Trailer Brake Question
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, NV
Trailer Brake Question
Just had a quick question about the trailer brake controller. I just bought my '20 F250 in August, before this I had a '16 Tundra. We bought a 32' TT in July. Both trucks I have to have the trailer gain at 10 for me to feel the trailer brakes really doing anything. Is that normal to have the gain at max for some trailers? Last year we rented a TT (smaller than what we bought) and when I towed with my Tundra once I got past 5 on the gain I could definitely feel the trailer brakes and if I went past 8 I could lock up the trailer tires. It's a brand new trailer and I've had to use max gain on two different trucks so not sure if it's an actual issue with the trailer or this is just normal for bigger/heavier trailers.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 219
From: Northwest
It could be that your trailer's are not getting the proper ground to the tow vehicle and causing some different actions. You might try running a totally separate ground wire from the trailer to the frame of your tow vehicle. Many times a short "jumper wire" is run out the back of the connector and hooked to the closest thing possible. At times this is not a well grounded location. Trailers with a tilt tongue can often not have a good ground through the tilt mechanism. Just a few thoughts.
Hobo
Hobo
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Is the trailer set up in the trucks towing screen? The correct brake type is selected? Does the manual slider enable full trailer brake lock up?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 183
Likes: 27
From: Northern CA
I bought a new car trailer and drove it home a few hundred miles and had to use the max setting to get the trailer brakes to do much. After pulling it loaded it got better and better. I think the drum brakes may have had to "arc" the shoes to get them to fully engage the drums. I remember years ago new brake shoes had to be fitted to the drums. If you have driven your new trailer much this probably doesn't apply. I also have a dump trailer that has been used quite a bit and they now both use about the same settings to get the brakes to lock the wheels.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 51
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From: Henderson, NV
So the trailer is a 2020 Mallard M26 travel trailer. On average it weighs in around 8,200lbs. Back in July when I first got it I had a Tundra, then bought the F250 end of August. So I've towed the trailer with two different trucks. In September we took a 3 three cross country trip in the trailer and I had to keep the gain at +9 to really "feel" the trailer brakes.
Manual slider does not lock up the trailer brakes, even at full gain. The trailer brakes are definitely engaging though.
I just wasn't sure if this was normal behavior for any trailer, RV trailers, etc. or if I should get the trailer brakes looked at. It's a brand new trailer so I just "assumed" they would be OK.
Manual slider does not lock up the trailer brakes, even at full gain. The trailer brakes are definitely engaging though.
I just wasn't sure if this was normal behavior for any trailer, RV trailers, etc. or if I should get the trailer brakes looked at. It's a brand new trailer so I just "assumed" they would be OK.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Calgary Canada
Brand new trailers almost never have the brakes working right. They either need to be bedded in a bit, or adjusted or more probably both.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,687
Likes: 12,812
From: Wyoming
Go to the trailer configuration screen (I think it's there). You can set the level to low, medium and high. If it's on low, try medium and back the gain off from 10 to 5 and retest. If it's already on high/10 then something is goofy with your trailer.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 273
From: South Central Indiana
So the trailer is a 2020 Mallard M26 travel trailer. On average it weighs in around 8,200lbs. Back in July when I first got it I had a Tundra, then bought the F250 end of August. So I've towed the trailer with two different trucks. In September we took a 3 three cross country trip in the trailer and I had to keep the gain at +9 to really "feel" the trailer brakes.
Manual slider does not lock up the trailer brakes, even at full gain. The trailer brakes are definitely engaging though.
I just wasn't sure if this was normal behavior for any trailer, RV trailers, etc. or if I should get the trailer brakes looked at. It's a brand new trailer so I just "assumed" they would be OK.
Manual slider does not lock up the trailer brakes, even at full gain. The trailer brakes are definitely engaging though.
I just wasn't sure if this was normal behavior for any trailer, RV trailers, etc. or if I should get the trailer brakes looked at. It's a brand new trailer so I just "assumed" they would be OK.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 998
Likes: 23
From: Tennessee
Can't say if mine are adjusted perfectly but I know I don't "FEEL" them if at a higher speed but when I am coming to a complete stop they really grab right at the last second with 13,000 lbs behind me.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 502
My travel trailer is about 7k lbs, I have the brake effort set to medium in the setting screen and the gain at 5 and it's plenty for me. If the manual slider won't lock up the trailer brakes, sounds like they may not be adjusted or functioning properly.
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