Surging when Braking with Trailer
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Surging when Braking with Trailer
I am looking for some advice or info on this problem. My truck when stopping (only when my trailer is hooked on) throws me almost into the winshield in a pulsing manner. I have to let off the brakes completely or it would and I have had to fly thru some close calls. This is very dangerous and I have had the truck brakes replaced on my new Ford truck(less then 4000 miles) thinking that is what was causing it. They were really warped and it is still doing it and I think the problem is causing the brakes to warp not the other way around. I have an Ausco brake controller and they are out of business. We were thinking about changing to a Tekonsha Prodigy but we don't know if that is the problem or not. Another suggestion was a short in the wiring. Has anyone ever had this problem? My horse trailer is 38 feet on the floor. I would appreciate any suggestions or if anyone has been through this. Thank-you.
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Surging when Braking with Trailer
It could be as Wheels indicated or there is the possibility that your trailer is stopping at a faster rate than the truck is. You might try turning down the juice on your controller a little.
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Surging when Braking with Trailer
Thanks for the replys. We had turned the controller down to where it wasn't hardly working. It doesn't do it as forcefully but still does it. The only way it doesn't do it is to have the trailer lights and brakes unplugged. It feels like it is the truck. Like the abs is getting signaled somehow.
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Surging when Braking with Trailer
Hi Chris! 
Thanks for joining us in the Towing forum.
Okay, does your brake controller get it's signal from the master cylinder to an electric transducer in the controller? Hydraulic/electric controllers are not intended for use on vehicles with ABS brakes.
If that's the case one way to confirm that's the problem would be to actuate the brakes via the manual override on the controller. If the controller is getting a varied output signal from the ABS, you would not see that when manually actuated.
Scott
Thanks for joining us in the Towing forum.Okay, does your brake controller get it's signal from the master cylinder to an electric transducer in the controller? Hydraulic/electric controllers are not intended for use on vehicles with ABS brakes.
If that's the case one way to confirm that's the problem would be to actuate the brakes via the manual override on the controller. If the controller is getting a varied output signal from the ABS, you would not see that when manually actuated.
Scott
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Surging when Braking with Trailer
Horsepuller- Thanks again for the info. Do you mean I cannot use e/h brakes at all with my Ford 350? My other 350 hauled it just fine but that is a 1996 and this one is a 2001. That one also has a different controller. But this one didn't do it either the first month I hauled it. I am going to take the info you gave me to a brake mechanic and see if he can find the source or problem. Our regular mechanic and the Ford dealership haven't been able to. If you have any thing else please advise-Thanks again
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Surging when Braking with Trailer
The reason you don't see any new hyd/elect. brake controllers anymore is because of ABS. RV dealers won't even install them because of liability issues. That's why inertial controllers are in use so much. Once you get a good inertial controller like the Prodigy, you'll shake your head and wonder why you put up with the old technology for so long. I sure did. It's that much better.
Good idea brake shop that's good with trailers. They should be able to determine exactly what the problem is. Keep us informed.
Scott
Good idea brake shop that's good with trailers. They should be able to determine exactly what the problem is. Keep us informed.
Scott
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Surging when Braking with Trailer
You indicate that the Prodigy is an "inertia brake controller". Does that mean that the harder you brake with the truck the harder the Prodigy unit actuates the trailer brakes? The electronic brake controller that I currently use ramps up to 100% of the set braking amp power no matter if the truck brake are pressed a little or a lot. The trigger is the electrical brake light.
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Surging when Braking with Trailer
Wheels, yes the Prodigy is an inertial controller. It applys braking to the trailer in proportion to the deceleration of the tow vehicle. So you get smooth, swift stops without any skidding of the trailer wheels.
So yes, the harder you brake with the truck the harder the Prodigy unit actuates the trailer brakes
There are 2 optional 'boost' settings that will give you either 12% or 24% of initial braking from the start. It is so good though, that usually the first thing it does is decrease it's output from the initial boost because it's usually not necessary.
Scott
So yes, the harder you brake with the truck the harder the Prodigy unit actuates the trailer brakes
There are 2 optional 'boost' settings that will give you either 12% or 24% of initial braking from the start. It is so good though, that usually the first thing it does is decrease it's output from the initial boost because it's usually not necessary.
Scott