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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

You should have no trouble using any of the newer controllers in your truck. Wiring is very basic and all come with instructions.

Steve

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

I have a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller in both of my trucks (it is proportional) and love them. It would be very easy to hook up even to your truck. The last one I bought, I found on ebay in great condition (used) for $50 including shipping. They are the bargain right now as Tekonsha has the newer P3 controllers for sale. If you'll spend a little time looking you can find a similar bargain.