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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / June 2005setting up prodigy
i got my prodigy installed and it seems to be stopping the trailer just fine but im unsure of the adjustments. the video said to slide the manual lever all the way to the left and adjust the setting to 6.0 volts and then adjust as needed to get the wheels just before lock up. well, i dont know how to tell when im "just before lock up". i do feel a slight push when im stopping. not bad, but slight. also do i need to reset this as my load changes? i just cant see how 6 volts would provide the same stopping power at 3000 pounds as it would at 10000 pounds. thanks,  SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com Nate; I've got the Sentinel model, and I just crank up the gain till it feels like there's no trailer back there I'dsay you need a bit more if you feel a push when braking G > i got my prodigy installed and it seems to be stopping the trailer just fine > but im unsure of the adjustments. the video said to slide the manual lever [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > at 3000 pounds as it would at 10000 pounds. > thanks, > I'dsay you need a bit more if you feel a push when braking the trailer empty weighs 3000 pounds and i havent tried to haul anything in it yet. how much more would you recommend? i dont want to burn flat spots in my tires while trying to zero this thing in. <sigh>....makes me wonder if i shoulda just got the surge brakes. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com you'll know when you go too far.....severe tire hop on the trailer !!!! > > I'dsay you need a bit more if you feel a push when braking > > the trailer empty weighs 3000 pounds and i havent tried to haul anything in > it yet. how much more would you recommend? i dont want to burn flat spots > in my tires while trying to zero this thing in. <sigh>....makes me wonder > if i shoulda just got the surge brakes. > you'll know when you go too far.....severe tire hop on the trailer !!!! heh. yeah, but then i get flat spots on the tires. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com nah...not unloaded just watch the trailer in the mirror, you'll see it start vibrating before the REAL serious hop sets in > > you'll know when you go too far.....severe tire hop on the trailer !!!! > > heh. yeah, but then i get flat spots on the tires. > nah...not unloaded but wont i need to readjust after the trailer is loaded? SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com maybe a bit my experience with the 'Sentinel' has been to adjust it just short of wheel-hop when unloaded and activating it manually (no braking in towing vehicle), than add just 'a tad' more for lite loads and a couple of tads for heavy loads you'll get the hang of it very fast, it becomes automatic after a few days > > nah...not unloaded > > but wont i need to readjust after the trailer is loaded? > but wont i need to readjust after the trailer is loaded? That's what the boost function is for... just dial in a boost level of 1, 2, or 3, depending on the relative weight of the trailer. You leave the base setting (for the empty weight) alone. > That's what the boost function is for... just dial in a boost level of 1, > 2, or 3, depending on the relative weight of the trailer. You leave the > base setting (for the empty weight) alone. the base setting will be fine for 3000 (empty weight) to 10000 (fully loaded)? SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com the 'base' setting is for 'empty' then 'boost' adjusts for the load > > That's what the boost function is for... just dial in a boost level of 1, > > 2, or 3, depending on the relative weight of the trailer. You leave the > > base setting (for the empty weight) alone. > > the base setting will be fine for 3000 (empty weight) to 10000 (fully > loaded)? In my honest opinion you would not want surge brakes, at least in the north east they are illigal in most states if the trailer is over 1,000 LBS. Just adjust the controler untill it feels right (little push or if pintle lock no slamming from the rear). I've found that no two trailers brake the same and the same trailer at different weights will not be the same. > the same trailer at different weights will not be the same. ill be ordering the brake smart system for sure. i can always keep the prodigy for a back up. thanks, SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > ill be ordering the brake smart system for sure. i can always keep the > prodigy for a back up. thanks, Bad news, Nate... you'll have to adjust that one, as well. Thousands of people use the Prodigy for everything from a small utility trailer up through the 30'+ 5th wheels... it's not that hard. > you'll have to adjust that one, as well. ? their website claims otherwise. best i can tell you get the base setting and everything else is adjusted by fluid pressure which would be more with a heavier load. > Thousands of people use the Prodigy for everything from a small utility > trailer up through the 30'+ 5th wheels... it's not that hard. im sure i can figure it out, but im concerned about trying to teach the wifey how to figure it out. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > ? their website claims otherwise. best i can tell you get the base > setting and everything else is adjusted by fluid pressure which would be > more with a heavier load. That's what I mean... you have to adjust it for the base setting, which is what it seems you're unhappy about with the Prodigy. > im sure i can figure it out, but im concerned about trying to teach the > wifey how to figure it out. Again... get it dialed in properly for the empty trailer, then just adjust the boost based on how much stuff you have in the trailer. After watching this thread, I question whether you should be pulling a trailer at all. Let alone teach someone else how. Clay > > you'll have to adjust that one, as well. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > im sure i can figure it out, but im concerned about trying to teach the > wifey how to figure it out. > I question whether you should be pulling a > trailer at all. this coming from a flat lander im not surprised. out here towing is another animal entirely. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > this coming from a flat lander im not surprised. out here towing is > another animal entirely. And you've been a mountain man for how long now, Nate? :) > And you've been a mountain man for how long now, Nate? :) long enough to know that towing out here is a lot different. :-) the interstates arent to bad, but i didnt really trust my draw tite controller to do the job even on the interstates. the highways and particularly the smaller roads give "steep" an entirely new meaning. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > > I question whether you should be pulling a > > trailer at all. > > this coming from a flat lander im not surprised. out here towing is another > animal entirely. How do you know where or what I live on? I question your confidence, not where you drive. If you're afraid to set up a simple trailer brake, maybe you ought not try to tackle the more complicated stuff like actually towing. Incidentally, There are mountains all around me. Clay > How do you know where or what I live on? from your message header: Message-ID: <LiMpe.29$hk.20509@twister.southeast.rr.com> Date: Thu, 09 Jun 2005 00:45:31 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 66.57.115.196 X-Complaints-To: abuse@rr.com X-Trace: twister.southeast.rr.com 1118277931 66.57.115.196 (Wed, 08 Jun 2005 20:45:31 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 08 Jun 2005 20:45:31 EDT Organization: RoadRunner - Triad southeast road runner would put you in the south east. > I question your confidence, not where you drive. If you're afraid to > set up a simple trailer brake, maybe you ought not try to tackle the > more complicated stuff like actually towing. it has nothing to do with confidence or a "simple setup". i am making certain that i understand the settings and boost before pulling 10,000 pounds on grades youve most likely never imagined existed on public roads. maybe you should try either being helpful, keeping quiet, or something beyond being a pompous a.s. > Incidentally, There are mountains all around me. lol.....i used to call those hills "mountains" too once upon a time. :-) SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > lol.....i used to call those hills "mountains" too once upon a time. :-) About six months ago, wasn't it? :) >> lol.....i used to call those hills "mountains" too once upon a time. :-) > > About six months ago, wasn't it? :) been here over a year now. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com >> How do you know where or what I live on? > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >maybe you should try either being helpful, keeping quiet, or something >beyond being a pompous a.s. you know what, i got no horse in this race but the man made a reasonable comment nate. you seem to be the one actin like a pompous a.s. relax pal. you ain't the only one that ever drove a trailer in tough surroundings. you ain't the fuckin mountain man and the prodigy ain't no fuckin rocket science. try it out, i think you'll find it works just fine, even in the big ol' mountains. >> Incidentally, There are mountains all around me. > >lol.....i used to call those hills "mountains" too once upon a time. :-) > the man made a > reasonable comment nate. you seem to be the one actin like a pompous > a.s. when you see me offer anything beyond a helpful response to a realistic, on topic question your statement may mean something. im new to the "boost" feature and dont find anything unreasonable in my questions. there are no dumb questions, only dumb a.s responses from judgemental pricks that want to elevate themselves by stepping on others. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com >> the man made a >> reasonable comment nate. you seem to be the one actin like a pompous [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >dumb questions, only dumb a.s responses from judgemental pricks that want to >elevate themselves by stepping on others. and i didn't read his response as being anything other than a humerous comment on what you had been saying. i think most of us feel like you are "over stressing" out on this. that's cool, maybe that is just your style. i do that sometimes too. i try to think about all the possible problems and issues well ahead of time so i am ready to go when the time comes. my friends tease me about that all the time. that is all i thought that he was doing. wasn't a big deal and i read it as all in the spirit of fun. > i think most of us feel like you > are "over stressing" out on this. thats possible too. two years ago (my first move attempt) i came down the continental divide on i90 (and 15) in a uhaul truck without any braking (ok, _some_ braking) and since then ive a new appreciation for proper functioning brakes. :-) a runaway vehicle just isnt any fun. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > > How do you know where or what I live on? > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > maybe you should try either being helpful, keeping quiet, or something > beyond being a pompous a.s. I think I was being helpful. I was pointing out that your questions have been answered several different ways. You may not like my methods, but there they are. I am in the southeast, and where I live has the little hills you speak of. I have however pulled 10,000# plus trailers to both sides of this country, including the Rockies. Maybe not to the Grande mountainous, treacherous terrain you speak of, but that doesn't change the difficulty of the trailer brake adjustment. All I did was make an observation to the thread, and that you SEEM to making this too difficult. Clay<<pompous a.s and proud of it > I think I was being helpful. then please accept my humble apologies. it can be difficult to tell what someone is saying when youre reading it in text. SignatureNathan W. Collier http://7SlotGrille.com http://UtilityOffRoad.com > > I think I was being helpful. > > then please accept my humble apologies. it can be difficult to tell what > someone is saying when youre reading it in text. Accepted, but not really necessary. Every needs to blow off steam. Clay >> you'll have to adjust that one, as well. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >im sure i can figure it out, but im concerned about trying to teach the >wifey how to figure it out. hell, Nate... my wife figured it out before I did, on our 1st short trip... like most guys, I was out-teching myself and she (not knowing how or why the controller worked), just dialed in what felt right and kept on truckin'.. mac Please remove splinters before emailing >>> you'll have to adjust that one, as well. >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >like most guys, I was out-teching myself and she (not knowing how or why the >controller worked), just dialed in what felt right and kept on truckin'.. i just hooked mine up, set it at 7, then started pulling with it. i may have made one or two adjustments on the first pull but after that i just pretty much forgot that it is even there. > In my honest opinion you would not want surge brakes, at least in the > north > east they are illigal in most states if the trailer is over 1,000 LBS. Then explain why I've rented 12,000lb. trailers from the rental yards here in NJ with surge brakes? >i got my prodigy installed and it seems to be stopping the trailer just fine >but im unsure of the adjustments. the video said to slide the manual lever [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >at 3000 pounds as it would at 10000 pounds. >thanks, It's a personal thing, but I'd rather have a slight "pull" when I step on the brake.. that's the trailer slowing the truck down... I just adjusted it so that it felt natural when slowing and stopping and left it alone... you might adjust for a heavy load, in your case, but trial and error is the only way to really get it set up.. mac Please remove splinters before emailing > On Tue, 7 Jun 2005 14:19:11 -0600, "Nathan W. Collier" > <MontanaJeeper@aol.com> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > error is > the only way to really get it set up.. Yeah Nate, it ain't rocket science, just set the damned thing up so it feels good and hook up the trailer an go! Some small tweaks may be required, but by and large you just let the Prodigy do its thing! Mike > mac > > Please remove splinters before emailing >Yeah Nate, it ain't rocket science, just set the damned thing up so it feels >good and hook up the trailer an go! Some small tweaks may be required, but >by and large you just let the Prodigy do its thing! > >Mike Well put, Mike... Basically, this is a controller that's designed to be used by every day folks that may or may not be installing it themselves... I think that once Nate hooks up and plays with it for an hour or so on varying conditions, he'll feel comfortable about setting his wife loose with it.. YMMV mac Please remove splinters before emailing |
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