy is THE best bang for the buck controller as far as Im concerned. Ive installed 2 or 3 of them, and use one in my truck. Short of the Brakesmart, or Ford's ITBC, its a fantastic controller.
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99 F350 XLT 4x4, Crew Cab, 6spd, DRW 255k and still going strong. DR Edge 2" leveling kit. 5" exhaust. Prodigy TBC. Hideaway Gooseneck Hitch. Rickson LTS 19.5 aluminum rims with 245 70R19.5 Michelin XDE M/S. Cummins 12V powered, with a few mods, SBC DD clutch
2005 F250 XLT, Supercab, V10, 6spd, 4wd, SWB, 4.10 LS
I think I have the towing package as there is already a 7 pin round connector next to my receiver hitch. Is the hookup under the dash that small gray connector with 5 pins in it that is in front of the shifter and a few inches to the right?
Is this the prodigy you guys are recomending or are there different models? And I assume the 96-8313 near the bottom of the page the correct harness?
Thanks for all the help,
-Rob
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'94 F250 XLT 7.3L. Turbo Diesel 4X4 "OFF ROAD" package, X-Cab, 4.10 grears, Now a 5 speed, original IP, just did injectors,"Wallace mod" 3.5" turbo outlet housing and 3.5" DP and straight piped exhaust, 113K on the clock. Repainted it black. Ispro pyro and boost gauges, turned up pump.
Thats the right Prodigy and harness. The connector is sort of hidden, and if you pull the fuse panel cover off, then look towards the center of the truck, through a square hole in the dash support, you will see a plug clipped to the dash support. This is the plug you need. When you get the harness, you will be able to see what the end looks like and match it up.
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99 F350 XLT 4x4, Crew Cab, 6spd, DRW 255k and still going strong. DR Edge 2" leveling kit. 5" exhaust. Prodigy TBC. Hideaway Gooseneck Hitch. Rickson LTS 19.5 aluminum rims with 245 70R19.5 Michelin XDE M/S. Cummins 12V powered, with a few mods, SBC DD clutch
2005 F250 XLT, Supercab, V10, 6spd, 4wd, SWB, 4.10 LS
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I think I have the towing package as there is already a 7 pin round connector next to my receiver hitch. Is the hookup under the dash that small gray connector with 5 pins in it that is in front of the shifter and a few inches to the right?
Is this the prodigy you guys are recomending or are there different models? And I assume the 96-8313 near the bottom of the page the correct harness?
Thanks for all the help,
-Rob
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It is a pain to get to, but it is a brown plug; what you are seeing is the diagnostics port. The plug is up and to the right of the diagnostic plug, almost but not quite, behind the radio. hard to get to, but once you get your Prodigy "pig tail" you'll see where it is supposed to go.
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2004 F350 Crew XLT 4x4 long box, SRW, 3.73 Gears
Bone Stock
All I've ever used is the cheap contraller from Wal-Mart, $50.
I'm sure the prodigy is better, but if you are just doing a little towing the Wal-Mart works.
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'93 Ford F250 w/ 7.3 IDI diesel (no turbo) E4od auto. SC/LB 2WD, but hey, got 3 attenas. retired government vehicle.
'26 tall T coupe on '67 scout frame w/400 Ford/C6
'00 Dodge Ram 1500 SC/SB w/318/5spd 4X4 3" SkyJacker lift 33-12.50X15 Perreli Scorpions
'01 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab/SB w/360/auto 4X4 NO LIFT!!! Running 33-12.50X15 Hi-Tech-Retreads with Green Diamonds (alternative to studs!) on saw blade chrome wheels.
'62 Caddy 2dr, "slammed" with air bag suspension. I can literaly set it on the ground!!!!
'48 CJ2A w/'61 over head valve engine
'77 Chevy Caprice, rare 2 door! Built 350 4 bolt mains. Weyand high ram intake, Headman Headers, dual glass pack "cop callers", TH350 with high stall converter and B&M "street/strip" kit (churps the tires hitting 3rd @ 90MPH!!!!)
'84 AC 5040 w/ loader
'71 Dodge D200 w/'69 vette 327 & powerglide
'97 Morgan built 20' tilt car hauler
'01 Morgan built 16'cattle trailer
Ford 9N
Ford 8N
JD model 40C crawler
Thanks for all the info and links, should be an easy install.
-Rob
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'94 F250 XLT 7.3L. Turbo Diesel 4X4 "OFF ROAD" package, X-Cab, 4.10 grears, Now a 5 speed, original IP, just did injectors,"Wallace mod" 3.5" turbo outlet housing and 3.5" DP and straight piped exhaust, 113K on the clock. Repainted it black. Ispro pyro and boost gauges, turned up pump.
2008 F450 DRW CC LWB 4x4 Off Road, Lariat, Oxford White, 4.30 LS rear end, Navigation, audiophile stereo, Memory package seats, heated seats, heated mirrors, warmup heat option power back window, traction control system, backup alarm, rear DVD with wireless headphones. 
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