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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / May 2005prodigy or jordan?
i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a response saying that if i ordered now i could possibly get a unit within 6-8 weeks which is unacceptable. im currently considering two readily available units and would like feedback on both. 1- prodigy http://www.tekonsha.com/prodig.html it comes highly recommended from many in this newsgroup. i like to boost feature and feel that (unless its over-rated marketing fluff) it would be a good feature to have. 2- jordan http://jordanbrake.com i like that it reads in amps and not volts (tells you if the brakes are actually working). both look great in their websites but id like informed opinions on both before i buy. thanks!  SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com >i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from >http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a response [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >before i buy. >thanks! Nate... I've been on the Good Sam RV forum for a few years, and the "tekonsha/jordon" argument is always alive... Most seem to prefer the prodigy.. I love mine, especially after the POS drawtite the rv dealer put on our truck.. I don't think that you'll be unhappy with either one, but my vote would be the prodigy or whatever is latest and greatest from tekonsha... BTW: the prodigy never needs adjusting of position, because it doesn't use a pendulum... has jordon gone that route also? they probably have, but if not, go prodigy... It's a PITA to bump a controller with you knee (or dog) and have your brakes react differently than you're used to.. mac Please remove splinters before emailing > I don't think that you'll be unhappy with either one thats good to hear, thanks. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from > http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a response [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > before i buy. > thanks! Two different worlds: The Prodigy senses the deceleration of the tow vehicle and applies trailer braking proportionately. This is affected by the potholes, up- or down-slope of the road, bouncing of the trailer, movement of the horses, etc. The Jordan is actuated by a cable to the brake pedal arm, and applies braking proportional to your foot pressure on the brake pedal. It's much smoother and more predictable, and much more comfortable for the passengers. I have both; the Prodigy travels under the seat as a spare. Rick >> i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from >> http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a response [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >> before i buy. >> thanks! i have the prodigy and it works great. it is the easiest to set up and install of the two. what i have heard is that the jordan can be a bitch to get set up right and to install correctly and once set up, it can be knocked out of whack if you are not careful, requiring the set up all over. once working however, the jordan seems to be the choice of most people and the best of the two. i just don't tow enough that i was willing to take on the jordan. obviously that means that i have no personal experience with the jordan and in all likelyhood, it isn't as hard to set up as it is made out to be. > once working however, the jordan seems to be the choice > of most people and the best of the two. which would be easier for my wife to use? SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com >> once working however, the jordan seems to be the choice >> of most people and the best of the two. > >which would be easier for my wife to use? Don't know about the jordon, but I'm guessing that once it's set up, they're all user friendly.. My wife does a lot of the driving on rv trips and liked both the Drawtite and the Prodigy, though the Drawtite was very "grabby" in stop & go traffic.. When set up properly, you don't have to think about the controller, Nate.. it does the thinking for you when you step on the brake pedal.. Quote from my wife: "I just drive the truck... the trailer follows the truck and the brakes feel better with the trailer than just the truck does" mac Please remove splinters before emailing > When set up properly, you don't have to think about the controller, Nate.. > it > does the thinking for you when you step on the brake pedal. my concern is readjusting as the load changes. id like to be able to send my wife on pickup runs and trust that she'll be able to readjust the controller based on the weight of each particular load. i suppose this is where the strength of the brake smart system would come in. ill probably change over to their system if they ever get caught up on their production/shipping. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com >> When set up properly, you don't have to think about the controller, Nate.. >> it [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >change over to their system if they ever get caught up on their >production/shipping. How much weight would the average load that she picked up weigh? My experience is all travel trailers, so no real load change, but with the drawtite, we had to change the settings when we got off the freeway and got into traffic, or they were too touchy and kind of "lurched" forward when you took your foot off the brake.. The adjustment prodigy has NEVER been changed, no matter what traffic is like and whether we're empty or helping friends move.. stops just fine... (I wish the ram stopped that well WITHOUT the trailer) mac Please remove splinters before emailing > How much weight would the average load that she picked up weigh? there is no "average" load. she may pick up a 200 pound low temp water cooled condensing unit or a 10,000 pound rack system. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > This is affected by the potholes, up- or down-slope of the road, bouncing > of the trailer, movement of the horses, etc. ? i thought that was problematic on pendulum type controllers? > The Jordan is actuated by a cable to the brake pedal arm, and applies > braking proportional to your foot pressure on the brake pedal. It's much > smoother and more predictable, and much more comfortable for the > passengers. at just over $100 its no big deal to try both. i suppose i could always ebay whichever one i dont use. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com >> This is affected by the potholes, up- or down-slope of the road, bouncing >> of the trailer, movement of the horses, etc. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >at just over $100 its no big deal to try both. i suppose i could always >ebay whichever one i dont use. or swap the one you don't like as much when you sell the truck.. mac Please remove splinters before emailing I use the prodigy................It is my first time using a braking controller and I relied on the advice of this group in making my choice. I ordered mine thru the outfit in Texas as they included a free wiring harness in the price. I have on 04 2500 HO Cummins towing a 18' 7500 lb gross dual axle flatbed with a tractor, and love the feel of the trailer braking as well as being able to control the trailer separate from the truck. It was installed and setup in about 45 minutes or less................... my 2 cents >i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from >http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a response [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > before i buy. > thanks! > 1- prodigy http://www.tekonsha.com/prodig.html it comes highly recommended > from many in this newsgroup. i like to boost feature and feel that > (unless its over-rated marketing fluff) it would be a good feature to > have. I love the boost feature on mine. I set it for the empty trailer, then use the boost to quickly adjust to the condition of the trailer: no boost=empty trailer. B1=lightly loaded B2=moderately loaded B3=oh my God, I hope the axles don't break. :) Get it from http://www.brakecontroller.com - $124.95 with free 2nd day shipping, and a vehicle-specific harness (simple plug-n-play - no splices to worry about). The pocket mount makes mounting extremely easy. Two screws hold the pocket mount to the knee blocker panel of the dash, the drop the controller into the mount (clips in), plug in the wiring, and haul your trailer. If it takes you more than 5 minutes, well... :) > Get it from http://www.brakecontroller.com - $124.95 with free 2nd day > shipping, and a vehicle-specific harness thanks for the link. ive ordered a prodigy from them with an extra harness (got 2 dodge trucks) and an extra mount. hopefully i can just move the controller back and forth as needed. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > thanks for the link. ive ordered a prodigy from them with an extra > harness (got 2 dodge trucks) and an extra mount. hopefully i can just > move the controller back and forth as needed. Yep - I do it with mine. > I love the boost feature on mine. I set it for the empty trailer, then > use the boost to quickly adjust to the condition of the trailer: are there instructions on how to do this? SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com >> I love the boost feature on mine. I set it for the empty trailer, then >> use the boost to quickly adjust to the condition of the trailer: > >are there instructions on how to do this? yes. the boost is cool and works great. it essentially just makes the trailer brakes come on beofre the vehicle brakes and each setting makes them come on a little sooner. i would think the prodigy would be easiest for your wife. it is pretty much just a set and forget system. and the prodigy is a snap to move from vehicle to vehicle. > i would think the prodigy would > be easiest for your wife. it is pretty much just a set and forget > system. and the prodigy is a snap to move from vehicle to vehicle. .....'twould seem as though ive made the right choice then. thanks! SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > are there instructions on how to do this? You mean setting the controller for the empty trailer? Sure... it's just a wheel that dials in the initial amperage that goes out to the brakes. You play around with that, making stops with the trailer, so that you get good braking, but don't lock up the trailer axles. Once you find the optimum setting, write it down (it will be a decimal value on the display - this changes with the wheel). The instructions that come with the controller explain this a lot better, of course :) >i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from >http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a response [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > before i buy. > thanks! I've used all of them over my 54 years on this planet. The Prodigy gets my vote. It's easy to install and setup (practically nothing to do anyways) and let her rip...For a hundred and twenty bucks, it's hard to go wrong. SignatureMoParMaN---Remove Clothes To Reply! --SCUD Coordinates 32.61204 North: 96.92993 West-- >>i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from >>http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > vote. It's easy to install and setup (practically nothing to do anyways) > and let her rip...For a hundred and twenty bucks, it's hard to go wrong. Amen on the Prodigy! I have had one since they first came out and have recommended the unit to many of this NG... Mac is one I think. I also have many friends in our RV club with the Prodigy and I have yet to find someone who doesn't like it. The boost feature is great as Tom said. Get the Prodigy wiring harness and you will be installed, wired and ready to go in 15 minutes! Mike >>>i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from >>>http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Mike You recommended it to me too...FYI SignatureMoParMaN---Remove Clothes To Reply! --SCUD Coordinates 32.61204 North: 96.92993 West-- >>>>i really wanted to order the brake smart brake controller from >>>>http://brakesmart.net but several days after emailing them i got a [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >> > You recommended it to me too...FYI Yup, now I remember.. I think Nate will be happy when he gets his. Mike MoParMaN: I paid $145.99 for my Prodigy. Where I live in Florida, I've seen them sell for $165.00.
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