Redarc Tow Pro Brake controller.

[pearcey]

G`day Cuppa
Spot on there mate, I have towed a camper trailer all over this country and have never used the slide.
I have only once used it with the van on and that was in Tassie where we had to stop halve way up a steep incline as the bloke in front was sliding back (this was on a bitumen road ). he missed a gear and when he got it in he stalled the engine, with all wheels locked he was sliding back down the hill towards us. I stopped and the same thing happened to us, we started to slide backwards so I used the slide, OK it locked the van brakes but that didn`t help too much as the vehicle with its wheels locked had gathered enough momentum to break the vans traction as well. 40 mts later we came to a stop had to used low range to get mobile up the hill. Worst thing was I had no control as with the wheels locked no steering, just had to wait for things to stop moving as if I had released the brakes to gain control we would never had stopped it and probably endede up off the road and over the edge.Sorry I digress,over 20 years of towing work trailers ,camper trailers and caravans I`ve only had to use it once. Also it panic situations most people would forget that its there.
Beers and Cheers Pearcey

[macca]

Bit confused...

Doesn't the Redarc in manual operate the same as the teckonsha slide?

Push the knob in and twist to the desired level of brake.

[Cuppa]

I’ll tell you once I have it all installed Macca, It’s possible that it works as you suggest, but my belief is that in manual mode you still use the foot brake & as soon as the brake lights come on (i.e. very light/ineffectual vehicle braking) the van brakes come on at the pre-set dialled in setting. I am uncertain if turning the knob once braking has commennced will increase/decrease van braking in the same ay as the Tekonsha slide does.

[big_fletch]

I’ll tell you once I have it all installed Macca, It’s possible that it works as you suggest, but my belief is that in manual mode you still use the foot brake & as soon as the brake lights come on (i.e. very light/ineffectual vehicle braking) the van brakes come on at the pre-set dialled in setting. I am uncertain if turning the knob once braking has commennced will increase/decrease van braking in the same ay as the Tekonsha slide does.

I have installed quite a few of these units now and am planning on getting one soonish as well.
In automatic mode you dial in your level of braking and the unit has roughly a half second delay when applying the brakes as it reads how heavy you have hit them. Pushing the button on the brake unit will manually apply the brakes and yes you are able too adjust the braking level while doing this just like the Tekonsha slide.
Manual mode works just like the Tekonsha slide as well. After depressing the brakes only enough too bring the lights on the unit will brake the camper at your preset level, once again you can still depress the knob on the unit and adjust braking level on the go just like a slide.

I have driven multiple vehicles with big caravans with these units on and in automatic mode once set, if you brake lightly you don't have the pulling feeling of the van dragging you backwards.
But if you stand on the brakes in an emergency the car and van pull up amazingly quick

[Colininchch]

Cuppa,

The guys at Tracktrailer recommend the Tekonsha. I had a Rearc in my FJ Cruiser (the direct type) and I didn't like it. Have just bought a 98 Patrol and need to fit a controller so was going to go with the Tekonsha. The Tvan tows brilliantly though.

[Cuppa]

Cuppa,

The guys at Tracktrailer recommend the Tekonsha. I had a Rearc in my FJ Cruiser (the direct type) and I didn't like it. Have just bought a 98 Patrol and need to fit a controller so was going to go with the Tekonsha. The Tvan tows brilliantly though.

I suspect that that recommendation is one which Track have made previously & if still current may change when the TowPro has been around for a while. I think there is no question that the previous Redarc brake controller & the Tekonsha units were ‘chalk & cheese’, but the TowPro has changed that.

So far I’ve fitted the Towpro control unit ( behind the driver side kick panel) & the control knob (into one of the small knockout panels on the right of the steering wheel) plus run wires into the engine compartment. Still to run wires to the rear of the vehicle. If anyone else is planning to fit one of these, I would advise using a vertical rather than horizontal knockout panel for the control knob if you can. Because the knockout panels faces are curved using a small horizontal one can cause some grief, it did for me, although I eventually overcame it.

[Bigcol]

hey Cuppa - have a look at this......
you may have already sorted it, but,.........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPTy...u4M7weIJaBX-Rb

[TimE]

Digging up an old thread.

Cuppa how does the Towpro perform? Are you happy with it?

I ask because I'm looking at a Vista RV that has electric brakes, so I to will need a brake controller, and favour the Towpro for the same reasons you did.

[Cuppa]

Hi TimE,
Yes I am happy with it, I find I can stop quicker with the Tvan hitched up than I can solo. To date we’ve really only done a few short trips with the Tvan & I continue to adjust the dial settings each time, but think set at around 5 or 6 (out of 10) is best so far. Given the light weight of the Tvan compared to the 3 tonne monsters some folk tow using the towpro I was a bit surprised I needed more than 2 or 3, but I guess this has more to do with the brakes suiting the van. If I turn it up above 8 it’s easy enough to lock up the Tvan brakes. I haven’t really used it in ‘manual’ mode (other than to test it worked), & although I doubt it’s likely I’d ever get a sway up with a Tvan, I was quite reassured by the ‘light braking’ which can be applied to the van wheels only just by pressing the redarc knob when in auto (proportional) mode. I’ve never had a Tekonsha or any other brake controller,but would be happy to buy a Towpro again. It was easy to install &to calibrate.

I got shown through a VistaRV recently - very very nice. I do wish they had indoor cooking though. A definite step up from the Tvan albeit at a small weight & size cost. The folk who showed be theres were on their 2nd one. The first they had bingled, not a huge amount of damage, but because the things are so solidly made they are almost impossible to repair, so the insurance company wrote it off & they got a new replacement .......... so make sure you have good insurance.

[TimE]

Cuppa, thanks for that.

Yep, good insurance has always been a priority. Have little sympathy for those that "loose the lot" and cry about not being insured and expect a hand out (you gambled, you lost).