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Old 05-10-2011, 04:42 PM   #1
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Always leave brake controller in vehicle?

My truck is my daily driver. Whenever I come back from a camping trip, I always disconnect the brake controller harness and store the controller itself in a garage drawer rather than leave it in the vehicle. Do folks here just leave the controller connected in the tow vehicle all the time, or do you remove it after each camping trip? I remove it because it's kind of distracting with it lit up when I'm not towing. Also it may be attractive to thieves. But I'm thinking about just leaving it in there all the time, and wiring in a switch so i can turn it off when not towing.
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Old 05-10-2011, 04:55 PM   #2
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I leave my controller connected and in the TV all the time. I'm not worry about thieves as it's not a hot commodity.
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Old 05-10-2011, 05:01 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by Laura & Rick View Post
I leave my controller connected and in the TV all the time.
Me too. If I were to take it out, I'd loose it.
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Old 05-10-2011, 05:04 PM   #4
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leave it in.
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Old 05-10-2011, 05:26 PM   #5
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I didn't know I COULD take it out!
And I'm almost dead certain I wouldn't be able to get it back in

Francesca
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Old 05-10-2011, 05:47 PM   #6
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Me too. If I were to take it out, I'd loose it.
Me too!
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Old 05-10-2011, 06:49 PM   #7
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If I am not towing for a long time I may disconnect it (there's a plug in the line) and stow it in the glove compartment. I never take it out of the vehicle though.
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Old 05-10-2011, 07:02 PM   #8
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Hi ThomasE I drive a truck and I also leave it in...it's not at eye level so....
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Old 05-10-2011, 07:12 PM   #9
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My truck is my daily driver. Whenever I come back from a camping trip, I always disconnect the brake controller harness and store the controller itself in a garage drawer rather than leave it in the vehicle. Do folks here just leave the controller connected in the tow vehicle all the time, or do you remove it after each camping trip? I remove it because it's kind of distracting with it lit up when I'm not towing. Also it may be attractive to thieves. But I'm thinking about just leaving it in there all the time, and wiring in a switch so i can turn it off when not towing.
I wired in a switch too,in my Ranger, and after a little while didn't bother to shut it off,it has now been about 5-6 years with no problems.
In fact, even though they are removable,I have installed a separate one in my Escape with no switch, and permanently wired, I'm just too lazy to switch them back and forth!
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Old 05-10-2011, 08:21 PM   #10
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My Prodigy go into sleep mode if it isn't used for a few minutes. No real need to disconnect it to save the battery. I read somewhere it only draws a few mils in sleep mode.

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Old 05-10-2011, 08:41 PM   #11
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I don't have one yet. NO BRAKES!
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Old 05-10-2011, 09:13 PM   #12
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My Prodigy go into sleep mode if it isn't used for a few minutes. No real need to disconnect it to save the battery. I read somewhere it only draws a few mils in sleep mode.

Marv
True... but the first time I heard the Prodigy "checking" the brakes every few seconds while I was settling down to sleep, it was a bit disconcernting, now [like a clock on the wall] I don't even hear it!
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Old 05-10-2011, 09:21 PM   #13
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I don't get it. We used an electric brake on a 5th wheel grain trailer.
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Old 05-11-2011, 07:07 AM   #14
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Mine is hardwired and by left knee -- hard for thieves to see and no value to them anyway. It's a POD; no battery draw when no trailer.
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Old 05-11-2011, 01:17 PM   #15
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Seems like nobody removes it, I'll probably just leave it in for good on the next camping trip. I used the sleeve to mount the Prodigy so it's easy to slide out each time. But there's a little clip that holds the wire connector in at the back of the controller, and every time I remove it I'm worried I'll snap that little clip off.
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Old 05-11-2011, 03:53 PM   #16
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If I removed everything that I'm concerned about, I would need a wagon to haul it in. i Just park in a good area, hide the GPS and keep other valuables out of site, lock the vehicle and hope for the best.
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Old 05-11-2011, 04:10 PM   #17
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Yep, that clip in a pain to undo.
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Old 05-11-2011, 06:16 PM   #18
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I pull mine in the winter just to reduce the drain. The truck only sees once a week use and the cold is hard on the battery anyway.
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Old 05-12-2011, 01:20 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by ThomasE View Post
My truck is my daily driver. Whenever I come back from a camping trip, I always disconnect the brake controller harness and store the controller itself in a garage drawer rather than leave it in the vehicle. Do folks here just leave the controller connected in the tow vehicle all the time, or do you remove it after each camping trip? I remove it because it's kind of distracting with it lit up when I'm not towing. Also it may be attractive to thieves. But I'm thinking about just leaving it in there all the time, and wiring in a switch so i can turn it off when not towing.
ThomasE

I rarely notice my brake controller because 8t's lower than my normal field of view. Today, because of your post, I looked at it and the display was off. It appears that after a period of non use it simply shuts off the display.

Norm
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Old 05-12-2011, 04:40 PM   #20
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Originally Posted by ThomasE View Post
My truck is my daily driver. Whenever I come back from a camping trip, I always disconnect the brake controller harness and store the controller itself in a garage drawer rather than leave it in the vehicle. Do folks here just leave the controller connected in the tow vehicle all the time, or do you remove it after each camping trip? I remove it because it's kind of distracting with it lit up when I'm not towing. Also it may be attractive to thieves. But I'm thinking about just leaving it in there all the time, and wiring in a switch so i can turn it off when not towing.
I leave mine in and connected. I have done this with all of my TV's over a period of 30 years. Only problem I had was the lever on the side got bumped off and the light did not light when I hit the brakes the first time before I found it. Never had a a problem. I have even transferred the same controller three times to different vehicles.

One night my truck was broken into. They didn't touch it. Most people don't know what it is. I know this because every time a new passenger gets in my truck, they ask me what it is when they see the red light come on. I tell them its the ejector seat warning light...
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