I choose the Prodigy!

[Tagalong]

You may recall my saga of the Ultima 2020(see TDR post, "First run with the Ultima 2020"). I ended up purchasing the Prodigy brake controller… and I like it!
I ordered it and paid for two-day delivery. Our trip to PA was Sunday, just a couple of days away. The Prodigy was installed in (literally) minutes. I hooked up the 5er and did the preliminary adjustment without towing the 5er. Early Sunday morning I made my final adjustments as we headed out for a for an 800+ mile round trip vacation. By the time I edged onto the main street from our house (about 500') the Prodigy was adjusted. It felt just like the Jordan Ultima in its operation. Some miles later I touched the boost button on the Prodigy (b1 for those of you who own this controller) and noticed a much better "feel" when stopping with our GCVW. (I may try b2 on our next trip, which is the suggested boost setting for our GCVW.) We returned home and the only adjustment I made to the Prodigy was to increase the power another volt.

There are several notable comments I'd like to make seeing as I've had the opportunity to experience both the Ultima and the Prodigy brake controllers. First, the technology behind the "accelerometer" is well tested. It's been used in air bags for some time. Second, I like the Prodigy stopping "feel" when I have to stop quicker than I like to. With the Ultima it felt like I had to really make some movement on the brake pedal to get the same "feel" of stopping than with the Prodigy. Third, because I had to make so many "tweaks" to get the Ultima to release the trailer brakes (due to my particular installation, NOT the unit), I just felt that I didn't have to worry about the Prodigy and that's just what happened throughout our trip. After all the cable and brake pedal module adjustments I had to make with the Ultima, I began to get leery of the mechanical aspect of the way the Ultima deploys the current to the trailer brakes. I began to think that eventually I'd wind up replacing or adjusting some part of the cable assembly and/or brake pedal module on a regular basis.
In conclusion, I started out with an inertia type brake controller in 1983… it was a POS! It never stayed in adjustment and I consequently ruined a front brake rotor. My next controller was a time-based unit that… well, you all know the fun time those are, going from highway to side road driving. I'd like to end by saying the Ultima and the Prodigy are outstanding brake controllers. If you choose either one of these units you will be very satisfied with the braking and installation they offer (hint, just keep the Ultima cable installation as short and as straight as possible). With the Ultima you get one more thing… you get to deal directly with the person who makes the product and owns the company, and he is terrific to deal with! But then, the Prodigy gives you something else to consider… (under certain situations) a lifetime warranty! Oh, by the way Jordan returned my money without a question!