Brake Controller

[Prieta]

I got a new Chevy Silverado 1500 truck (not sure of how many tons - 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton) last May and got a 1994 Trail-et two horse trailer last month. Three out of four people told me that I'd need to get a brake controller. The dissenting person told me that all it does is to "stop" the trailer from pushing on the truck - the "contact point" behind the ball hitch would make a contact on the ball hitch and then it would apply the brake to the trailer. That is about it. He told me that if I'm only hauling the maximum of two horses, then the truck should be able to handle it just as long as I have this new "brake package" with the wire attached to the trailer in the event if the trailer comes off and the wire breaks, then package will turn on the brake. I had all of the brakes on the trailer and wires replaced yesterday. I plan on trailering at the most of twice a month. The roads here are not like the Western and appalachian mountains. He says that if we are to live in the Western Coast, then I'd have to have a 2500 truck. The three people who told me that I'd have to have one never bothered to explain why.

Should I get one or not? If so, why. If not, why not? Thanks for your time.

[Tom King]

The dissenting person didn't know what they were talking about. You don't need a brake controller. You HAVE to have one if you value yours, your horses', and other peoples lives.

[goodhors]

Have to agree with Tom! The dissenter is an idiot.

Maybe they never had brakes that worked? The break-away cord is another system for trailers that get loose, not hitched to truck.

Brake controller is needed with electric brakes on trailer. You can get one put on at an RV place, Hitch installer place. Brake adjustments on the controller should be made if you change the load you are hauling, like no horses, one horse or two horses. Brakes need to be set for the load on trailer THAT DAY. Easy to see those who don't bother to readjust, trailer jerks, hops, brakes scream if the truck pedal is touched while driving. Can make your horse a bad hauler, loader, being jerked about each trip.

As a new hauling horses person, you also should check the trailer and truck tire air pressure EACH time, to make sure they are inflated to the proper pressure. Just put an air gauge in the glove box to have handy. Being correctly inflated to pressure, will make tires last longer, be cheaper to haul in fuel, horses ride better, give you better control of your load especially when braking.

If you don't have them, you might get the load distribution bars put on the trailer. Make them part of your hitch-up system. Give you a much better control of your loaded trailer, spreads the weight over truck and trailer, improves steering. You may need a different receiver for the hitch, but well worth the investment.

Get trailer serviced regularly, use every six months if not driven often. Have them check brakes, all lights working, with getting wheel bearings greased yearly. Sometimes wires come loose, you get corrosion from being parked,
or ROT in the floor. You can check the floors yourself. Usually where they pee, corners and walls, back doorsill, are the first locations it shows. We store our trailer with mats hung over the divider if not in use weekly. That floor check is a real safety issue, sneaks right up on you.

[shakeytails]

A 1500 (or F150) is a 1/2 ton truck, a 2500 (F250) is a 3/4 ton, and a 3500(F350) is a 1 ton truck.

No matter which truck you have, you need trailer brakes.

[tkhawk]

Get one. I have a Prodigy and you can really tell the difference. In fact I can tell the difference between this and my previous brake controller-that was one of the old models and you have to set the level manually. It was such a pain -I mean you are not going to be driving a rig on the road and change he brake cotroller each time you need more or less brake. I have a 1ton F350 and tow a 3h gooseneck. You really need that extra in traffic and coming down steep grades and sudden stops.
It really is not expensive. If you bought a truck and trailer, an extra 300-400 for the controller and installations(I had mine installed at the RV repair shop-they had one in stock and installed it) is not that expensive.

[Mtn trails]

Agreed, the dissenter is an idiot. You need trailer brakes not just in hilly country but always. Also, the breakaway battery is designed that if the trailer becomes loose from the tow vehicle it will engage the trailer brakes for 15 minutes. At least it's supposed to do that. Hope I never have to test it out.

I just replaced my brake controller with a Prodigy, bought a brand new one on e-bay for $90.00. So compared to the safety of your horses and others around you, $90 is pretty cheap insurance.

[Equibrit]

Dissenter is a moron. You can install one yourself, as most modern trucks come pre-wired for them. All you have to do is plug it in and hang it.

[Prieta]

The dissenter told me that there are three different brake controllers....like what you, Tkhawk said, the newest one automatically sets the brake and that I'm to get this one if I need one. I will show this dissenter this thread.

I have an appt. on Monday anyway - I just need to collect more information and opinions on this so I'll have something to say to this dissenter on why I need the brake controller.

I'll get a tire gauge and leave it in the truck so I can test all tires - both the truck and the trailers each time.

[JanWeber]

Who is the dissenter that they have to be convinced that you're making a prudent decision? You are hauling your horses in your trailer pulled by your tow vehicle driven (presumably) by you. Your safety and that of your horses should supercede any friendships (or unknowledgeable significant others...)

[Anselcat]

I think the dissenter is about 95% right. Meaning the truck "should" be able to handle the trailer most of the time. But pretty soon "I really need a brake controller" will flash through your mind as you feel your truck being pushed along by the trailer when you actually need to be stopping NOW thank you very much.

To say that all a brake controller does is stop the trailer from pushing on the truck is like saying all the brakes do is slow down the turning of the wheels.

[abbydp]

I have a 2008 Silverado 1500 and tow a 2 horse BP, usually with one horse. Yes, you need a controller. I have one of the new ones that sets itself. It is night and day from the old days of the completely manual ones. This one sets itself, but you can still adjust it. Trust me, it is worth the money for a good one. It is not a huge truck so you will want the help stopping. I never feel like the trailer is pushing me, but I am glad it's there and helping. How do you like the truck so far? Mine hauls like a dream.

[Tom King]

quote: "the "contact point" behind the ball hitch would make a contact on the ball hitch and then it would apply the brake to the trailer."

This is sort of an explanation of how surge brakes work. It's a kind of braking system used on light trailers like boat trailers, and Brenderups, that has absolutely nothing to do with how the brakes on your horse trailer work. Your horse trailer does not have a surge brake system. You need a brake controller for the brakes on the horse trailer you have to work.

Please listen to people who know what they are talking about and I would never take any advice from your "dissenter" for anything else.

[2bee]

The dissenter told me that there are three different brake controllers....like what you, Tkhawk said, the newest one automatically sets the brake and that I'm to get this one if I need one. I will show this dissenter this thread.

I have an appt. on Monday anyway - I just need to collect more information and opinions on this so I'll have something to say to this dissenter on why I need the brake controller.

I'll get a tire gauge and leave it in the truck so I can test all tires - both the truck and the trailers each time.

Dont know who or why you need to say something to this "dissenter", but yes you need a controller, yes it should be a Prodigy or better, and why has no one mentioned this yet.........IT IS THE LAW!!!

Quoted from the Wisconsin DOT (http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/statepatrol/inspection/faqs-inspection.htm) website,

"When does a trailer need trailer brakes?

Trailer brakes are required if the trailer and load exceed 3,000 pounds or if the trailer's gross weight exceeds the empty weight of the towing vehicle. RE: Wisconsin statute 348.10 (4)"

There is a good chance your Trail-et weighs more than 3000# without the horses.

[Prieta]

Ok, I'm thinking here....

my trailer does have brakes and is connected to my truck through the "five ways" plug - so whenenver, I apply on the brake, the brakes on the trailer gets turned on. So, I'm not "breaking the law" here - I'm just saying that to help me to understand this better...If that is not correct, then I really do need the controller.

If that is the case, then why didn't the truck manufacturing plants install them?

The controller is only to help to increase the brake proportionally so it will not push against the truck when I need the trailer's brakes to work. Is this what I'm reading here?

[2bee]

Ok, I'm thinking here....

my trailer does have brakes and is connected to my truck through the "five ways" plug - so whenenver, I apply on the brake, the brakes on the trailer gets turned on. So, I'm not "breaking the law" here - I'm just saying that to help me to understand this better...If that is not correct, then I really do need the controller.

If that is the case, then why didn't the truck manufacturing plants install them?

The controller is only to help to increase the brake proportionally so it will not push against the truck when I need the trailer's brakes to work. Is this what I'm reading here?

No brake controller = No trailer brakes.

Unless you have surge brakes, (which I doubtTrail-et would use on a horse trailer) or an improperly wired trailer electrical system, the trailer brakes will not function at all without a brake controller installed in the truck.

[Tom King]

Good grief. You do not have trailer brakes when the trailer has electric brakes simply because it's plugged into the truck wiring UNLESS the truck has a brake controller in it. Yes the 7 way plug on the truck has a space for a brake control wire but they don't come hooked up to anything. There are even different types of brake controllers. Ford did put one in some of it's trucks but for me personally, I would change it to one I like even if I had one of that particular model of Ford. I don't think it's unreasonable that all trucks don't come with them. It would mean that everyone who bought the truck would have to spend the extra money whether they needed a controller or not and most who buy trucks don't or know enough about it to know what they need and like.

Here is a little bit of information about some of the different braking systems for trailers. There are others. This company sells parts mainly for boat trailers. This represents maybe half of the common types for trailers. Your trailer should with about 99.9% probability have electric drum brakes.

http://www.championtrailers.com/brkart.html

[TheOrangeOne]

The only reason you would not need one is if your truck came equipped with Chevy's built in brake controller.

[Liberty]

I just replaced my brake controller with a Prodigy, bought a brand new one on e-bay for $90.00. So compared to the safety of your horses and others around you, $90 is pretty cheap insurance.

I did the same thing - replaced my old "manual" brake controller with a Prodigy that I bought on eBay, brand new, for around $75 (bought it a few years ago; can't remember exactly how much I paid). Difference between the two is amazing, and no more hubby futzing around with the controller when we're heading out with a full load. :)

[EventingJ]

The only reason you would not need one is if your truck came equipped with Chevy's built in brake controller.

My brother (car buff) was telling me that they are now connecting to the trucks brakes or something like that? So that when you have a trailer connected it works off the truck brakes system in a proportional way - but I couldnt figure out how you would adjust that, so maybe I just didnt understand when he was explaining it to me :)

Anyways - I just bought a Prodigy controller its a proportional type of controller but also works off of inertia, so it automatically adjusts to weight of trailer and speed of motion - I've only used it once so far loaded, from Syracuse to Rochester, and after using a couple of the ones that you manually adjust, I love it. It worked awesome (I have a 2500 '04 silverado) and the trailer was a steel 2h (w/o dressing room) and 1 horse with probably the heaviest tack truck I've ever seen (400-500lbs) and all the rest of the supplies, so it was pretty loaded - worked beautifully. I was shocked, really. There are settings on it if you wanted to manually adjust, or boost settings, if you wanted to have the trailer brake first, or different settings depending on how much the trailer weighed. But the trailer didn't push me, or pull, which I was pretty skeptical about how well it was going to work.

[tikidoc]

If you have a regular brake controller and switch to a Prodigy, is it just a plug-in installation, or do you have to get it installed? Also, there are several types of the Prodigy on eBay - which is appropriate for a 2h trailer? Thanks!

[Mtn trails]

Tiki- It was very easy to install, basically connect the wires and attach it to your dash. Took hubby about 20 minutes. I'm not sure on the model of the Prodigy; maybe someone else here knows.

[Liberty]

If you have a regular brake controller and switch to a Prodigy, is it just a plug-in installation, or do you have to get it installed? Also, there are several types of the Prodigy on eBay - which is appropriate for a 2h trailer? Thanks!

Don't know about the installation process as I had mine installed when I got my trailer inspected (bearings repacked, etc.). But I think it would be easy-peasy when you're just switching out one for another.

The model I have is #90185, and my trailer is a 14' steel GN stock trailer that hauls my two 1,000-lb QH's. It works flawlessly.

I just checked eBay, and this looks like the best deal at this particular time:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190264708731

I was going to put my old controller (Tekonsha Voyager) on eBay, but they aren't bringing much (no surprise), so I'll probably just freecycle it.

:)

[tkhawk]

I paid 325$ for mine-the brake controller and installation and tax. Which is on the high end. But I am not mechanically inclined. My greatest thing is to remmeber that red and black on the wires of my air compressor is for postive and negative. I keep getting confused no matter how many times I use it:lol: So each time I google it and write it down and then use the air compressor(it plugs to the battery in the engine of the car/truck).
But from what I hear, it is relatively easy to install-but for me I felt safer if a proffessional did it-for my peace of my mind that it was done right....

[tikidoc]

I already have a brake controller installed, so it sounds like it is just switching out the boxes. Correct?

[tkhawk]

I think so. I am not an expert in the field. But I had a brake controller before too and switched it with the Prodigy about two years ago. I recall them saying I already had all the set up so it wouldn't be difficult. But this makes a great difference-my old one my trailer tires would some time lock up and sometimes the trailer would jerk-I could never get the setting right.