How To Adjust Trailer Brake Controller

FAQs

What is the best setting for trailer brake controller?

Tekonsha recommends setting the power setting for its unit at ?6? for a starting point. This means that with the trailer attached and the engine running, the operator pulls the manual override lever on the controller all the way to the left?maximum brake

What should I set my brake controller to?

The GAIN setting is used to set the trailer brake control for the specific towing condition and should be changed as towing conditions change. Changes to towing conditions include trailer load, vehicle load, road conditions and weather.

How do you adjust the gain on a trailer brake controller?

Aftermarket controllers will display the brake setting number right on the controller. The brake controller typically displays a number of ?0-10.? This number is the amount of braking force or gain that will be applied to the trailer brakes. The higher the number, the more braking power.

When should the trailer brake controller gain setting be adjusted?

If your main ground wire and brake magnet ground wires are not properly attached, the bad ground connection could be causing your trailer brakes to lock up. Check your main vehicle ground wire and assure that it is attached to a clean, bare metal surface. Check for wear, corrosion, rust or dents in the wiring.

What do the numbers on a trailer brake controller mean?

Once the trailer tire becomes difficult to turn, stop tightening the adjuster. Pry upward on the adjustment tool to loosen the adjuster wheel if necessary. The tire should spin freely but still have a slight scraping sound or slight drag, indicating that the trailer brake pads are properly engaged.

Why are my trailer brakes grabbing?

To adjust electric brake controller, park your vehicle on a level surface and plug your trailer into your vehicle. The controller will automatically calibrate itself, although some minor adjustments may be required based on vehicle tow capacity, trailer size, and total loaded weight.

How tight should trailer brakes be?

This happens when the brakes are set too high and cause the trailer to jerk when they are applied. When the trailer jerks, the brake controller senses it and thinks the vehicle is decelerating even more, so the controller applies the trailer brakes more strongly.

Do you have to program a trailer brake controller?

6/25/2020. The sync control is basically what you use to adjust the “aggressiveness” of the controller. The gain setting will set how much power actually gets sent back to the brakes when you step on the brake pedal, while the sync will control how long it takes for the power to shoot back there.

Why does my trailer jump when I brake?

Aftermarket brake controllers send a small amount of voltage along the brake output wire, if a trailer is connected, the magnets in the brake assemblies will create a power draw. This power draw tells the controller that a trailer is connected.

What is gain and sync on trailer brakes?

Installing a brake controller involves disconnecting the vehicle battery, mounting the brake controller onto dash and plugging the unit in with a vehicle-specific wiring harness. If your vehicle is not equipped with a plug-and-play harness, you can also splice in wiring for connecting a brake controller.

How does a brake controller know if a trailer is connected?

Testing the brake controller is fairly easy. Sever the blue brake output wire near the brake controller leaving enough room to reconnect it and then apply the manual slide. Using a circuit tester like the Quickee Tester, part # 3808, you should get output to the controller side of the wire you severed.

How do you set up a brake controller?

These plugs also have a separate wiring pin to control only the brake lights. What is this? So, while the 7-pin trailer plug provides the wiring to control the brakes, to engage/control the brakes, a brake controller in the towing vehicle is required.

How tight should trailer brakes be?

How does a brake controller know if a trailer is connected?

Trailer brakes can be either self-adjusting like the Dexter # 23-468 or may require periodic manual adjustments like # 23-27, depending on the particular model assemblies you have installed on the trailer.

Does a 7 pin trailer plug control brakes?

Use a circuit tester, and check the red wire that exits the rear of the controller. This wire should only go hot when the brake pedal is pressed. If this checks out ok, then the controller is bad and must be replaced.

How does a brake controller know if a trailer is connected?

Can I tow a trailer with electric brakes without an electric brake controller? No. Without an electric brake controller the electric brakes on your trailer will remain inactive.

How do you know if your trailer brake controller is bad?

The answer is, no. Electric trailer brakes do not work without a brake controller. If your trailer is equipped with electric brakes, you will need a brake controller to tow. However, some trailers are equipped with surge brakes.

Can I pull a trailer with brakes without a brake controller?

A trailer or pole trailer is required to have brakes if its gross weight exceeds 4,500 lbs. A trailer with a gross weight between 4,500 lbs. and 15,000 lbs. is not required to have brakes if it is towed at a speed of not more than 30 mph. Trailers must be equipped with brakes if the gross weight exceeds 3,000 lbs.

How does a brake controller know if a trailer is connected?

Do I Need a Trailer Brake Controller With a 7-Pin Connector? Even though the 7-pin trailer plugin controls the brake lights, it doesn’t engage the trailer’s brakes. You still need a brake controller. However, your vehicle may already have a brake controller built into its electrical system.