How To Set Brake Controller

It doesn't matter if your truck came with a brake controller pre-installed at the manufactory or if you are using an after-market restriction controller, one of the most important steps before towing is to setup the controller for your trailer.  Properly setting upwardly your brake controller will ensure that your trailer's brakes are doing their part in bringing yous to a stop.  This will not only help you stop faster, it volition also forbid backlog clothing on your tow vehicles breaking system. Properly setup hitch and restriction controller are essential to safely towing your RV down the road.

Brake Controller Setup Steps:

1. Connect your trailer hitch and wiring harness to the tow vehicle.
2. Check the brake lights and turn signals on your trailer (this will brand sure you lot have a skilful connection between the trailer and tow vehicle).
3. Set the gain on your brake controller to about 75% of its highest setting.
4. Travel to a level paved road where you can safely test the brake controller.
5. Drive at 25 MPH and apply full brakes to the trailer using the lever on the controller.
6. If the trailer wheels lock up reduce the gain and try once more, if the wheels practise not lock upwardly, increment the proceeds, and try again.
7. The right setting is just below where the wheels lock up.

Why you should follow this procedure (how you lot restriction controller works)

Now that you know the procedure to setup your restriction controller.  I want to explain how it works and why you lot should use the procedure.

If you were thinking just crank it up to the highest setting you could exist creating a dangerous situation.  I'll explicate why in a minute, simply first…

You may have seen your brake controller advertised as a "proportional brake controller".  This means that if you are stopping slowly the brakes will be practical lightly to the trailer, just if you slam on the brakes the trailer brakes volition besides be applied more.  In other words the trailer brakes are applied proportionally to your tow vehicle brakes.

Built in restriction controllers can monitor the vehicle speed and brake application to tell how difficult yous are braking, while aftermarket controllers employ other methods.  In either case yous want the controller setup properly to ensure you get maximum stopping power when you need it, only don't lock up the trailer brakes when gently coming to a terminate.

By setting the brakes just to the point of locking upwardly the wheels you lot know that when you demand full braking the trailer will give it to you.

Then back to why you shouldn't just set up it to the highest proceeds.

If y'all were to prepare it to the maximum gain your trailer tires could lock upwardly even under moderate braking.  This could cause yous to lose control of the trailer.  Your trailer could begin sliding to the side and stop up hitting a stationary object, or worse a vehicle or person next to you.

FAQs: Brake Controller Setup

• What if my brakes don't lockup even with the proceeds turned all the way upward?
  • You may find that some trailers will never lock the wheels even with the proceeds at it's highest setting.  This does not mean yous have a trouble.  Some trailer brakes only don't have enough power to lock up.
  • There are 2 cases that should be a concern, if you have either of these you should become your brakes checked out.
    • If you don't feel any pull to tiresome you down when following the setup process your brakes might non be working at all.
    • If your brakes used to lock upwards, but now they won't.  This could hateful that your brakes are worn and need replaced.
    • Your brakes may need broken in.  Reference your trailer's brake / Axle transmission.  Click Here for a link to the manual for the near commonly used axles from LCI.

• Practise I need to readjust the brake controller if I alter the weight loaded in my trailer?
  • Yes, any pregnant change to the weight of a trailer will affect the brake performance.  If you add or remove more about 100lbs of weight to your trailer the brakes may need to exist readjusted.
• Do I demand to readjust the brake controller if I tow a unlike trailer?
  • Aye, each trailer you tow will react differently and your brake controller should be setup accordingly.  Some more expensive controllers allow you to store multiple trailer setups, or you may desire to go on a crook sheet for the settings if you have several trailers.
• How many volts should my restriction controller output?
  • Electric trailer brakes are designed to take an output that ranges from 0V to 12V.  At 0 volts no trailer brakes will exist applied, at 12 volts the trailer will apply the maximum well-nigh of braking.
• How many amps should my brakes depict?
  • The maximum amp draw is calculated by adding upward the amp draw for each brake.  Each axle has 1 brake per wheel.
  • Example if your brakes are rated at 3.0 amps each and yous have a dual axle trailer.  The total amp draw would be 3.0 x 4 = 12A, this will occur during maximum braking when 12v is beingness applied.
• What should I exercise if my trailer brakes don't seem to be working correctly?
  • Brakes are one of the nearly important components to safely tow a trailer.  Because of that you shouldn't try to work on them if you aren't certain what you are doing.  I am a big fan of doing it yourself, but in this case, I advise making an engagement at your local RV dealer or repair shop to have the brakes inspected and repaired if needed.
• What brake controller should I use?
  • This question requires some other article to completely reply, but here are 2 of my favorites.
    • Preferred, Tekonsha Prodigy P2.  This controller is reasonably priced, can be mounted in a multifariousness of positions and has a long runway record of reliability.
    • Like shooting fish in a barrel Installation, Curt Repeat.  The curt Repeat is the easiest brake controller y'all volition ever install.  Information technology simply plugs in betwixt your truck and trailer wiring harness.  No wires to run or splice.  The Echo is setup and controlled via a smartphone app.  If you lot change vehicles often or don't desire at permanent installation this is perfect.  The down side is that to manually apply the trailer brakes you will have the have your phone unlocked with the app open up.

Thanks for Reading

If you take any questions or your own tips for setting up a brake controller please leave them in the comments below.

Cheers, Jason

Source: https://weekendrvadventures.com/how-to-setup-a-brake-controller-step-by-step-with-common-questions/

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