So i am trying to decide between these two, or more, brake controllers for my truck a 2003 F-250 crew cab 2wd, 7.3L, with tow package. I was reading other threads and someone was talking about the Direct link controller. I like the fact it plugs into the OBD port to get info from the truck but also bummed as i have an OBD plug in device for the Torque app to moniter HPOP pressure, IPR cycle etc which i need that port.. Plus the Direst link is twice the cost of the P3 on amazon.There is a good article on MR Truck.. http://mrtruck.com/mrtrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/old/direclink-brakes.htmand the reviews on Amazon for the P3 are many and positive http://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-90195-Electronic-Brake-Control/dp/B000P17NXQ/ref=lh_ni_t?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER415 reviews and 5 stars is strong .. the direct link only has 4 or 5 reviews but fares well.has anyone used or using a DirecLink and another type of controller and the differences.

Can't go wrong with the Tekonsha.

I have the P3 now, and plan on upgrading to the DirecLink. There's two thing I don't quite like about the P3.... 1) If you turn up Boost so you have good braking at highway speeds, its grabby at slow speeds, and 2) It can be a little unpredictable on snow and ice, sometimes grabbing and causing the trailer brakes to lockup, and sometime not doing anything and I have to use the manual lever to get any sort of braking.Also, I plan on upgrading to dis brakes with ABS (to also address the above issues), which effectively requires the DirecLink.

I absolutely love my Direclink! The correct wire harness for plug and play makes it an easy install. I like the easy one time programming. The display could use some updating though(it just looks 1990)and the mount could use some up and down tilt adjustment and not just left and right. I feel it was totally worth the money.

I have the P3 and would recommend it, but having not used the Direct Link I cant say which one is better. I can comment on the P3 highway vs in town performance thou. The P3 has brake boost so you can set it up how you like it for in town and then as you are going on the highway just use brake boost 1 or two or three. (brake boost starts the braking at a higher gain so your brakes will come on harder).

canadiankid wrote:I have the P3 and would recommend it, but having not used the Direct Link I cant say which one is better. I can comment on the P3 highway vs in town performance thou. The P3 has brake boost so you can set it up how you like it for in town and then as you are going on the highway just use brake boost 1 or two or three. (brake boost starts the braking at a higher gain so your brakes will come on harder).With Directlink (and IBC, old Jordan Ultima 2020 and a few other direct connection type controllers) there is no need to mess with any adjustments like a P3 "boost"..Once you drive using a direct connect controller you will find a freedom from having to play with adjustments..They are a set once and forget it controller allowing you to concentrate on the driving part..My first controller was a time based one, had to mess around with the settings when driving speeds changed and it still never felt dialed in..After a lot of research I SKIPPED any NON DIRECT controllers like the P3 and went with the Jordan Ultima 2020. Yes, it is a bit more work up front but the results are nothing short of amazing.. Sadly though Camco bought out Jordan then promptly scrapped plans to release the next version which was under development.My newest truck, a 2013 F250 came with a IBC. I would have to say that I can not tell any difference between the Jordan 2020 and the IBC.. It IS THAT GOOD..There have been a few folks who have gone from a P3 to IBC and have also commented that the IBC works better..The DirectLink uses the same info on the vehicles data bus to determine the braking needs so I would expect it to work pretty much the same as a IBC. The downside is that it does cost more than a P3 but at the same time it will be much more Integrated than any P3 would be.DirectLink also has other features which includes monitoring vehicle battery voltage, engine RPM and transmission temps (Ford and GM), can show controller output voltage AND current (knowing the current output is helpful in diagnosing wiring or magnet problems).See website for more info.. DIRECLINK.COMIf I was forced to choose between a P3 and Direclink, hands down the Direclink would be my choice..

Trailer Brakes,, Direct Link or Tekonsha P3 or ??

Wildwilly101
Explorer
Feb 22, 2015
The STAR wiring configuration is a pretty nice idea. Looks like an upgrade for when the weather gets a little better. Good observation.
spike99
Explorer
Feb 21, 2015
seaeagle2 wrote:
What do you use for a junction point where the 5 wires connect?

Are you referring to my post?

If yes, feed all wiring into a PVC electrical box, dill holes in its lid (to release any trapped moisture), twist proper wires together, solder them, then protect the solder connection with large wire nut connector.

Connection box on my boat trailer - click here -
See large red one within: - click here -
Connection under utility trailer using galvanized box. re: - click here -

It's that simple….,
seaeagle2
Explorer
Feb 21, 2015
What do you use for a junction point where the 5 wires connect?
spike99
Explorer
Feb 21, 2015
Regardless of inertia Brake Controller and/or computer base Brake Controller models, I highly recommend removing trailer's factory thin 12 gauge linear design brake wiring and replace with much better 10 gauge STAR design wiring. All my trailers (utility, RV, boat) single and/or double axle trailers get immediate wiring upgrades. The comparison of thin factory wiring against individual STAR design thicker wiring runs is amazing. And, much safer against accidental wire breaks as well. IMO, this thicker Brake wiring using STAR design should be factory minimum on all trailers.

re:
Factory linear design: - Click Here -
Much better STAR design: - click here -
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Feb 21, 2015
Wildwilly101 wrote:
I realize this is an older thread, but I have to share my experience with the DirecLink. I recently upgraded to the DirecLink from a P3 controller. There is absolutely no comparison. My P3 would lock up at low speeds requiring an adjustment, then if you forget to put it back, big surprise at highway speeds. It was jerky and made towing our 5er miserable. The DirecLink is amazing! Smoothest best braking I've ever experienced in my short 25 years of towing. The trailer brakes act as if they are truly connected to the truck brakes. It's easy to set up and adjust and then you can forget it. It is well worth the price.

Glad you like it.

There are many dyed in the wool P2 and P3 users which simply can't believe there is "better" controllers available and are not willing to even consider there are better available..

For many it is an issue of cost.. P2 and P3 are rather cheap compared to the likes of the old Jordan Ultima 2020 and other more costly types and it appeals to folks who would rather take some tradeoffs than pay a bit more..

I would rather spend a little more and bypass all the hocus pocus trickery that is used by P2 and P3 to cover up the short comings..

Your Direclink is pretty much the same as a IBC and you simply can not get away from the fact that it does not need stuff like "boost" to hide short comings..

While the P2 and P3 do work, for some folks like myself after being spoiled by the old Kelsey-Hayes (which tapped into the brake lines) they are not for me..
seaeagle2
Explorer
Feb 21, 2015
I've never used any controller except the Direclink, (my boat trailer had surge brakes), what attracted me to the Direclink was I didn't have to figure out a way to mount it level, in the direction of travel, it just plugs into the OBDII port.
Wildwilly101
Explorer
Feb 21, 2015
Absolutely Yes !! Ive used the Tekonsha Voyager, the P2, and the P3 over many years of towing. The improvement is dramatic. My P3 would do the job with our 28 foot bumper pull but not so with our somewhat larger 5er. The smoothness and confidence of stopping is remarkable. They also have a(I believe it is a)90 day return policy if you're not satisfied with it.

EDIT: I'm having difficulty locating the 90 day return policy, I remember seeing it someplace on their site.

EDIT: 60 days
Lantley
Nomad
Feb 20, 2015
Wildwilly101 wrote:
I realize this is an older thread, but I have to share my experience with the DirecLink. I recently upgraded to the DirecLink from a P3 controller. There is absolutely no comparison. My P3 would lock up at low speeds requiring an adjustment, then if you forget to put it back, big surprise at highway speeds. It was jerky and made towing our 5er miserable. The DirecLink is amazing! Smoothest best braking I've ever experienced in my short 25 years of towing. The trailer brakes act as if they are truly connected to the truck brakes. It's easy to set up and adjust and then you can forget it. It is well worth the price.

Interesting I have a P3 and have no issues with it. I'm not claiming it's the best controller out there however I seldom have to adjust it and really have no problems with it.
Do you feel the direct link works better than the P3 when the P3 is adjusted properly?
gmw_photos
Explorer
Feb 20, 2015
I have a prodigy in one truck ( Nissan ) and IBC in the other truck ( Ford ). They both work well, in that they make the trailer brakes work. The Ford IBC is "smoother" in operation, especially at very low speed, I suspect because it releases the trailer brakes progressively ( and gradually ) right before the whole combined rig stops.
I can't say that I feel one system is tremendously superior to the other. They both work to apply the trailer brakes. They both are adjustable so they can be set to be too aggressive, too slack, or "just right". I routinely pull 4 different trailers with these two trucks, and have no problem getting the adjustment right, and get correct stopping from all of them.

EDIT: one further comment. I have found in our Ford ( and I have heard this about GM IBC also, but I have no first hand knowledge of a GM controller ) is that the brake controller is sensitive to making sure all the connections are very good and clean. One of the horse trailers was giving me intermittent operation ( brakes only, the lights were fine ) with the Ford, but then if I hooked the Nissan/prodigy to it, they worked fine. It turned out to be a questionable ground connection on the trailer that apparently the Ford IBC was very sensitive to that flakey ground.
Wildwilly101
Explorer
Feb 20, 2015
I realize this is an older thread, but I have to share my experience with the DirecLink. I recently upgraded to the DirecLink from a P3 controller. There is absolutely no comparison. My P3 would lock up at low speeds requiring an adjustment, then if you forget to put it back, big surprise at highway speeds. It was jerky and made towing our 5er miserable. The DirecLink is amazing! Smoothest best braking I've ever experienced in my short 25 years of towing. The trailer brakes act as if they are truly connected to the truck brakes. It's easy to set up and adjust and then you can forget it. It is well worth the price.