My 2011 F-150 5.0 has the factory brake controller. Last week I bought my first trailer with trailer brakes, a cargomate 6 x 12 for hauling motorcycles. I had the dealer add brakes as I am paranoid about not having them.
So driving around the last few days in the rain I start with the gain on 1 and get no braking I can feel. I crank it up to 5 and can feel some braking. I know the ideal setting is where you can get the wheels to lock up and then back it down a notch. I had to go to setting 8 to get lockup and this in in the rain.
The trailer only weighs about 1,200 pound empty and I am surprised I had to go to gain setting 8 to get lockup.
For those of you who use trailer brakes do you find you need to be at a relatively high gain setting?
Also, I did test by using only the finger trigger and in the dry today could not get lockup with a gain setting of 10. How long do they need to break in if at all?
Greg Matty
06-14-2012, 11:26 AM
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Location: Sierra Vista, Az.
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The gain setting number is not important. The voltage needed is the relative factor. Maybe check connections and wiring and battery voltage at the plug in. I had a trailer that would only start to apply brakes at #7 but the brakes worked fine and had no problems.
aussiekeeper
06-15-2012, 10:09 AM
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I have found the gain settings to be a subjective issue. On the enclosed trailer, a gain of 5 keeps everything happy. On the old trailer, a gain of 8 was needed to keep everything happy.
FWIW, Ive never abided by the locking the tires method. Ive always judged braking by distance to stop loaded vs unloaded.
cucamelsmd15
06-15-2012, 10:40 AM
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Trailer gain will also change as the trailer weight is changed by loading and unloading. A loaded trailer will require more gain. Additionally as the brakes get worn you will need to increase the trailer brake gain.
You need to set your brakes every time you add or remove weight as well as every time you hook up. There is no set # for any trailer. You should also not feel your trailer brakes working under normal driving conditions with a proportional system like the factory installed systems. These systems mimic your tow vehicle braking. If you feel the trailer pulling you back, you have the trailer brakes set too high. Some trailer brakes will never lock up no matter what you do.
The correct way to set the controller is have the tow vehicle moving slowly, apply just the trailer brakes and adjust the trailer brake gain until you feel the trailer brakes stopping but not locking up. It is now set for you current load. Any higher and you are over heating the trailer brakes. Any less and you truck brakes will be over worked.
This does not apply to timer based brake controllers like the Tekonsha Pilot, Draw-Tite Activator series type controllers; just proportional or inertial based controllers like the Tekonsha Prodigy of most factory installed newer brake systems.
Colorado Osprey
01-11-2013, 02:35 PM
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The way I understand it, the gain is proportional to the amount of braking applied by the truck. As you give «more pedal pressure» more gain is applied. It should feel seamless when you come to a stop. Last year, before I sold it, I had a 33′ Keystone travel trailer. Dry weight was somewheres around 6,500 lbs. I think. After doing a little «playing», «6» seemed to be a bit soft and «7» was a bit much. I felt a slight tug, so I left it on «6». One time I had to mash the brakes because some knucklehead just had to get ahead of me. I grabbed a hold of the steering wheel thinking this was it. I had to steer right into the other lane and try not to oversteer, and except for «knowing» the trailer was back there, I had no drama. Shocked the crap out of me. I could feel the truck compensating with the RSC, etc .. Strange feeling. Now, I have a 14’x7′ V-nose Homesteader tandom axle enclosed trailer that I haul my Polaris Ranger HD in. The total weight with Ranger gassed up and loaded is in the neighbohood of 3,500-3,600 lbs. I was thinking the same thing. Just start out at like «3» or «4». But it didn’t feel right. I could feel a «push» when I hit the brakes. So I went through the process and ended up on the setting being «7». So that’s were I set it when I’m towing the Ranger around. Except for seeing it in the rear view, It’s almost not there. Any way sorry for being long winded here. I was trying to show that the lighter trailer actually like a little higher setting. Go figure
I am completely new to towing. Will be pulling a 21′ fifth wheel camper on Monday. I know where the Trailer Brake Controller is and how to adjust the value. But, I am not sure how to determine what value I need to set. Can anyone share a link or other helpful insight.
I understand that the trailer brakes should come on just a fraction before the truck brakes but how to find the gain value that will do that. I was looking the YouTube videos that explain stuff, but did not find any.
Bryan Simon
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Jméno Bryan Připojen 16. září 2020 Vlákna 5 zpráv 1,164 119 Skóre reakcí 65 66 Místo San Antonio, Texas Vozidla 05 Ranchero, XNUMX ElCamino, XNUMX Ranger a další Povolání Údržba
That trailer probably has some weight to it, so this is what I would do.
set it in the middle and go from there.
You don’t really want it dragging you to a stop before you’re ready to stop, but kinda needs to bring you down safely without locking up.
I have not yet bothered to do anything with mine yet as it has recently been installed (supposed to come with the truck).
in my older trucks, I would set it so I could feel it helping, but not taking over..
I don’t tow as much as I used to, but wanted the controller just in case I do have to drag something around.
another method is to locate a large empty lot and experiment with it there with the trailer hooked up.
It may come down to a personal preference.
Sundancer330
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Joined Mar 27, 2021 Threads 5 Messages 502 Reaction score 139 Location Michigan Vehicles 2021 F150 XLT, FX4, Velocity Blue
- Hook up the trailer and make the electrical connections according to the trailer manufacturer’s instructions.
- When you plug in a trailer with electric or electric-over-hydraulic brakes, a message confirming connection appears in the information display.
- Use the gain adjustment to find the desired starting point. A gain setting of 6.0 is a good starting point for heavier loads.
- In a traffic-free environment, tow the trailer on a dry, level surface and squeeze the manual control lever completely.
- If the trailer wheels lock up, indicated by squealing tires, reduce the gain setting. If the trailer wheels turn freely, increase the gain setting. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until the gain setting is at a point just below trailer wheel lock-up. If towing a heavier trailer, trailer wheel lock-up may not be attainable even with the maximum gain setting of 10.
