installation and recommendation for brake controller

thanks for the advice everyone, it seems the prodigy is the way to go, message received haha. I'll dig around and see what wires are there. My understanding is Jeeps with the tow package will have a brake controller wire, but not necessarily the power wires. Someone from eTrailer is telling me I don't need extra wire/fuses because the 12v is live on my 7way plug, so I'm getting contradicting information...I was hoping someone with a Jeep Liberty would be able to tell me, but ill dig and someday maybe I'll be that someone!

Hard to believe nobody has TOWed anything with a 2010 Jeep Liberty that has a TOW package haha

will report back....

danimal53 wrote:

westend wrote:
I'd suggest to get a Tekonsha Prodigy, at least a P2, for it's diagnostics and ease of use.

Installation instructions

hmmm im still not sure if i need a wiring install kit or not...someone from eTrailer told me I only need it if there's no power to the 12v pin on the 7way. I tested with a multimeter, and this pin has power. So if I dont need the wiring kit, I'm not sure where the 4wires would go. 1 to brake control wire, obviously, 1 to brake lite wire. then 2 are supposed to go to the battery....anyone see my confusion?

You could check your vehicle to see if it has an OEM brake controller connector already installed. In that situation, Tekonsha offers a pigtail w/connectors so it it's plug and play. your jeep may also have just a wire bundle for a controller. You can also look over the instructions of the brake controller: P2 information

I watched the instruction video from Etrailer and that isn't the way I'd install the controller. I don't see much advantage from stringing wire through the fire wall and installing a circuit breaker when the fuse panel is a foot from the controller location. Most vehicles have an unused fuse slot and an owner could choose to use that with a fuse or a jumper to power the controller. If no open slots are available, the power lead could be attached to the fuse panel inlet connection and a fuse adaptor with fuse installed from there. Or, you could do it like some jokers, and push the power wire into the fuse slot used by another device.:R
Installation may seem awkward or challenging but it is really quite straight forward. Tekonsha has good customer service if you need it.

Good luck with the controller!

prodigy! don't waste your money on the rest.

Like others have said, and own personal experience any Prodigy would be a good choice. Have an original Prodigy i'm holding on to just in case.

some vehicles come prewired for a break controller not sure about yours. my truck had wire run up to steering column then just had to connect to the controller. as for the 12v at the 7pin connector on your jeep might need to be connected to a relay under the hood. mine had the wires there too just needed to be connected.

westend wrote:
I'd suggest to get a Tekonsha Prodigy, at least a P2, for it's diagnostics and ease of use.

Installation instructions

hmmm im still not sure if i need a wiring install kit or not...someone from eTrailer told me I only need it if there's no power to the 12v pin on the 7way. I tested with a multimeter, and this pin has power. So if I dont need the wiring kit, I'm not sure where the 4wires would go. 1 to brake control wire, obviously, 1 to brake lite wire. then 2 are supposed to go to the battery....anyone see my confusion?

I'd suggest to get a Tekonsha Prodigy, at least a P2, for it's diagnostics and ease of use.

Installation instructions

donn0128 wrote:
Best controller seems to be the Prodigy. Never heard of that brand

Hopkins has good reviews, I like that you can basically take off the display and control when you're not towing, and the "brains" of the system can be mounted in a hidden location. I'm a bit taller and don't want to be banging my knees into the prodigy, but I'm still considering it.

How bout for the install? Do I need this wiring kit?

Best controller seems to be the Prodigy. Never heard of that brand

I dunno, seems rather complicated to me compared with a Prodigy single unit with 4 wires!
Have not read any reports of the Hopkins but there are very many satisfied Prodigy users on this Forum.