Tekonsha P2 VS P3: Brake Controllers

It’s a bright sunny day and you are all set to hit the sandy beach. You get up on your truck with your trailer loaded with surfing kits and that is when you realize you have to set up the trailer brakes all over again.

Isn’t it annoying enough to kill all your excitement? You have come to the right place if you are looking for a solution. Tekonsha P2 and P3 are top of the line trailer brake controllers that will save your time and provide you optimum safety. Our in-depth comparison proves all the pros and cons of these brakes.

Tekonsha P2 VS P3 Comparison

Tekonsha P2	Tekonsha P3
It’s designed to be used with electric or electric over hydraulic brakes for trailers	It's designed to be used with electric or electric over hydraulic brakes for trailers
Hardwire pigtail is 30"  in length	Has an LCD display whose dimensions are 1-3/16" wide x 9/16" tall
Can be mounted facing any direction	Can be mounted facing any direction
Delivers instant braking performance thanks to the Brake controller. It automatically adjust braking magnitude based on tract condition without any delay	Delivers instant braking performance thanks to the Brake controller. It automatically adjust braking magnitude based on tract condition without any delay
Detects faulty installation	Senses fault in installation
Comes with 3 Boost levels to adjust braking power and effectiveness. Continuous diagnostic looks for potential problems	Offers 5 settings to store customized functions for each trailers and for specific loads which include display settings, language preferences, boost level, brake type and power levels
Integrated safeguards ensure protection and efficiency	Integrated safeguards ensure protection and efficiency. Only draws 3.6 milliamps during idle stage
Blue LED display provides sharp and clear readings. Auto brightness comes handy in various lighting conditions	The LCD display comes loaded with features like color change and contrast adjustment
Simple detachment and storage process using the Quick-disconnect feature	Simple detachment and storage process using the Quick-disconnect feature
𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞  2003 - 2020 Toyota, Sequoia, 2007 - 2015 Toyota, Tacoma, 2010 - 2020 Lexus GX460, 2003 - 2009 Lexus GX470, 2003 - 2007 Lexus LX470, 2008 - 2011 Lexus, LX570, 2013 - 2020 Lexus, LX570, 2003 - 2013 Toyota, 4Runner, 2003 - 2011 Land Cruiser, 2013 - 2020 Land Cruiser, 2003 - 2014 Toyota, Tundra	𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 10-'20 Lexus, GX460 ; '03-'09 Lexus, GX470 ; '03-'07 Lexus, LX470 ; '08-'11 Lexus, LX570 ; '13-'20 Lexus, LX570 ; '03-'13 Toyota, 4 Runner ; '03-'11 Toyota, Land Cruiser ; '13-'21 Toyota, Land Cruiser ; '03-'20 Toyota, Sequoia ; '07-'15 Toyota, Tacoma ; '03-'14 Toyota, Tundra"
Check Price on Amazon	Check Price on Amazon

Why Compare

Tekonsha P3 is an upgrade over the P2 that can be overseen easily. Though the upgrades look small but can be a huge benefit for daily drivers. This comparison will help you justify your buying decision as there is a slight difference in their price.

Main features of Tekonsha P2

Advanced Braking System
The proportional brake controller proves smooth braking performance. It detects the deceleration speed of your tow vehicle and adjusts accordingly. Thus your trailer stops with zero delays in the smoothest way possible.

Power Boost Makes Heavy-Duty Towing Easy
Worried about braking while carrying huge loads in your trailer? Not anymore as Power Boost is the perfect solution. Enable it and get an instant boost in braking performance as soon as you press the brakes. Power Boost increases braking intensity by 28% of average intensity thus makes traveling with a loaded trailer safe.

Safety Features
This device ensures optimum safety for your towing setup. You have well protection from shorts thanks to the Integrated reverse battery protection. During idle mode, the P2 switches to power saving using only 3.6 milliamps saving your juice.

To prevent overheating P2’s “hold” feature decreases trailer braking power to just 25%. This comes in handy when you are at a traffic stoppage and need to keep the foot on the brakes for a long time. Manual override lever lets you apply brakes to your trailer while going up or down the hill. This device also runs useful diagnostics like Open ground, Output short, Power loss, No trailer connection and Overload.

Automatic Leveling & Simple Installation
The 360-degree rotational range provides mobility as you can drive through uneven terrains without sacrificing function. This device adjusts itself and ensures the same effectiveness as on even tracts.

Read Next: XLT Vs Lariat: Trim Level Comparison

Main features of Tekonsha P3

Proportional Braking
The proportional brake controller proves smooth braking performance. It detects the deceleration speed of your tow vehicle and adjusts accordingly. Thus your trailer stops with zero delays in the smoothest way possible.

Power Boost for Heavy-Duty Towing
Power Boost is the perfect solution if worried about braking while carrying huge loads in your trailer. Enable it and get an instant boost in braking performance as soon as you press the brakes. Power Boost increases braking intensity by 28% of average intensity thus makes traveling with a loaded trailer safe.

Storable Settings
The P3 lets you customize and save boost and power levels for different trailers and loads. Thus it saves time in configuring each time which is a great bonus. You just get in your truck, select one of the stored settings and you are good to go.

Highly functional LCD Display and Diagnostic Features.
The LCD display is one of the main plus points of the P3. It comes loaded with features like color change and contrast adjustment. You can change the language to suit your region. The display is crisp and bright. The P3 runs several diagnostics to looks for problems in the setup and display them. It also gives you an idea of how to troubleshoot the problem.

Safety Features
This device ensures optimum safety for your towing setup. You are well protected from shorts thanks to the Integrated reverse battery protection. During idle mode, the P2 switches to power saving using only 3.6 milliamps saving your juice.

To prevent overheating P2’s “hold” feature decreases trailer braking power to just 25%. This comes in handy when you are at a traffic stoppage and need to keep the foot on the brakes for a long time. Manual override lever lets you apply brakes to your trailer while going up or downhill. This device also runs useful diagnostics like Open ground, Output short, Power loss, No trailer connection and Overload.

Automatic Leveling and Simple Installation
The 360-degree rotational range provides mobility as you can drive through uneven terrains without sacrificing function. This device adjusts itself and ensures the same effectiveness as on even tracts.

Our Verdict

Both Tekonsha P2 and P3 are user-friendly affordable devices. As you are driving long hours with a loaded trailer in your back, safety should be your main priority. Tekonsha P2 offers safety, performance, and flexibility. It’s more than enough to enjoy a safe ride to your farmhouse and have a good time. With useful diagnostics running all the time, you can focus on the work at hand.

Tekonsha P3 takes all the goodness of P2 to a new level. It comes with better screen and customization options. It lets you save setups for different trailers and loads. Plus, you get all the safety and diagnostic features as well.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)