I am sorta looking around for a new toy box. I need an electronic brake controller. I was looking at the Valley Odyssey (TM) Electric Trailer Brake Controller. Is this a good one? If I bought the wiring kit for the Ford truck would I have to splice anything? Anyone have anything like this and how do you like it?

 

if you have the tow package you should already have the necessary wires.... there is a plug that plugs in and you just need to make the connections to the controller. at least thats how my 05 was.. it took all of 15 mins

 

Yea I have the plug under my dash...I would rather just have a plug and play kind of thing...And another thing..how well would these trucks handle a 20ft toy hauler trailer on a super steep grade?

 

Not sure about that controller but have the Prodigy and it is really good. It has a digital readout that tells you how much the brakes are being applied instead of an led light.

And how much does the trailer weigh? I tow a flat bed trailer that weighs about 8000 lbs. You can definitely tell that it is there but it tows pretty good.

 

I wouldn't consider anything but a Prodigy for the performance and money. I paid $99 at Rvwholesalers.com and an extra $9.95 for the direct plug in wiring harness. Took about 15 minutes to install. I set mine over 2 years ago and haven't touched it since. I installed mine with 2 screws on a little plate next to the parking brake release. The harness plugs in to a plug near where the steering column enters the cab. Mine was light gray.

 

if you have to tow package, your truck should have also came with 2 things in a plastic bag.

1. Wiring harness to plug in under dash
2. Relay/Fuse to plug in under the hood.

I'd run a prodigy brake controller.

 

Add another vote for the Prodigy. As far as towing goes... With your current setup IE: lift, tires ect I think you would have a hard time towing a 20' toyhauler loaded with anything up a grade. Unless you changed out gears to a 4:10 or better. I tow 8000#+ with my truck and it is stock height and has stock tires. I wouldn't want to pull it up a really steep grade. I have had it in the mountains of NC and it pulled fine but it did downshift to 2nd. I was able to maintain speed and keep up with traffic. My TT is 31' long plus hitch length which comes out to 34'.

 

If for some reason you dont have the pigtail, I have an extra one.

 

Thanks guys...I have the pigtail and I have regeared to 4:10. Trailer wieghs around 7000 unloaded.

 

What does that fuse that comes with the OEM wiring do?. I bought my 150 used with a tow package and it didnt come with the wiring adapter for the brake controller. It didnt look like the aftermarket adapter comes with that fuse - dont know if I need it.

 

It allows the brake controller to power the plug in the back so you have brakes.

 

So is it required? Do the aftermarket adapters have this fuse?
Thx

 

You have to have it for any aftermarket brake controller.

 

Prodigy FTW!

 

With toys and gear+ propane and water + gasoline and food you're looking at the 9000-10000# range if not higher. Your into 250 territory all day long with a deisel. On top of all those numbers you have to be concerned with tounge weight also. I would say no way. My TT has a dry weight of 6380, it as actually more like 6900# real numbers. If you're getting the #'s from a brochure or the sticker in the cabinet you can forget about it. They don't include Batteries, propane, AC, awning, microwave, and any other options that might be in or on it. As far as the the fuse goes... It will plug into the fuse box under the hood to power the wiring that goes to the rear of the truck and to the brake controller. No fuse= no power. The pigtail that we're talking about will plug directly into the controller and directly into the plug under the dash to the right side of the steering wheel. It is a 4 pin grey connector. It will have a blue, red, black, and white wire in it.