2015 Factory trailer brake question

VTBulldog · February 27, 2016

My wife and I are getting into camping, and I have a question. Our new camper is rated for 7,900lbs and that is loaded with both tanks full. I am getting the Equil-I-zer WD hitch thrown in (bonus!) and wondered what I should be setting my brake controller at?

Thanks!

MikeNH · February 27, 2016

Search youtube for setting trailer brake gain. There are lots of demos for it. Generally you want full manual power to be just under the lockup threshold.

newdude · February 27, 2016

Test it. Probably the only way to really know. Get going down the road, about 10 mph or so, set the gain up near the max setting. Apply them manually with the manual control on the switch so they lock up. Drop the gain down about 1 setting after that and adjust further if necessary.

jhplak325 · February 27, 2016

Test it. Probably the only way to really know. Get going down the road, about 10 mph or so, set the gain up near the max setting. Apply them manually with the manual control on the switch so they lock up. Drop the gain down about 1 setting after that and adjust further if necessary.

This and read the section in the owners manual about the ITBC.

You will like the Equil-I-zer, have the same setup and have no complaints about it.

BlackZ71Silverado · March 6, 2016

You should run the truck with the trailer loaded to weight to get your correct setting, that's the only way to know how it slows and stops. With my 2008 factory brake controller, I usually start at 6 and go from there.

schmolf4 · March 11, 2016

which tanks are you referring to, you should always drain your grey/black water tanks before leaving the campground and unless you are planning on boondocking, the fresh water tank should never have water in it. why tow around the extra weight of a full fresh water tank...

15slvrDbl · April 1, 2016

We always have 5-10 gallons in the fresh tank for the just in case situation. Traveling with small children it's nice if someone has to go to be able to pull off and use the facilities. My brake controller usually sits at 6. But I've only towed once with this truck before winter set in. Mine is rated for 7200 lbs loaded.

volrus · April 27, 2016

I'm not sure my factor trailer brake control is working correctly. My new camper has a dry weight of 6000 lbs and a gross weight (loaded) of 7700. I have my gain set to 10 and cannot get the wheels to lock up. It slows it down some, but thats it. Any thoughts?

jhplak325 · April 27, 2016

Start by making sure the trailer brakes are adjusted correctly.

Just because the trailer is new, doesn't mean the brakes were adjusted.

volrus · April 28, 2016

Start by making sure the trailer brakes are adjusted correctly.

Just because the trailer is new, doesn't mean the brakes were adjusted.

Agree, but I had to have the gain set to 8 to get my old pop up camper to lock up and it only weighed 3,000 pounds. Had a tekonsha brake controller on my wife's minivan and I could get the pop up to lock up no problem at all (I vaguely recall it being on a setting of 4.5).