dave14117
Redmond, Wa
Full Member
Joined: 05/03/2004
View Profile
|
Having braking issue with my Cameo 35' 5'er and Chev Dually with a Prodigy controller, all 2007's. It seems that a panic stop or braking while going very slowly the brakes work ok. But normal braking I don't feel the rig "leading" the braking like I want. When I pull the manual lever while braking the truck, I do feel the trailer being slowed. Is it possible the proportional braking thing isn't working properly? Or what? I did have one mechanic say the digital controllers are flaky, but I used to read that Prodigy is the best. Thanks for any help
Thanks,
Dave
|
bldrbuck
one or the other
Senior Member
Joined: 02/11/2001
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
If you are positive that the trailer brakes are adjusted correctly I would check the brake wire from the controller to the magmets.
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 35' King of the Road 5er, 192 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 2 Trogan T105 Batteries, Me, my wife and 2 maltize furkids.
|
mapguy
Puget Sound
Senior Member
Joined: 09/02/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
Have you set up the controller using the Prodigy Owners Manual procedure? If not this will get you stopping better.
You are going to find that with the bigger trailers like yours and mine, 14K Toyhauler fifth wheel, that the Prodigy/P2/P3 needs two differing set-ups to be smoooooooooth in operation. The set-up that is smooth operating at low speed won't stop very well at highway speeds. The high speed set-up will be herky-jerky in low speed operation. This is the nature of the beast due to the way it computes the engery output to the brake magnets.....
To solve this difference really IMO requires a different brake controller like the MaxBrake or Brakesmart or Jordon (no longer made).
I run mine at the high speed set-up all the time now due to having a little white knuckle experience because I forgot to readjust the controller after leaving town on a trip.....
|
Sealyn
Northern California
New Member
Joined: 06/24/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Prodigy has a boost setting which you may need to increase. I found out if I turn it up as per instructions, slow driving stops are too aggressive for me. Although I too have had felt that the trailer brakes were not doing enough at speed, I found out different when I did not have the plug secure and went to stop with no trailer brakes, they were doing there job without me feeling anything much, I like it that way.
|
jdog
Some Place
Senior Member
Joined: 04/09/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
The Prodigy does not work well with heavy trailers. I too used have a prodigy that did not work well with my bigger trailer. You need a more expensive better controllar that can handle the higher amps that are needed for your bigger brakes. As suggested, you need one like a Hensely Tru-Control, Brake Smart, MaxBrake, or even the factory GM controllars. All these are designed to work best with your heavy trailer. When you have a heavy trailer, you need a better controllar. Before I changed to Tru-Control, I was warping my brake rotors and wearing out my brake pads on my truck because the Prodigy made my truck brakes work harder. Going down mountain grades would cause my truck brakes to over heat fast. When I changed the controllar and not doing anything to my trailer brakes made a huge difference. Well worth it!
* This post was
edited 07/29/10 04:36pm by jdog *
|
|
|
sch911
Rochester Hills, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 04/13/2003
View Profile
|
The Prodigy works just fine with "bigger" trailers and is one of the "more expensive" controllers on the market.
Sounds to me like you haven't adjusted the gain properly. Have you tried the B2 and B3 settings?
* This post was
edited 07/29/10 07:37pm by sch911 *
Chrysler/Dodge/Ram/Jeep Engineer
2003 Damon Challenger 348 Class A - F53 Triton V10
|
pcm1959
home
Senior Member
Joined: 01/23/2007
View Profile
 Online
|
dave14117 wrote:Having braking issue with my Cameo 35' 5'er and Chev Dually with a Prodigy controller, all 2007's. It seems that a panic stop or braking while going very slowly the brakes work ok. But normal braking I don't feel the rig "leading" the braking like I want. When I pull the manual lever while braking the truck, I do feel the trailer being slowed. Is it possible the proportional braking thing isn't working properly? Or what? I did have one mechanic say the digital controllers are flaky, but I used to read that Prodigy is the best. Thanks for any help
Also, if you have the E-Z lube type of grease fittings on your hubs and have recently used them, it's possible a rear seal is blown. If so, grease would be on the brake linings and drums reducing braking. I know of many a guy whose been there - including self. Just my cents. pcm
|
dave14117
Redmond, Wa
Full Member
Joined: 05/03/2004
View Profile
|
I am running P2 or P3, so am getting all the gain the controller has to offer. Don't think grease is on the shoes as the brakes do work pretty well on manual. I will take a look at some of the other controllers.
|
jdog
Some Place
Senior Member
Joined: 04/09/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
sch911 wrote:The Prodigy works just fine with "bigger" trailers and is one of the "more expensive" controllers on the market.
Sounds to me like you haven't adjusted the gain properly. Have you tried the P2 and P3 settings?
That's the first time someone said that Prodigy was one of the "more expensive" controllars on the market. Also I am going by my own experience with the two different controllars.
|
double clutch
1/2 of the time bellingham ; more or less
Full Member
Joined: 08/06/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
Hello
I am slowly learning the adjustments on mine. Before I set out I have set it at 6.9 or 7.1 then when I am out on the road I have it set on p3 when in town p1 or off.
Thanks for in info on the Maxbrake and other controllers will look at them. Not at that point yet that I would replace the Prodigy.
My 2004 Dodge does not have an exhaust brake and I feel that my braking could be increased by adding a Jak or an Pac Brake
GL
Don
Don and Penni and our dog Darby
2004 Dodge 3500
2010 Jayco Designer 35 RLTS
|
|
|
