Best Trailer Brake Controllers For 2022

The Tekonsha P3 is the closest thing on the aftermarket to a factory trailer brake controller in appearance. A large LED readout screen shows battery, brake and output voltages and the current of the system. It can also flash a warning if there’s a failure in the braking system. Brightness, contrast and even language (English, Spanish, and French) are configurable. The P3 can control up to four axles, and there’s a boost feature to modulate braking power. Braking is adjusted via two very big buttons—easy for a driver to use while at the wheel. The only real downside is its price.  This kind of capability and feature content does not come cheap.

The Reese Towpower covers the basics at a low price.  It can control up to four axles and features adjustable levels of brake boost. There’s a small LED readout screen that shows voltage, a diagnostic output for troubleshooting, a boost feature for emergency braking and four buttons that are easy to distinguish while driving. The only potential drawback is that those buttons are on the top of the unit, which limits installation options. The Towpower includes a connector that the instructions claim is universal, but some buyers have reported that they needed to purchase an additional harness to install it on their vehicle.

In terms of functionality, the Tekonsha Prius IQ can control up to three axles, has a boost setting and an LED readout. Among traditional aftermarket trailer brake controllers, the it’s also probably the easiest to install. It literally snaps into place, though there’s also a detachable electric connector. The Primus also self-diagnoses on a regular basis and sends alerts to the easily readable LED screen. The downside is that for a product with ease of installation, not everything necessary is in the box.  Vehicle-specific wiring harnesses cost extra and come separately.

The Reese Towpower Brakeman is best suited for very small camping or light equipment trailers. Its solid-state construction means no moving parts inside, which makes it simple, inexpensive, and reliable. But it also means that it delivers braking to the trailer at a fixed rate—not proportional to the pressure being applied to the brakes of the vehicle doing the towing. The driver can adjust the braking with a thumbwheel, but it’s nowhere near as precise as proportional systems and there is no readout to tell the driver what’s happening. It also doesn’t come with a wiring connector. 

Tech-friendly drivers may find the Curt Echo to be the opening shot in a revolution of trailer brake controllers. There’s only one piece—and it goes outside the vehicle. It plugs into a trailer’s seven-pin connector and communicates with a smartphone app via Bluetooth for information and input. It can easily be moved from one vehicle to another. But its strengths are also its downsides. A large-screen smartphone, a secure phone mount, remembering to keep the phone charged and a flawless Bluetooth connection are requirements. Lose any one of those elements and there’s trouble. It’s also steeply priced compared to traditional controllers.