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Gain Setting with Factory Brake Controller

Motor301
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Motor301 Enthusiast

Motor301

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I just towed my travel trailer with my new 2020 Silverado, with the factory brake controller. I had a 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison prior, which was totaled in a crash last month. Prior to that, I had a 2017 ZR2 with the Diesel engine (which was replaced twice). In both Colorados with the factory controller, I would end up with a gain of about 4.0-4.5 and get excellent control of the trailer braking. Towing with the Silverado, I ended up with a gain of 7.5 with the same trailer. In addition, I feel like even with a higher gain setting, the braking performance wasn’t at all what I expected from the bigger truck. 
 

The trailer is a 2018 Keystone passport 175BH, max weight of 4500lbs, probably about 3500 when I’m moving from my house to the storage lot and vise versa. 
 

Am I wrong in thinking that the gain setting would have been about the same with the same trailer, considering they are all GM parts? 

smrr1 Senior Enthusiast

smrr1

Posted
Posted

I’ve never had to go higher than 4.5 and my trailer is usually heavier than that. Anything more and they want to lock up. 

jnissen Enthusiast

jnissen

Posted
Posted

Have you verified the trailer brakes are still good and operable? In my last vehicle the numbering was different but from min to max but the relative gain was about the same.

Motor301 Enthusiast

Motor301

Posted
  • Author
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4 minutes ago, jnissen said:

Have you verified the trailer brakes are still good and operable? In my last vehicle the numbering was different but from min to max but the relative gain was about the same.

Brakes are good. I hooked it up to my neighbors Sierra this evening and with the gain set on his at 5.0, the braking was quite a bit better. I'm gonna make an appointment for the dealer to check it out.

ShamrockShooter Senior Enthusiast

ShamrockShooter

Posted
Posted
I just towed my travel trailer with my new 2020 Silverado, with the factory brake controller. I had a 2020 Colorado ZR2 Bison prior, which was totaled in a crash last month. Prior to that, I had a 2017 ZR2 with the Diesel engine (which was replaced twice). In both Colorados with the factory controller, I would end up with a gain of about 4.0-4.5 and get excellent control of the trailer braking. Towing with the Silverado, I ended up with a gain of 7.5 with the same trailer. In addition, I feel like even with a higher gain setting, the braking performance wasn’t at all what I expected from the bigger truck. 
 
The trailer is a 2018 Keystone passport 175BH, max weight of 4500lbs, probably about 3500 when I’m moving from my house to the storage lot and vise versa. 
 
Am I wrong in thinking that the gain setting would have been about the same with the same trailer, considering they are all GM parts? 
I have a keystone passport 239 which is probably 5500 lbs fully loaded 2 axles. I seem to settle in at about 6 to 6.5 on the trailer brake depending on truck load to make it feel "right".

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  • 4 weeks later...
Motor301 Enthusiast

Motor301

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Just to follow up on this. I had it in the dealer and they did some testing. Tech up cleaning the connector on the truck side and everything works just fine now. Didn't even cross my mind the connector might need cleaning on a brand new truck. 

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