Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: bigdog on July 19, 2016, 07:50:35 pm

Title: Trailer Brake control
Post by: bigdog on July 19, 2016, 07:50:35 pm
Was just wondering as I will be buying a braked trailer. Is there a control to adjust trailer brake application so as to not be too sensitive and prone to locking up the trailers brakes?  I found nothing in the search function.

Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: craneman on July 19, 2016, 07:53:28 pm
If you buy one with electric brakes you have to buy and install a controller. Some trailers have surge brakes, my race car trailer uses one.
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: Jet Doc on July 19, 2016, 08:46:51 pm
I installed one of these so I could pull anything with electric brakes...tow dolly, car hauler, enclosed trailer, etc.  I am very pleased with the performance.  I used one of the spare 10 ga wires running from dash to engine compartment. 
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: bigdog on July 19, 2016, 09:21:51 pm
I wonder why big rigs such as ours don't have a brake controller built into the system as a vast majority of coaches pull a trailer. Oh well, Just more coach bucks from the giant redwood sized coach buck tree growing in my back garden.
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: Michelle on July 19, 2016, 09:24:19 pm
I wonder why big rigs such as ours don't have a brake controller built into the system as a vast majority of coaches pull a trailer.

Unscientific anecdotal survey, but by far most coaches pull a car 4-down, not a trailer.
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: Doug W. on July 19, 2016, 10:17:43 pm
I  have used the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller for trailers over 10K lbs. for years, with ELECTRIC brakes. Adjustments for brake application are easy with turn of a dial and effective.

http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Brake_Controller-pm-Tekonsha.aspx?gclid=CMjFt_P2gM4CFYpffgod00QObw
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: Jet Doc on July 19, 2016, 10:28:54 pm
I wonder why big rigs such as ours don't have a brake controller built into the system as a vast majority of coaches pull a trailer. Oh well, Just more coach bucks from the giant redwood sized coach buck tree growing in my back garden.
Less than $200 including a quality 7-way plug and environmental splices.  About 4 hours start to finish including mental engineering (drinking rum and thinking about it)
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: bigdog on July 19, 2016, 11:23:25 pm
Unscientific anecdotal survey, but by far most coaches pull a car 4-down, not a trailer.

Let me rephrase that. As most (if not all) coaches have a heavy duty hitch from the factory and can haul a pretty decent load. Makes perfect sense that a brake control of some sort would be a rather standard item. Four down or four up you still need a brake controller. 
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: bigdog on July 19, 2016, 11:29:07 pm
Less than $200 including a quality 7-way plug and environmental splices.  About 4 hours start to finish including mental engineering (drinking rum and thinking about it)

I guess my sarcastic or possibly even sardonic sense of humor was lost on the group. I should be more careful.

The coach goes into the shop on Friday, I'll add that to the list as it will be sat at the shop for two weeks anyway.
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: Roger & Susan in Home2 on July 19, 2016, 11:50:30 pm
Lots of choices out there, no one universal solution.  We use an NSA ReadyBrake tow bar with a built in surge brake actuator with the Jeep. All mechanical, all proportional, all adjustable. Just hook it up and go.  Simple.  Nothing to add to or modify on the coach. But it is not for everyone. You get to choose for yourself.

About 100 coaches at the Grandvention last year, less than 10 trailers as I recall.
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: craneman on July 19, 2016, 11:54:51 pm
Let me rephrase that. As most (if not all) coaches have a heavy duty hitch from the factory and can haul a pretty decent load. Makes perfect sense that a brake control of some sort would be a rather standard item. Four down or four up you still need a brake controller.
Brake controllers are only for electric brakes. Towed doesn't use that system.
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: amos.harrison on July 20, 2016, 06:24:51 am
After towing trailers with electric brakes for decades, I love the air/hydraulic brakes on my stacker.  Very smooth, perfectly proportional, very strong.
Title: Re: Trailer Brake control
Post by: Retired Navy Chief on July 20, 2016, 07:40:07 am
I have used this remote unit on my stacker and it has been flawless.  I did not want a controller box mounted on the dash area. This unit is completely wireless.  David

Tekonsha - Prodigy® RF (http://www.tekonsha.com/products/brake-controllers/proportional-controllers/prodigy-rf/TzaIxkVx1cI5XOy!osRB508pViEKmVBf)