I have a Reece controller in my van now. It is for up to 8 wheels. My truck is almost here and I am wondering if anyone has the Prodigy? I have heard they are the best. Does anyone know if they will easily hook-up to the adapter that Chevy has with the new trucks? Where is the best place to mount them? Our trailer is a dual axle.

Some of us think this one is the best.


Jordan Ultima Controller (http://www.jordanbrake.com/)


Yes, it's a bit more of a hassle to hook up since it makes a physical connection to the brake-pedal arm. However, you get trully proportional braking according to how hard you press on the peddle.


Prodigy uses a "g" sensor. You have to impart some deceleration into the whole mass (using the trucks brakes) before the controller can start sensing any "gees". Or you crank up one of the Prodigy's settings so that when it sees the brake light switch it starts applying the brakes.


This will no doubt start a debate, but do some searching. You'll find folks that have traded their Prodigy for a Jordan but I doubt you'll find the opposite.


One feature I really like. The Jordan's front panel reads the actual amperes being drawn by the magnets. You can tell in an instant if you have a bad magnet or bad connections.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/544_Jordan.JPG

SonnyBear,


I'm glad you asked that question. I've purchased the Prodigy based on some of the things posted here, and some on RV sites.


It's sitting on an end table in the living room right now, soon to be equipted with a truck.......http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


I really liked the features of the Prodigy, but it was spendy. It'll be interesting to see what kind of feedback you get.

I agree with gwmayes. I've never owned a Prodigy, and would buy another Jordan in a heartbeat. Voltage output on the Prodigy isn't telling you that the full signal, (current), is getting to your brakes. If your truck brakes go out, the Jordan will still work, and the Prodigy won't have a clue,

I own both a Prodigy and a Voyager; Prodigy WILL NOT work with the Hensley Arrow!! RV dealer insisted on a Prodigy with the big trailer and it worked great until the Hensley was added; now back to the Voyager with no problems; the Reese and Teconsha controllers will work with the Chevy plug in lead.

on my older truck i have a different controller didnt work wellon the 29.5 trailer in town or on the highway had to adjust it all the time a real pain it would be on to hard or not enough on my 04truck i put a prod on it adjusts to the speed youer going works great never have to play with itounce its set

I agree with gwmayes. I've never owned a Prodigy, and would buy another Jordan in a heartbeat. Voltage output on the Prodigy isn't telling you that the full signal, (current), is getting to your brakes. If your truck brakes go out, the Jordan will still work, and the Prodigy won't have a clue,





If your truck brakes go out?.......http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif Edited by: Zeeb

I have a Tekonsha Envoy, it works really well with my 5th wheel camper.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/Brake_Controller.jpegEdited by: Duramaxdad

I've had a Prodigy on 2 trucks (towing TT's and Fivers) now and love them. They are much better than the pendulum or timer types. I have heard wonderful things about the Jordan but I was a bit concerned about the sensing cable (adjustments, loosening, etc.). The Prodigy uses accelerometers that electronically measure how hard you are slowing. It works on many different trailers. I tow a large fiver and many times smaller trailers for the Scouts. I only need to adjust the initial offset, it takes care of the rest. I am not sure why it doesn't work with the Hensley but I'd sure like to know. That's a good hitch if pricey.


You can get the Prodigy for about $100 on several sites. Anything less expensive and you will get either a pendulum (pain to adjust, works differently on hills) or a timer based (advertised as electronic but a pain as they just ramp the braking current up based on a preset time.).


Good Luck, Zeke

My Prodigy works very well and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. The Jordan is also appealing. I'm curious about the assertion the Prodigy won't work with the Hensley. I don't have that hitch, but I've corresponded with Hensley owners who use Prodigys quite happily. The reported problem with the Hensley is that if the trailer brakes don't "lead" the tow vehicle when slowing down the hitch will allow the trailer to lurch slightly to one side or the other. The Prodigy has a "Boost" control that allows you to dial in the amount of lead necessary for everything to work together.

There are also stories about the Hensley not working with the Duramax because of the grade braking function of the Allison. Again, I have been assured that it's not a problem. Anyway if there is a question about the Prodigy working correctly, and you can't get satisfactory advice from someone who owns one, get the Jordan. Proportional braking is worth the effort.

TC

Here's my personal experiences. Reese-SUCKS. Prodigy works very well. About 80% of the informed heavy RV crowd uses them and 99.8% are happy. Never even seen a Jordan. Love my Prodigy.





On edit: the Prodigy uses a combination of inertia and electronic sensing to apply amps to the brakes.Edited by: neverenuf

In answer to the Prodigy/Hensley deal here is where I had a big problem; the Prodigy works to act like the truck and trailer are ONE unit since they are hitched together by a solid ball or fifth wheel hitch; the Prodigy senses the amount of braking on the truck and appropriately applies the amount of electric to the trailer to stop them in the exact same proportion. I had the prodigy before the Hensley and it worked fantastic. Then because of an almost total destruction of a brand new truck and camper on I-95 due to trailer sway, I was now convinced to purchase the Hensley no matter what the cost! Now the brakes do not want to work properly. With the Hensley, the trailer actually needs to lead the truck in braking otherwise because of the way the Hensley works and "moves" either to the left or right, when the truck slows too fast the trailer "overtakes" the truck and either swings to the left or right. When the trailer swings either way, it forces the front of the truck to go the other way causing a very out of control feeling especially if your wife is driving at the time. After about 20 phone calls to Hensley (they understood the problem and said that the Prodigy is too good in sensing for the Hensley and were working on it). The brake controller needs to by the smallest amount brake slower than the truck to keep the connection at the hitch in line (straight). So for me, it was back to the Voyager! It works well with the camper and race trailer (30' Cedar Creek/10,000 lbs fully loaded)(26' Hallmark race trailer w/600 micro sprint). I do wish I could use the Prodigy, but with the Hensly it just isn't comfortable. My newsletter from Hensley says that they have a new brake controller that works with the Hensley (and any other hitch/trailer) but they have it priced at $400 which I think is very, very steep! I won't buy it until someone tells me it WORKS!


I just bought my DMAX on 1/24/04 and NEVER, EVER thought about the grade braking on the Allison messing up my Hensley. I guess we will see. We stepped up the racing program and since I am responsible for pulling the trailer two nights a week (except for the camping weekends) I needed to upgrade the truck and went with the D/A for all the towing we are going to be doing.


Sorry for the length of this, but someone asked about the Hensley/Prodigy problem I tried constantly to get it to work. Be curious how some others have it working or if they are living with the swing-over on the hitch.

Sprintmod1;


Have you tried adjusting the "boost" on the prodigy to the highest level? That really makes my trailer brake much harder than the truck and actually pulls the truck down. I guess it must be something with the parallelogram they have to make the system think it is being towed form the rear differential. I had a Pullright on my 99 Suburban (that does the same thing but actually has the hitch point at the rear diff) and it worked well with the Prodigy. Too bad you could not just go to a gooseneck for the race trailer.


Good luck anyway. Hope someone figures out a way to make it work. Have you called Prodigy to see if they can modify the timing software for you to "lead" the trailer brakes?


Zeke

Yes, we did try boost 1 and boost 2 but I did not like how much boost it gave and it did really drag down the truck and I did not feel comfortable with that much trailer brake. Plus, on wet roads and hitting the brakes at 70 mph the trailer brakes locked up and tried to pass the truck sideways. I like when the truck is in control of the trailer and not the other way around. I did try to talk to Prodigy but as soon as they heard the word "Hensley" it was "we can't handle the way that system was designed to work with our product". I know Hensley tried to speak with them about the algorithyms on it but go nowhere either.

That's a bummer. As much as I like my Prodigy, it's too bad they are not willing to work with a world class outfit like Hensley. I liked my Pullrite very much and was told by many that teh Hensley did the same thing with geometry. I will say this; a fiver towes so much better than anything else hooked behind the vehicle. You loose some trunk space but gain in trailer space.


Hope future Hensley folks will hear about this. I would have bought the BrakeSmart if I knew about it before I got the Prodigy.

I am very happy with my Prodigy brake controller. I mounted it in one of the cubby holes in the center console to give it a custom look. I have only had one problem with my Prodigy, and it has only happen two or three times. When braking at slow speeds it ups the voltage from say 1.3 or so up to 3-4 and it causes some jerking. I let off the brakes and then it acts normal for a couple of months under the same conditions. Can't quite get a feel for what causes it, but the Prodigy is a much better controller than the Voyager our RV dealer gave us when we first bought the rig. Here is a pic of the install:


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/16D_Brake_Controller.jpg

Sprintmod1,

Wander to rv.net and visit the Travel Trailer forum. There are several members there with the Hensley/Prodigy combo who seem very happy with their setup. Maybe someone there can help diagnose the problem and put the smile back on your face.

TC

I run the Prodigy and am extremely happy with it.

I've been running a Tekonsha Voyager in my last three trucks pulling my tandem toy hauler. I love it and works like a champ over the years I've had it. Easy adjustment and tuning for the applicaition and grades.


My $.02


cmc

Since my trucks brand new (5 days old) it will be a few weeks until I start towing again for the season but I did install the Prodigy last night and looked at the serial number on it. The number on it is 0234; I have had it for over two years now though. I called Prodigy this morning and they are to get back to me but they now say that there is a "revision" to the "mapping system" on that model and if I send it back, they will try to reprogram it or replace it but they will call me back later today. We will see. And I will wander over to the rv.net site also. Thanks!

Thanks for the responses. I decided to order a prodigy. BTW, will the stock harness that comes with it fit the GM harness? Did I need to order an additional harness?

Sonny Bear;


You can order the exact harness to fit your truck from whomever you got the Prodigy from. Just remember that GM changed wiring pinouts on the harness in 2002-2003 so get the later one. It just plugs in and you're all done. You may need to plug the 30A fuse into the under hood block if it was not done at the factory. Just check the harness that comes with the truck (in glove box, comes with the HD trailering option).


Zeke

I have the Prodigy, I like it better than any of the others I've had.

About a year and a half ago I purchased the Prodigy brake controller because it was so praised by most rv`ers.


I replaced a generic controler. Well in my opinion I wasted $129. The $59 generic controler worked just as well, and it seamed to be easier to adjust.

I have the Prodigy controller, and I have had NO problems at all with it, would I get another??? Yep

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gifIf the brakes should fail on the d max , shaft to hyd pump break which has happened under hard braking , the jorden will still apply the brakes fully to the trailer . Also the jorden will apply the brakes at whatever level you depress the pedel even if the abs deploys which when abs deploys you lose braking such as hitting potholes or water in the road but the trailer will still deploy . I have had many types of systems and the jorden is by far the safest and no contest compared to the other systems . Rich