Just thought I would throw this out there. I have an 11K pound fifth week towed with my Chevy 2500. I have the Tekonsha Prodigy as my brake controller. This unit is about 7 years old. My question is should this setup be able to lock the camper's brakes at slow speed when I have the controller set to maximum during setup? My experience is that it will not. I have had the RV dealer check the brakes and they are working fine. I'm just wondering what others experience with similar sized campers and if I'm just expecting too much out of the brakes.

If it's a P-2 IMHO it's junk. P-3 may be better???Be sure the brakes are adjusted and all connections are good.

You're expecting too much out of the brakes..B.O.

My 5vr weighs 13,830# scaled.My 5vr brakes will lock up all four wheels on gravel/dirt under 20mph using manual lever.At 65 mph........full truck/trailer emergency braking resulted in controlled stopping in straight line.And not tires did not lockup or smoke.

RV drum brakes are pathetic. I've spent lots of time going to bigger wire, soldering, verifying volts/amps and even top quality riveted lining and they still sucked! I didn't even bother checking anything when I saw our current 15K 5er still had 12 x 2 drums just like the previous 10k 5er that I did all that work on... I junked that garbage and put on the 8k Kodiak discs/1600 psi Carlisle actuator. Mui bueno!! Craig

My 5000lb TT would easily lock the brakes. My 9,000lb 5'er doesn't. If I set my P3 to max output and use the manual lever I feel a mild tug from the 5'er.I've also towed a friends 5'er about the same weight but different manufacture. Doing the same test results in very hard tug causing me to back off on the P3 settings for smoother operation.While mine stops reasonably well its definitely not as good as friends 5'er.

Braking expectations | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Dec 06, 2014
Michelle.S wrote:
If you want good trailer braking, do the Disk Brake upgrade. You'll be amazed at the difference.

That is an understatement!

My Dad and I swapped his electric brakes on his HH Premier to Kodiak disks. He was amazed at the difference and wished he had done the conversion much earlier. He also has the oil bath bearings and likes them.
Michelle_S
Explorer III
Dec 06, 2014
If you want good trailer braking, do the Disk Brake upgrade. You'll be amazed at the difference.
Greentow
Explorer
Dec 05, 2014
To check my brakes, rolling at 3-5 mph, manual lever will stop everything, truck and trailer. THIS IS ONLY A TEST. P2 towing 15K. Works for me.
8ntw8tn
Explorer
Dec 04, 2014
3oaks wrote:
The instructions that came with my brake controller is that you do not want the trailer brakes to lock up.

Locking up the trailer brakes means the tires have lost traction and you no longer have control over the trailer. It can lead to a jackknife situation.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Dec 04, 2014
Me Again wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:

I am curious do you know anyone or have you used a MaxBrake and a Direct link? If so how do they compare?

My built in controller on my 11RAM works better than a P-2 but nothing compared to the MaxBrake. I have read about people that had a MaxBrake then went to an integrated 12 or newer RAM and did not install their MaxBrake. I am looking forward to using the builtin controller on my new 15 RAM. If it works as I hope it does there will be a lightly used MaxBrake on the market!

Funny how those that never moved beyond the Prodigy products think they have the best available. My first trip with the MaxBrake showed me that there was a whole new world of braking available. If my MaxBrake fails and I can not find an used replacement I will look at Direct Link. Chris

I really hated the P-2 but I figured at the time it was the best out there!
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Dec 04, 2014
Me Again wrote:
Timay wrote:
Does the MaxBrake get its input from the trucks computer (like the Direct Link)or is it attached to the brake line?

Tim

Load Cell attached to brake line.

Chris

Don't forget to top off the brake fluid before heading out!
Gib3633
Explorer
Dec 04, 2014
X2 with bigdon68 and Schomer
Me_Again
Explorer III
Dec 04, 2014
Timay wrote:
Does the MaxBrake get its input from the trucks computer (like the Direct Link)or is it attached to the brake line?

Tim

Load Cell attached to brake line.

Chris
Timay
Explorer
Dec 04, 2014
Does the MaxBrake get its input from the trucks computer (like the Direct Link)or is it attached to the brake line?

Tim
Me_Again
Explorer III
Dec 04, 2014
Cummins12V98 wrote:

I am curious do you know anyone or have you used a MaxBrake and a Direct link? If so how do they compare?

My built in controller on my 11RAM works better than a P-2 but nothing compared to the MaxBrake. I have read about people that had a MaxBrake then went to an integrated 12 or newer RAM and did not install their MaxBrake. I am looking forward to using the builtin controller on my new 15 RAM. If it works as I hope it does there will be a lightly used MaxBrake on the market!

Funny how those that never moved beyond the Prodigy products think they have the best available. My first trip with the MaxBrake showed me that there was a whole new world of braking available. If my MaxBrake fails and I can not find an used replacement I will look at Direct Link. Chris

Forum Discussion

Braking expectations

About Fifth Wheel Group

Related Content

Expectations

Surge or electric brakes

realistic MPG expectations

Trip Expectations

Expected milage from 5th wheel brakes