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Weak trailer brake output

Greyhound6.2
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Greyhound6.2 Enthusiast

Greyhound6.2

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Has anyone else noticed their trailer brakes feel weak on their 20 sierra 1500? Mine is a max Tow pkg with the 6.2

 

I tow a 8.5 x20 enclosed trailer tandem axles with dexter self adjusting brakes on both axles weighs about 5500-6K lbs  loaded. I used to tow that trailer with a V8 Grand Cherokee with an aftermarket brake controller and it stopped great, frequently felt like the trailer was stopping the jeep if the gain was much over 6. I have the gain set on the integrated controller in my truck at 10 and it feels like I have less braking power than I had on my Grand cherokee at a gain of 6-7.  I Towed my buddies trailer about the same weight but manually adjusted brakes from STL to Moab Utah and back and had to stop and adjust his brakes as I had almost no trailer brakes. He tows with a 2016 silverado  integrated brake controller and had to adjust the drum brakes back down as he had too much brake force when connected to his truck. Anyone experience something similar? Or advice on how to improve trailer braking power?

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calgator73 Senior Enthusiast

calgator73

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Posted (edited)

With the gain set to maximum when you use the manual brake at full detent you should see line voltage between pin 2 and pin 1.

 

Leave your gain set to maximum and have someone slowly push the brake pedal to the floor while you look at the multimeter. Somewhere before the bottom of the travel you should see line voltage between pin two and pin one.

 

If you are indeed seeing that and the braking force isn't sufficient then I think you need to look at your trailer brakes.

 

At work we have several vehicles with really crappy brake controllers that are time-based and not proportional based off pedal position.  Absolutely hate those because it chews up the trailer brakes.

 

A tekonsha P3 is a proportional brake controller that has an internal inertial sensor.  The harder it senses you applying the brakes the more braking it gives you on the trailer.  This also has a boost function if you want to apply even quicker.

 

Neither one of these features are available from the OEM.  Aside from sway control the only control the factory brake controller has over the trailer brakes to my knowledge is a proportional output based on your gain setting and the brake pedal position.

Edited by calgator73
redwngr Senior Enthusiast

redwngr

Posted
Posted

Factory integrated brake controller does have output that is proportional to the braking level applied to the vehicle, and to the gain setting on the control. 

 

I have more than one Dexter axle equipped enclosed trailer.  Mine are working fine with the factory controllers.

 

They are not used frequently, so each time I hook one up I plug/unplug the 7-pin several times to improve contact. I also drag the brakes lightly  when first pulling to polish of any surface corrosion.  The go thru the exercise of following recommended procedure for setting the correct gain for the current load. 

 

Similar story with a larger and heavier loaded flat deck that was used much more often, but has now been sold. It was pulled with a 2011 2500 with ITBC. the enclosed ones have been behind several '11 and newer 1500 and 2500's.

 

Don't think I've ever needed to set one near maximum. 

 

 

 

Waaazooo Senior Enthusiast

Waaazooo

Posted
Posted

Make sure your brake wires aren’t chewy through at the axle. Happened to me on my trailer either it got tangled ona branch or maybe a chipmunk.


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Greyhound6.2 Enthusiast

Greyhound6.2

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I did look at my trailer and the brake wiring and drums look good, Guess I am assuming the different brake feel is the difference between a controller that has inertia and proportional vs just proportional. 

jnissen Enthusiast

jnissen

Posted
Posted

One other report of weak activation of brakes. Think that user took it back to dealer and found the connector back at trailer connector needed to be reseated

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