Overdrive options
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Brake controllers are all over the internet, Amazon, etc. The choice in brake controllers is how much do you want to spend?
I buy the cheap controllers that work on a timed ramp for the trailer brakes. You hit the brakes and the controller slowly brings in the trailer braking on a timed curve that you can adjust.
Then they have the pendulum type controllers. They are the ones that must be leveled when installed. As you hit the brakes inertia swings a pendulum inside the controller that determines how hard to apply the brakes to the trailer.
The highest priced ones have a electronic device that determines how fast the truck is coming to a stop, and adjusts the trailer brakes accordingly.
That's the trick to the whole trailer controller, to coordinate and make the trailer brakes work with the truck. On most all of controllers, you will have to adjust them when the trailer is unloaded, and then when it's loaded to get the best balance between the truck and the trailer. And all of them have a manual button where you can apply just the trailer brakes. That is a must feature if the trailer starts swaying out of control.
I buy the cheap controllers that work on a timed ramp for the trailer brakes. You hit the brakes and the controller slowly brings in the trailer braking on a timed curve that you can adjust.
Then they have the pendulum type controllers. They are the ones that must be leveled when installed. As you hit the brakes inertia swings a pendulum inside the controller that determines how hard to apply the brakes to the trailer.
The highest priced ones have a electronic device that determines how fast the truck is coming to a stop, and adjusts the trailer brakes accordingly.
That's the trick to the whole trailer controller, to coordinate and make the trailer brakes work with the truck. On most all of controllers, you will have to adjust them when the trailer is unloaded, and then when it's loaded to get the best balance between the truck and the trailer. And all of them have a manual button where you can apply just the trailer brakes. That is a must feature if the trailer starts swaying out of control.
Beside the 2 types they come in 2 / 4 / 6 axles brakes IIRC, I have always gone for the 2 axles as I cant see pulling more axle trailer.
Go for "pendulum type controllers. As you hit the brakes inertia swings a pendulum inside the controller that determines how hard to apply the brakes to the trailer."
"They are the ones that must be leveled when installed." not all of them. In the setup it knows "level" as it is hard to get them mounted level and it works just fine.
I find with the timed ones in stop and go they down ramp up fast enough or too fast when you just want light braking because as soon as it sees a brake light signal it starts to ramp up.
Each controller has adjustments of how much power to send to the trailer like unloaded / loaded. Most of the trailers I pull are the same ones and loaded so once set I dont touch it again.
Each one has a read out for power or if working (hooked up) or not. After I hook up and start to move I hit the manual lever to make sure the trailer brakes work even with the display saying it is good.
https://www.etrailer.com/
Has a lot of good information on controllers wiring etc. look it over.
Dave ----
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