Brake controller

[Salt pilot]

Howdy,
Hoping to get experience based facts on installing a brake controller on my 2021 Telluride EX with tow package including the S9F67 AC060 pigtail in the glovebox. Any recommendations will be appreciated. Cheers

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Howdy,
Hoping to get experience based facts on installing a brake controller on my 2021 Telluride EX with tow package including the S9F67 AC060 pigtail in the glovebox. Any recommendations will be appreciated. Cheers

Welcome. Moving this into the Telluride Brakes forum.

 

[2020Telly]

It's my understanding that there are basically three types of electronic brake controllers:
- Time Delay
- Proportional
- Proportional with manual override

The time delay ones tend to be the least expense out there and some people on the forum have reported issues. Depends on what you are towing and for how long, but in general I don't think you can go wrong skipping the time delay and going with a reasonably priced brand name proportional. The fancier you get the more you can customize the feel for whatever you are towing. Then of course the location of the box or if you choose one of the knob options (like the Redarc Tow-Pro or Curt Spectrum) and where you put it is a factor if leg room is a concern.

A lot of people like the Curt Echo that doesn't require a box in the cabin but the major flaw is that it can be stolen. HOWEVER, if you are okay with using your phone and you have wiring to the cabin, I think one of the best options I've seen is the Curt Echo Under-Dash (#51190). It's priced as a high end proportional but you can install it completely hidden and don't need to drill holes in any visible dash parts. It basically does it's thing without the phone and if you want to control, monitor or adjust sensitivity you can use a bluetooth phone app called Curt ECHO Smart Control. I don't think you could get a cleaner install on a 2021 with the S9F67 AC060 pigtail.

Since the Telluride has a wired (not wireless) connection for CarPlay and Android Auto for phone projection, in my opinion, the only thing that would make the Curt Echo better as a brake controller would be if they added CarPlay compatibility to the app and allowed your phone to connect via Bluetooth to the brake controller and control the app through the infotainment screen with CarPlay (or Android Auto).

 

[Grosek]

Howdy,
Hoping to get experience based facts on installing a brake controller on my 2021 Telluride EX with tow package including the S9F67 AC060 pigtail in the glovebox. Any recommendations will be appreciated. Cheers

I guess the question is why is the brake controller not included in the tow package? Specs are quick to report 5500# tow rating with tow package but 99% of towing regulations say you cannot tow over 1600 lbs without brakes. So it is like saying the cars seats 7 but only comes with 3 seatbelts?

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[2020Telly]

I guess the question is why is the brake controller not included in the tow package? Specs are quick to report 5500# tow rating with tow package but 99% of towing regulations say you cannot tow over 1600 lbs without brakes. So it is like saying the cars seats 7 but only comes with 3 seatbelts?

Long standing discussion going back to 2019. It’s because there are trailering options that have hydraulic surge brakes. So you have brakes on your trailer but they aren’t electronic hence you don’t need an electronic brake controller. This is how Uhaul can rent a trailer with brakes but only require a 4-pin with no brake controller. Same case on some boat and horse trailers. Personally, I don’t know why I would want to buy a brake controller from Kia. By not having it in the towing package you can go for the best of breed and upgrade if you don’t like it or newer technology comes along. This also allows someone to share the brake controller between vehicles. I think for the money you could get a better electronic brake controller from the likes of Tekonsha, Redarc, Curt, Reese, etc over some generic option Kia and Hyundai relicensed that most dealer service departments wouldn’t know how to safely operate to help you.

The bigger question I have is when serious towing requires sway control and stiffer suspension, why does putting softer springs and self-leveling technology similarly used on motorcycles mean you should market it as a towing package of all things? It’s my understanding that there is a minor light towing benefit. If you do serious towing you are going to wear out those expensive shocks faster and risk rear suspension damage and unsafe towing conditions. The incorrect implication is that a level backend is a load leveling solution when you didn’t actually reduce any strain on the rear suspension and rear brakes like a proper load leveling.