Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Review

Electric brake controllers and the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite are often mentioned in the same breath in Australia. The Tow-Pro Elite is the piece of gear that took the towing world by storm, revolutionising how we install and use electric brake controllers in our vehicle. 

It’s no wonder it’s become the go-to choice for Australian motorists towing a trailer over 750kg, which is the legal limit for requiring trailer brakes. Anything over that and your trailer needs its own braking system. Most trailers are fitted with an electric system, and that’s where you need an electric brake controller like the Tow-Pro Elite. 

It’s an Aussie-made unit that’s smooth, powerful, and built to handle everything from highway cruising to off-road tracks and everything in between. We have installed thousands of them at Speedy Towbars, and our team is very familiar with the benefits of this system. Before we take a look at what they are, check out Josh’s video review of the Elite: 

The Redarc Tow-Pro Elite – Premium Electric Braking

When you have Electric Brakes installed on your trailer, you need a controller like the Tow-Pro Elite to manage it. This ensures that when you brake inside the vehicle, the trailer brakes at the same time. It’s in perfect synch, thanks to the proportional ingenuity of the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite

The Tow-Pro Elite is Redarc’s premium model, designed for people who tow regularly or haul heavy loads. It’s compact, ADR-compliant, and built for Australian conditions. A single button protrudes from your dashboard, from which you have complete control of your trailer brakes. It may be easy to use, but it boasts a range of impressive features. Let’s take a look. 

Key Features of the Tow-Pro Elite

Dual-Mode Braking with Manual Override

We love that this electric brake controller offers both automatic and manual braking modes:

• Automatic: The trailer brakes proportionally to the vehicle when the driver applies the brake pedal. Meaning the unit reacts to your braking speed. This is perfect for everyday use.
• Manual: This makes the unit ‘Time Based’ meaning that based on the setting of the dial your unit will apply the trailer brakes on a time delay. This is best suited for off-roading.

It also comes with Manual Override, where you can apply the trailer brakes independently of the vehicle brakes. This is a Safety feature built in and is best suited for helping resolve trailer sway. 

Compact Dash Dial

The dash dial is simple and tidy. It mounts cleanly and takes up very little space. It uses a built-in LED ring that changes colour to alert you of the status and of any fault codes. The main control box is hidden out of sight underneath the dash – there’s no clutter in your vehicle cabin!

Compatibility

The Tow-Pro Elite works with both 12 V and 24 V systems and suits electric and electric-over-hydraulic brakes. It’s designed to work with all modern vehicles.

Safety

Safety is a huge selling point of this system. The Elite meets ADR requirements, includes built-in diagnostics, and continually monitors brake performance. It’s also self-calibrating, so once installed, it learns your towing setup and adapts automatically.

Made in South Australia, the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite is backed by a two-year warranty. It’s quality Aussie engineering you can rely on. 

Installation and Setup

Technically, you could install the Tow-Pro Elite yourself, but we recommend getting a professional installation done. There’s a bit of fine-tuning with the dash install that can be tricky, and you don’t want to end up with holes where they don’t need to be and damages to critical components of your vehicle. 

At Speedy Towbars, our technicians install Tow-Pros every day, so you can be assured of a neat, tidy and professional install. Most importantly, it’s backed by knowledge and ongoing tech support.

Once your unit is installed, it calibrates by itself – learning its direction of travel and fine-tuning its response. The only input needed from you is using the dial to set between 0 and 1, where 1 is when the unit is stationary and 10 is where the response fully matches the weight of the trailer. 

Setting 5 is the best of both worlds, a good starting point from where you can further adjust. If you feel like your trailer is pushing against your vehicle when you slow down, turn it up one increment at a time. If you feel it’s pulling, turn it back the other way. You can adjust the dial one number at a time, and there are also micro clicks between each setting for fine-tuning. 

Performance on the Road

Out on the road, the Tow-Pro Elite is smooth, reliable, and consistent. There are no delayed responses or jerky movements. Your towing setup will be a dream to drive. Manual override provides peace of mind in tricky situations, allowing you to be safe and in control.

Towing a boat, hauling work machinery or taking a caravan up the coast – whatever towing you’re doing, the Tow-Pro Elite will get you there safely. 

Pros and Cons

Let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite: 

Pros:

• Australian-made and ready for local conditions.
• Dual-mode braking with manual override.
• Compact and neat design.
• Smooth and consistent performance.
• Self-calibrating and easy to operate.

Cons:

• Can cost a bit more than entry-level models.
• Dash modification needed (normally in a blank-off panel).

Get It Installed by the Experts at Speedy Towbars

If you like what you’ve heard about the Tow-Pro Elite and have any questions about brake controllers and the other models we stock at Speedy Towbars, our team is here for you. We’re experienced with the Redarc systems, and make sure each install meets stringent Australian standards. 

If you’re looking for a neat and tidy professional install of a Redarc Tow-Pro Elite that will have you towing with confidence, we’ve got your back. Get in touch with the team today.