Brake Controller

To over simplify, it applies the electric brakes fitted to your trailer when you apply the brakes in your vehicle.

Get an auto electrician to install it.

They are going to get an auto electrician to install it but we were wondering where is the best place on the Landy for installation of the actual controller.

Perhaps look up a Land Rover forum and see what others have done with theirs?

A brake controller applies a voltage and current to a trailer that's fitted with Electric brakes such as the Ultimate. Without it, the trailer will try to push the Defender when you brake. I guess the Defender needs all the help it can get when pulling up. It's required by law over a certain weight (750Kg??)

There are lots of brands and models but for safety and simplicity, stick to either the Tekonsha P3 or the Redarc Towpro elite. Both normally operate in Proportional mode. In other words, the amount of braking applied to the Ultimate witl be proportional to the amount of deceleration in the Defender. You can adjust it to more or less braking at setup time. ( to accommodate different trailers or loads)

The P3 performs better on the main roads, but needs to be mounted somewhere accessible for overriding the brakes which can stop trailer sway. Generally under the dash, near the right knee if you are right handed is best. However this can be inconvenient and you may knock it with you knee when getting in and out. So the left side is acceptable. You also have to watch that you don't mount it near a knee airbag, though I doubt that would be an issue in a Defender.

The Redarc Towpro can be hidden, with a small knob mounted on the dash somewhere. It is neater and is out of the way. Again the knob should be mounted so it can be used by the preferred hand for manual override. It is neater installation. I think it's slightly more expensive than the P3

It has an off road mode which is good for steep downhill tracks.

Either will be ok. the P3 is probably easier to use and definitely reacts quicker. Expect to pay $180 - 250 on ebay or $400 if you let your Auto elec buy it. Plus fitting.

actual location of the controller will depend on which controller you select and what vehicle you are putting it in.

Quite some years ago I was wiring electricity authority vehicles ...... getting an acceptable location in landrovers was interesting. ..... they are not greatly blessed with clearance in the foot well ..... yeh and you sit crocked in them

some private people mount them on top of the dash ..... but this was not permitted in the spec.

I was fitting them near the left knee ........ some say that the controller should be used with the left hand because that is the hand you shift and use for other controls leaving the right hand on the wheel.

At the time the supply authorities and Telstra where specifying Tecncia Voyagers ..... the p3 had not been released then.

unless you are using an indash or with a seperate control you just have to put and look ...... bear in mind there my be some requirement for the orientation of the unit.

cheers