Trailer Brake Controller- '58 F600
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 487
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From: Lampasas,TX
Trailer Brake Controller- '58 F600
I will eventually be installing a trailer brake controller in my '58 F600. The last time I used one it was hydraulically actuated by teeing into a brake line. Now I see that the current controllers are all electric and most new trucks are prewired from the factory.
Will these new controllers work in my old truck or what will I need to have trailer brakes?
Will these new controllers work in my old truck or what will I need to have trailer brakes?
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Joined: Apr 2004
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Google "electric brake controller" and find many sites. This site, etrailer.com, has videos and instructions on line for controller installation:
Trailer Brake Controller Installation - 1996 Ford Explorer Video | etrailer.com
Basically, you provide power to the controller, and wire the controller output back to the plug for the trailer. How it works after that, I don't know exactly, as MEGO and it's your truck, not mine.....
'58 F600--spent some quality time in one myself.
Trailer Brake Controller Installation - 1996 Ford Explorer Video | etrailer.com
Basically, you provide power to the controller, and wire the controller output back to the plug for the trailer. How it works after that, I don't know exactly, as MEGO and it's your truck, not mine.....
'58 F600--spent some quality time in one myself.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 615
Likes: 1
From: Smithville TX.
You should still be able to get the hydraulically controlled controller. I am sure they are still made. I bought one about six years ago for my 78 Bronco. I use my N 950 to pull my travel trailer sometime and I had to buy a brake controller that tapped into the air brake system for that truck.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I will eventually be installing a trailer brake controller in my '58 F600. The last time I used one it was hydraulically actuated by teeing into a brake line. Now I see that the current controllers are all electric and most new trucks are prewired from the factory.
Will these new controllers work in my old truck or what will I need to have trailer brakes?
Will these new controllers work in my old truck or what will I need to have trailer brakes?
Steve
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 487
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From: Lampasas,TX
How do the electronic controllers work? I see that it taps into the brake light wire so that it knows you are stepping on the brake pedal but how does it know how much force to apply to the trailer brakes? Does it have an internal G-meter to tell how much decelleration you are asking for? Just wondering.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 518
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From: Huntsville, TX
On most of them there is a adjuster wheel that allows you to set the amount of force applied... I think that the newer trailer brakes are more helper brakes. Most of the stopping is done by the truck brakes but the trailer brakes help slow it.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Controllers work by one of two ways. In the cheaper versions (timed), the longer your foot is on the brake pedal, the more amperage the controller puts out to the rear brakes.
In more expensive controllers (accelerameter), there is device which reads the rate at which your truck is slowing and sends a proportional amount of amperage to the trailer brakes. The more expensive ones give you a much smoother braking experience because if you are slowing slightly over a period of time, the trailer brakes do not continue to amp up as they do with timed controllers.
Modern travel trailers and fifth wheels all have brakes which are capable of stopping them with no assistance from the truck. They have to have brakes with that capability or there would be no value to emergency break-away switches. If the trailer were to break away from the tow vehicle, the brakes automatically activate via power from the trailer battery and the brakes lock instantly.
Steve
In more expensive controllers (accelerameter), there is device which reads the rate at which your truck is slowing and sends a proportional amount of amperage to the trailer brakes. The more expensive ones give you a much smoother braking experience because if you are slowing slightly over a period of time, the trailer brakes do not continue to amp up as they do with timed controllers.
Modern travel trailers and fifth wheels all have brakes which are capable of stopping them with no assistance from the truck. They have to have brakes with that capability or there would be no value to emergency break-away switches. If the trailer were to break away from the tow vehicle, the brakes automatically activate via power from the trailer battery and the brakes lock instantly.
Steve
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Lampasas,TX
It all makes sense now.
In searching etrailer.com I see that they sell "timed" controllers for $55-$100 and "proportional" controllers for $80 and up. The proportional controllers have a limit range on the mounting angle so they must contain a pendulum of some sort to measure the G-forces (accelerometer) and convert that to braking force.
My f-i-l has 4 NOS hydraulic controllers on the shelf in the shop but I don't think I'll mess with that plumbing. It looks like a proportional controller is the way to go.
Thanks for all advice.
In searching etrailer.com I see that they sell "timed" controllers for $55-$100 and "proportional" controllers for $80 and up. The proportional controllers have a limit range on the mounting angle so they must contain a pendulum of some sort to measure the G-forces (accelerometer) and convert that to braking force.
My f-i-l has 4 NOS hydraulic controllers on the shelf in the shop but I don't think I'll mess with that plumbing. It looks like a proportional controller is the way to go.
Thanks for all advice.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Summit, MS
It all makes sense now.
In searching etrailer.com I see that they sell "timed" controllers for $55-$100 and "proportional" controllers for $80 and up. The proportional controllers have a limit range on the mounting angle so they must contain a pendulum of some sort to measure the G-forces (accelerometer) and convert that to braking force.
My f-i-l has 4 NOS hydraulic controllers on the shelf in the shop but I don't think I'll mess with that plumbing. It looks like a proportional controller is the way to go.
Thanks for all advice.
In searching etrailer.com I see that they sell "timed" controllers for $55-$100 and "proportional" controllers for $80 and up. The proportional controllers have a limit range on the mounting angle so they must contain a pendulum of some sort to measure the G-forces (accelerometer) and convert that to braking force.
My f-i-l has 4 NOS hydraulic controllers on the shelf in the shop but I don't think I'll mess with that plumbing. It looks like a proportional controller is the way to go.
Thanks for all advice.
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