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05-10-2011, 04:42 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2000 Burro 17 ft / 2001 Toyota Tundra V8 2wd
Posts: 339
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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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05-10-2011, 04:55 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 19 ft
Posts: 134
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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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05-10-2011, 05:01 PM
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#3
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Moderator
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Laura & Rick
I leave my controller connected and in the TV all the time.
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Me too. If I were to take it out, I'd loose it.
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
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05-10-2011, 05:04 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Greg
Trailer: 72 Boler American
Indiana
Posts: 1,557
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leave it in.
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05-10-2011, 05:26 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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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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05-10-2011, 05:47 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Trailer: 92 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 11,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson
Me too. If I were to take it out, I'd loose it.
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Me too!
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05-10-2011, 06:49 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,021
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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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05-10-2011, 07:02 PM
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#8
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Member
Name: Michael
Trailer: Bigfoot 25B25RQ
BC
Posts: 98
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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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05-10-2011, 07:12 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThomasE
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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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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05-10-2011, 08:21 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Trailer: Casita
Posts: 167
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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
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05-10-2011, 08:41 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Cyndi
Trailer: 2010 Scamp 5th Wheel/2019 Toyota Tundra
Iowa
Posts: 1,105
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I don't have one yet. NO BRAKES!
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05-10-2011, 09:13 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marv
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
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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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05-10-2011, 09:21 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Cyndi
Trailer: 2010 Scamp 5th Wheel/2019 Toyota Tundra
Iowa
Posts: 1,105
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I don't get it. We used an electric brake on a 5th wheel grain trailer.
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05-11-2011, 07:07 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Trailer: 16 ft Scamp Side Dinette
Posts: 310
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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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05-11-2011, 01:17 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2000 Burro 17 ft / 2001 Toyota Tundra V8 2wd
Posts: 339
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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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05-11-2011, 03:53 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,640
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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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05-11-2011, 04:10 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 19 ft
Posts: 134
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Yep, that clip in a pain to undo.
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05-11-2011, 06:16 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Trailer: Trillium 2010
Posts: 5,185
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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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05-12-2011, 01:20 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Name: Norm and Ginny
Trailer: Scamp 16
Florida
Posts: 7,517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThomasE
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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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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05-12-2011, 04:40 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Name: Michael
Trailer: 1985 16 ft Scamp
Ohio
Posts: 107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThomasE
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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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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