Factory Trailer Brake Controller Operation
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New User
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From: Southeast Louisiana
Factory Trailer Brake Controller Operation
Question: with foot on brake pedal, transmission in drive, Trailer brake controller lever squeezed, should the truck be able to move when I remove my foot from the brake pedal? The ownwer's manual says the Gain is adjusted at 20+ mph. Does that mean the brake controller won't apply the trailer brakes until traveling at least 20mph? 
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From: Frederick, MD
Based upon my years of experience with TBC's and having this one and another in a previous truck, forget about what your trying to do.
1. To set the gain/test your trailer brakes, need a straight surface where you can get up to at least 25 mph. This road/level surface should be free and clear so that you may try this procedure a couple of times.
2. While going the 25 mph using the TBC handle only apply the brake. You will need to do this a couple of times to set the gain. Ideally you want just enough gain to stop both the truck/trailer in a short amount of time, but not enough gain to lock the trailer wheels up.
3. Once gain has been set up need to just use your normal braking procedures. You should notice that as you apply your truck brakes your TBC will register on the bars just a few bars or more depending on how hard you step on the brakes.
4. When complete and confident then you should be able to proceed with normal driving in traffic.
Hope this helps, has working well for me for many years.
1. To set the gain/test your trailer brakes, need a straight surface where you can get up to at least 25 mph. This road/level surface should be free and clear so that you may try this procedure a couple of times.
2. While going the 25 mph using the TBC handle only apply the brake. You will need to do this a couple of times to set the gain. Ideally you want just enough gain to stop both the truck/trailer in a short amount of time, but not enough gain to lock the trailer wheels up.
3. Once gain has been set up need to just use your normal braking procedures. You should notice that as you apply your truck brakes your TBC will register on the bars just a few bars or more depending on how hard you step on the brakes.
4. When complete and confident then you should be able to proceed with normal driving in traffic.
Hope this helps, has working well for me for many years.
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New User
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Southeast Louisiana
Tbc
Thanks for the info. I'm trying to find out if it's working properly. I've been told that in that given senario, the truck should not be able to move as long as the controller is applied.
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From: NorCal
When I hook up my trailer and start moving on a dirt or gravel surface I give the trailer brake controller a squeeze to test and it locks up the trailer brakes. Then once I am out on the street I adjust the gain to the proper amount depending on how much weight I am pulling.
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New User
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From: Southeast Louisiana
Tbc
Okay, so just that I'm clear. From a stand still, the truck/trailer unit should NOT be able to roll forward as long as the controller is applied? I've adjusted the gain at the 20+mph and it seems to work fine. But from a stand still, it shouldn't move?
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From: Upstate NewYork
Yes that is correct, if you hold the manual brake control lever, with truck in gear it should not move because the trailer brakes will hold it back, pending the trailer brakes are in good working order and adjusted.
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New User
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From: Southeast Louisiana
Okay. Thanks guys. Mine must need some work. It works fine when adjusted per manual instructions and tested while moving, but it does allow the vehicle to move from a stand still even when applied.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
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From: Frederick, MD
That is correct. Trailer should hold both truck and trailer stationary and be able to stop both without locking up the tires. Then you know you are about right for the gain and you know the trailer brakes are working good as well.
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From: Frederick, MD
then adjust the brakes on the trailer, should be the normal type adjustment for drum brakes as in a car or truck. Using a screwdriver or similar device you need to turn the little wheel inside the drum and tighten the brakes up a bit.
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From: Frederick, MD
I have 3 super duties and they all work just like yours. Even on different trailers. That is the way ford designed it so as not to skid trailer tires at slow speeds. If u speed up a little it will throw u through the windshield. The trailer brakes will hold very little at a standstill. Aftermarket units will hold at a standstill but not he factory ford units.
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From: Upstate NewYork
The manual lever on the brake controller will alow you to put full power (to max gain setting) to the trailer brakes. Mine will move maybe a few inches witch allowes the magnet in the trailer drum to move and apply the brakes. Try moving just a few miles an hour and then apply brakes using manual lever, this should stop the truck and trailer with no problem, if not the gain is not high enough or the trailer brakes need work. It is not uncommon for trailer brakes to have problems, usually electrical related. You could try pulling the breakaway cable on the trailer witch will apply full 12volts to the brakes and then try to drive foward and see what happens, If the trailer emergancy battery is full charged and working properly. Hope this helps
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
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For what it's worth, the 2005 models WILL NOT work this way. It was a "bug" that Ford didn't realize needed to exist. DOT inspections specify that the trailer brakes MUST hold the vehicle at a stop by themselves, and the 2005 models won't do this. There's a special inspection procedure for the 2005 models to account for this.
Ford "fixed" this in the 2006 and later models, and I *THINK* there's a TSB on this, but I don't remember where it is. You might try searching for this around here...
Here's a link to the current CVSA inspection bulletin, detailing some of the problem....
http://www.cvsa.org/programs/documen...2001-04-05.pdf
Ford "fixed" this in the 2006 and later models, and I *THINK* there's a TSB on this, but I don't remember where it is. You might try searching for this around here...
Here's a link to the current CVSA inspection bulletin, detailing some of the problem....
http://www.cvsa.org/programs/documen...2001-04-05.pdf
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,741
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Here's a link to the TSB numbers; I couldn't get them to come up in FTE's TSB search engine (maybe I'm stoopit tonight.... )
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...ml#post5404501
-blaine
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...ml#post5404501
-blaine