Caravan Brakes - Tekonsha P3

DaveP · Newbie

Caravan Brakes - Tekonsha P3

macka17 · Guru

Could be faulty.

I had one from when they came out (updating)
10 yrs or so later. Still worked fine on a 6.5mtr 3 ton van.

I set brakes so they'd lock wheels then backed off a tad.
Sliding ain't slowing.
My lever would lock 'em up.

Now. new Tug smaller van. (Tandem 18ft 2 ton)
I'm using Tekinsha 2. earlier model not so many fruits on it.
Still works the same. (dealer didn't have 3 in stock)

I always check brakes every timeI roll the van.
Daily on trips. Only takes a second.

As long as they pull you up hard. they don't need to slide tyres.
That's when the brakes are NOT working. (sliding)

It's more important to have the VAN brakes coming on a fraction bEFORE to car.

Coupla reasons.
1 you can control any starting to swing with the van .
without affecting road speed of car. Hopefully.
and it always helps to stabilise any braking when stopping in a hurry.

I never set mine much more than 5.5 to 7v from memory with big van.

DaveP · Newbie

Yeh thanks for that. I'm almost resigned to getting a new one but wanted someone to confirm that they do work as described in the directions. Theres no way my brakes will lock up on the van with the slider as they should when setting it up. D.

Jenko1 · Veteran Member

If your going to buy a new unit, look at the Redarc Pro Elite. THese monitor momentum and the harder you press the brake the more the van brakes go on.... I don't like the old style controllers..they are either on or off, not like the Elite. www.redarc.com.au/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller

-- Edited by Jenko1 on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 03:09:09 PM

DaveP · Newbie

Thanks for your response. The Tekonsha is also proportional. D.

hako · Guru

Could also be bad or too light a gauge cables from the controller to the plug, also maybe bad earth from van to tug or bad plug at trailer/tug. Try and measure voltage at back of controller by breaking into cable. Not much point buying a new controller if it ain't bad and the fault lies elsewhere.

Good Luck

Mike196 · Senior Member

Can't say I've ever had the Van brakes lock on, but it sure as hell stops when you want it to with the controller wound up.(using a Tekonsha 2)

macka17 · Guru

Ditto on the 2.

It's all you need for normal reliable towing and stopping..
All the rest in the others are just sugar to suck in the mugs
and empty their back pockets more.

I'd rather put the extra lollies towards a Torque Converter Lockup for hills and slippage,
if running an auto.

I Did. and VERY impressed with van on.

Cupie · Guru

Jenko1 wrote:
If your going to buy a new unit, look at the Redarc Pro Elite. THese monitor momentum and the harder you press the brake the more the van brakes go on.... I don't like the old style controllers..they are either on or off, not like the Elite. www.redarc.com.au/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller

-- Edited by Jenko1 on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 03:09:09 PM

I just had a trailer specialist adjust my newly installed van brakes (but that's another story) & he advised against the Redarc product. He suggested that he had experienced several that had 'burnt out' the wheel magnets.

He also poo pooed my practice of winding up the wheel adjuster to max & then backing off till the wheel turned freely with a sight 'ching ching'. He advocated backing off for 13 clicks. It certainly did the trick with my brakes, improving their operation out of sight.

Back to thread .. My new P3 is set on B2 & works well with my 2.4T van. I haven't yet adjusted the "power" setting since the professional wheel adjustment. I'll wait till I am fully loaded for the next trip. The Boost increases the sensitivity of the motion sensor to set how soon the van brakes operate in relation to the tug's. The P3 is proportional system too.

-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 28th of February 2017 08:17:08 PM