I have read that the Prodigy is a very good brake controller and is used by a number of those here, but what about the Jordan Ultima? I have found limited info about it in the threads. It is only a few dollars more than the Prodigy ($20 more), but is it better? It connects via a flex cable directly to the brake pedal, and from the info I've seen, appears to give the fastest and best regulated (for lack of a better word) response to the tow vehicle's braking.


I'll be towing various trailers, including a 30' TT w/ tandem axles and a 30'-32' boat w/triple axles, and a few others from time to time. Most, if not all of my towing will be in Florida...We don't have too many mountains here!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wink.gif


Sorry if this is a repeat querry...


Thanks!














Kevin

What does that unit do about anti lock braking on slippery surfaces.... My pedal goes about to the floor when they kick in... seems that would lock the trailer brakes at that time.... At least you can adjust the prodigy for bad weather..... Can you adjust the jordan?

What does that unit do about anti lock braking on slippery surfaces.... My pedal goes about to the floor when they kick in... seems that would lock the trailer brakes at that time.... At least you can adjust the prodigy for bad weather..... Can you adjust the jordan?





Good point...That is exactly why I want/need advice! I hadn't even considered that.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif














Kevin

i have a older truck with a different controller in it dont know the brand itdidnt work with ouer new trailer 29 ft had to adjust it from highway driving to city every time consantly changing it when i got the new truck i whanted somthing better bought the prod it woeks great donot have to adjust it every time

I've been using the Prodigy for about 2 years now and having nothing but good things to say about it.


In fact, when I put it in my 6.0L PSD, there was an interference problem between all the 6.0 and the Prodigy. So Tekonsha took all the prodigys back and performed the fix and sent them back with zero hastle! ~THAT'S customer service and it means alot these days...

I haven't tried the Jordan cable business, nor have I even installed the new Prodigy sitting on the coffee table...... Haven't had time nor needed it yet.


I've used a number of different controllers over the years, and while I've not used the Prodigy yet, it looks like the way to go for me.


Hang on tho, asking this question is about like asking for fuel filter advice.......http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

I'm running the Jordan controller and I'm satisified with it. I can't give a personal comparison because I haven't used the Prodigy. I made the choice after lurking on several RV groups and reading the many, many heated threads on the subject. What finally swayed me is that there were a number of posts from people who claimed to have used the Prodigy and gone to the Jordan and stated their flat-out preference for the Jordan. I didn't find any claims for the opposite situation. The Jordan is definitely harder to install. I'd guess it takes a maximum of an hour extra, but I'm sure there are many who would say that is too high of an estimate (I'm a nitpicker and take twice as long or more to do everything).

There are many arguments for specific situations of why one would be better than the other. There was one above about the ABS situation. An opposite argument is that if the tow vehicle doesn't have any traction, the Prodigy won't activate the trailer brakes beyond minimal application because its intertia sensor won't sense any deceleration. I think it's kind of like the Boeing vs. Airbus control philophsy argument. In normal situations they both work great. In unanticipated abnormal situations one system will make things better while the other makes it worse, but which one is the 'winner' changes depending on what the abnormal situation is. The one thing that's universally agreed upon is that you're looking at the two best of the mainstream brake controllers. Ranking those two appears to be an exercise that will never end.

Prodigy on all trucks since they were available.Sentinel prior to that.

In school, the first two rules of design they taught us were "form follows Function" and "K.I.S.S." (Keep It Simple, Stupid). They say that the product must do what it is intended to do and the less complicated it is, the better it is. This is why I got the Jordan. It's a simple mechanical system that does just what a brake controller should do; apply the trailer brakes at a proportional rate to that of the tow vehicle. Electronic controllers have been trying to mimic this action for many years and the Prodigy is the only one that does it well. Both will get the job done. One uses a computer and the other uses a mechanical link to the pedal. I prefer the simple mechanical system.

The Jordan has a lot of appeal, but I went with the Prodigy because of its simpler installation. It works so well I see no reason to change. I've used it with light trailers and heavy trailers. It took maybe 10 seconds, max, to make the adjustment. I was already sold on it, but after towing a friends TT with it through San Francisco and its very busy weekend traffic I have no hesitation about recommending the Prodigy to anyone. Smooth safe stops in stop and go traffic with no jerkiness or other difficulty. I also had to crash stop once and the truck and trailer came to a rapid halt as one unit. Excellent piece of work.

True the Prodigy depends on an internal computer. But we are in the modern age. Everything is controlled by computers. We are not sending these notes to each other by smokes signals.

TC

I Kinda agree with wayne above, that in icey conditions, if the tow vehicle does not slow, the trailer will not either...... EXCEPT the prodigy has boost settings... and that is how I get the extra help without too much brake.... With the boost on, when your brakes are first applied, the controller sends some extra power to the back and hold it for 2 seconds.... then back to normal... The amount of extra power depends on your boost setting... This is good and bad, and I adjust this to how bad I think the roads are.. Sometimes I want more if they are patches of ice and snow... sometimes less if they are all ice and snow.... I control the trailer braking by either pumping the brakes myself... giving boost each application or by letting the abs take care of it by keeping the foot on the petal and letting the controller do its job at the decelleration rate of the truck... That way you can control your trailer braking.





I have never used the jordan, but stayed away from it since I felt I would not be able to use my abs brakes. Maybe, in the wiring, they have some override? Dunno.. But in Michigan, my trailer will be seeing a lot of snow and ice...


Whatever way you go, you are choosing from the best controlers out there...

I'm very interested in the Prodigy & a search has found this:

RV Pro Shop

New Prodigy Controller # 90185 $99.00

Techonsha Wiring specofic harness for Chevy GMC 01-02 and 03-04 --$12.00

Total w/ shipping $122.00 Free ship -(limited time)

Checked Model# on Teconsha's site & is same #

FWIW Paulhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Beats Camping World @ about $165.00 + ship.

Correction on Camping World,----

It looks like $1.00 shipping right now so package is about $ 156.00

Have a Wizza day! Goin up to 45 degrees today from avg. 10........
paulhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif

Prodigy,


Easy to hook up, easy to adjust.


I had a panic stop in the rain while pulling about 8,000 lbs. The ABS was working on the truck and yes the pedal went pretty far down. I could feel the trailer just slightly pulling and helped to hold everything straight. So I feel I got my $$$ worth out of the Prodigy on just that trip.


I got mine from the RV Pro Shop like Two Dogs has listed. $120. + change & free shipping back then also.


OH one thing, if you ever plan on running a Hensley Arrow, the Prodigy will not work with it.








Edited by: HD-Nate

FWIW.....Prodigy & GM harness = $115.98 free shipping!
RJay's Performance Center = Great people to do business with!

HD-Nate,

You got my attention!!!!
Prodigy won't work with Hensley???
Any more information on the reason?
I have an Equal-i-zer now & I am very happy with its performance but I must admit that the Hensley is a lot of Hitch....

Any info??
Two Dogs
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

I have the Prodigy brake controller. It is the best one I have owned (I've owned three in the 30 years I've towed.) The breaking action is perfect. Easy install. Plugs right into the block under the dash. Make sure you buy the right GM adapter for your year. I had to buy a '03 specific cord because GM changed the wiring around in '03.


I mounted it under the dash using three tie wraps and no drilling. the tie wraps slide around a metal frame that supports the plastic dash. It's a strong install. It took about 15 minutes to install.


Once you set it up for your load your done. Even that was easy.


Try rvwholesalers.com. It's 98.99

I can't thank you guys enough...I'm sold on the Prodigy and appreciate all of the insight from real world users of the products. To me, that is the kind of information that counts.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif


I have one final question.


Do I need a GM adapter when I buy the Prodigy, or is the electric brake wiring harness that came with my '02 sufficient?








Thanks again to everyone!


Kevinhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

For $8.99 the cable is the way to go, just plug & play! No splice and no tape. (www.rjays.com) You can use the leads that came with your truck just be careful when matching the wires. They may not go color for color!! Good luck!

I have one final question.


Do I need a GM adapter when I buy the Prodigy, or is the electric brake wiring harness that came with my '02 sufficient?


Thanks again to everyone!


Kevinhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif





I guess that probably depends on how "clean" you want it to be. The harness that came with my truck has five wires, the one's you'd expect and a brown one listed as "controller illumination" which I don't think the Prodigy will use. The Prodigy comes with the standard four wire out plug, so you butt splice those ends together. They even include the butt splices. If you get the Prodigy harness for your truck, there will be a plug on each end, but you'll need to pay attention to colors of the wires. There's another thread on this somewhere here, but I think it refers to changes made by GM between '02 and '03.

#3015 O.E.M. Style Wire Harness for GM models equipped with trailer tow option.
Fits:
03-04 GM P/U 1500-3500 CK and Silverado Models
03-04 GM P/U 2500-3500 HD Models

#3025 O.E.M. Style Wire Harness for GM models equipped with trailer tow option.
Fits:
99-02 GM P/U 1500-3500 CK and Silverado Models
02 GM P/U 2500-3500 HD Models