wont the brakes on the trailer work even with out the controller. I dont really know. i was told that the controller was just to override the brakes?

 

Is the trailer for a boat?

 

no, if you dont hook up a controller, the trailer brakes wont work. you need the controller to set up the brake bias because heavier loads require more brakes and vise-versa. trailer brakes arent regulated by the brake pedal, they sense the brake light signal and apply full brake, thats why you have the dial on the side of the controller.

 

ok i dont see a dial on the side. i do see a slide that says SYNC above it? any clue? The brakes are on a 21 ft pull behind camper (travel trailer)

 

there needs to be a way to adjust the bias.

the sync slide is there so you can apply the trailer brakes independantly from the truck to see how tight they are.

 

why use the brake controller instead of the momentum brakes? i may be mistaken but i seem to remember seeing trailer brakes that apply as soon as the tounge pushes against the hitch. have ya'll ever heard of something like that?

 

that is a surge style brake system, commonly reffered to as "Surge brakes". usually used on boat trailers and anything that cant use electronics. it is basically a master cylinder in the trailer tong with a floating hitch receiver which is connected to the pushrod of the master. everytime you hit the brakes, the weight of the trailer will push against the truck, squeezing the master cylinder and applying the brakes. the only downside to that is there are more mechanical parts and you need to lock out the system if you want to back the trailer up a hill.

 

i knew there was something like that available. i bet those things would let you know that they work pretty quick if you got mad and floored it in reverse too.

 

does anyone have any suggestions at where i should set the brake controller at. its a 21 ft camper with an alluminum frame. approx. 2300 lbs i believe

 

its trial and error man, different size brakes and crontrollers will set up differently. you have to set it up as your driving. just keep adding brake until you feel like the trailer is dooing too MUCH of the braking, then back it off. just remember that trailer brakes usually have some good surface rust on the friction surfaces, so it takes a few good stops before they accually start to grab.