lectric80
3/4 ton status
Ok, as most of you on the site know, I have a 1980 K5 that I plan to use for towing a newer trailer. It is getting really close to the time for me to buy the new trailer, so I need to get a controller for the brakes. My old tent trailer had no brakes.
I have been looking at the Tekonsha Prodigy controller, and will probably go with it. However, what are other people using in their Blazers, and what are the pros/cons of the controllers? I thought about the P3, but most of the features would be wasted on the short wheelbase Blazer.
Here is my biggest concern, the trailers I am looking at are right at the upper limit for the Blazer to tow, meaning nearing 4500 GVWR. While I realize that is the max weight of the trailer, I want maximum control while towing. I plan to use a sway control/equalizer type hitch, but I still want to make sure my trailer brakes can be controlled should any sway or fishtailing develop while towing.
Since these trailers are between 22' and 25' with such a short wheel base tow vehicle, I want to make sure I can simply hit a button to apply a bit of trailer brake if a sway occurs. The Tekonsha stuff doesn't have the more conventional slide that I am used to seeing, so do they have just a button to apply brakes without hitting the brakes on the truck?
The place I typically tow my trailer to has a pretty steep and curvy downhill when leaving. This makes me very concerned about making sure I make my Blazer systems work well with a heavy long trailer like this.
Before anyone says it, I will not buy a pickup to tow. My Blazer is my tow vehicle, and that is not going to change. Besides the trucks from our generation cannot have all five of us in them, unless they are a crew cab with a 40 acre turning radius (no offense intended to any crew cab owners). I like the compact size of the Blazer, as well as the ability to haul my family, trailer, and all my gear, then go wheeling once the trailer is dropped. And, I grew up with my Dad having only a 74 F250 highboy, and we rode in the back under the shell, that doesn't seem very safe for my kids, so it is out of the question.
Sorry for such a long winded post, I just want the best that I can get.
I have been looking at the Tekonsha Prodigy controller, and will probably go with it. However, what are other people using in their Blazers, and what are the pros/cons of the controllers? I thought about the P3, but most of the features would be wasted on the short wheelbase Blazer.
Here is my biggest concern, the trailers I am looking at are right at the upper limit for the Blazer to tow, meaning nearing 4500 GVWR. While I realize that is the max weight of the trailer, I want maximum control while towing. I plan to use a sway control/equalizer type hitch, but I still want to make sure my trailer brakes can be controlled should any sway or fishtailing develop while towing.
Since these trailers are between 22' and 25' with such a short wheel base tow vehicle, I want to make sure I can simply hit a button to apply a bit of trailer brake if a sway occurs. The Tekonsha stuff doesn't have the more conventional slide that I am used to seeing, so do they have just a button to apply brakes without hitting the brakes on the truck?
The place I typically tow my trailer to has a pretty steep and curvy downhill when leaving. This makes me very concerned about making sure I make my Blazer systems work well with a heavy long trailer like this.
Before anyone says it, I will not buy a pickup to tow. My Blazer is my tow vehicle, and that is not going to change. Besides the trucks from our generation cannot have all five of us in them, unless they are a crew cab with a 40 acre turning radius (no offense intended to any crew cab owners). I like the compact size of the Blazer, as well as the ability to haul my family, trailer, and all my gear, then go wheeling once the trailer is dropped. And, I grew up with my Dad having only a 74 F250 highboy, and we rode in the back under the shell, that doesn't seem very safe for my kids, so it is out of the question.
Sorry for such a long winded post, I just want the best that I can get.
