Braking the Cycle - A Better Brake Controller

When towing your pride and joy, you want to ensure that it’s in safe hands.

Peace of mind aside, by law, once the trailer/boat combination is over 2.5 tonne, these brakes must be operated by an in-vehicle brake controller which must have the ability to operate the trailer brakes independently of the vehicle.

Hydraulic brakes are typically operated by either an Electric Over Hydraulic (EOH) or Air Over Hydraulic (AOH) brake actuator. When setup properly they offer safe, reliable, and smooth braking. These units require an in-vehicle electric trailer brake controller and this is where things can get complicated.

A trend of late is wireless trailer brake actuators. The benefits are obvious, no dedicated wiring from the vehicle means you can theoretically tow the trailer with any suitably rated tow vehicle. But by relying on batteries, they can become unreliable. If the batteries fail or are not charged - you have no brakes at all. To charge the actuator’s batteries, you’re required to travel with your taillights on. However, if your vehicle has a regulated voltage taillight circuit or a variable voltage alternator (found in modern utes and SUVs), the batteries may not fully charge, leading to a potential no-brakes situation.

Some ETBC’s (electric trailer brake controllers) require a sensor pad mounted on the brake pedal. Not only is this an invasive installation, with holes having to be drilled into the pedal, but it is also prone to wear. Most in-vehicle ETBCs feature a control box to be mounted somewhere on the dashboard, a difficult task in modern vehicles with additional airbags and electronics. Wouldn’t you prefer a brake controller that’s unobtrusive and features the best performance on the market?

The REDARC Tow-Pro Elite V3 is this brake controller. Gone are the days of awkward, on-dash brake controllers. Featuring a professional, OEM finish, the only part of the brake controller that is visible to the user is the dial. With this dial, users can switch between Proportional mode (inertia sensing) for highway conditions and User-Controlled mode, popular for off-road use. The Tow-Pro Elite is compatible with most hydraulic actuators including the AL-KO iQ7 (except the Xtreme), Titan BrakeRite, Dexter DX & HydraStar HBA and all modern vehicles.

When ordering your next boat and trailer, make sure that the hydraulic brake actuator is compatible with the REDARC Tow-Pro Elite V3 so that you can utilise the absolute best in trailer braking performance.

For more information, visit redarcelectronics.co.nz