Trialer Brake Question

retiredMarine2 · August 21, 2021

Trying to help out a friend, he has a 2109 Sierra 1500 (old body style) which he has installed a goose neck trailer package in. He has a 8K trailer that brakes on 4 wheels that he's pulling. The issue is no matter how high he sets the gain the trailer still has a hard time stopping. No setting will lock up the wheels at all. He loaned the trailer to someone else with a Ford and they had no problem locking the wheels. Any ideas?

SVG · August 22, 2021

Does he have EOH brakes? My 21' wouldn't recognize my trailer brakes until I installed one of these,

https://www.hydrastarusa.com/products/accessories/controller-adapter-module/

After installing this my trailer brakes (on a brand new trailer) worked like a champ.

I've no affiliation with the manufacturer beyond being a one time customer.

retiredMarine2 · August 22, 2021

6 hours ago, SVG said:

Does he have EOH brakes? My 21' wouldn't recognize my trailer brakes until I installed one of these,

https://www.hydrastarusa.com/products/accessories/controller-adapter-module/

After installing this my trailer brakes (on a brand new trailer) worked like a champ.

I've no affiliation with the manufacturer beyond being a one time customer.

I'll have to check with him. Thanks for the suggestion!

retiredMarine2 · August 23, 2021

1 hour ago, retiredMarine2 said:

I'll have to check with him. Thanks for the suggestion!

No, his trailer brakes are not EOH.

redwngr · August 24, 2021

First thing I'd do is make sure the pins on the truck/trailer plugs are clean and that the plug is fully seated.

If not used often, crap and corrosion can build up on the connections.

retiredMarine2 · August 24, 2021

3 hours ago, redwngr said:

First thing I'd do is make sure the pins on the truck/trailer plugs are clean and that the plug is fully seated.

If not used often, crap and corrosion can build up on the connections.

Yup that as the firs thing he checked. The display also shows the trailer is connected and never looses connection.

AirForceAngler · August 25, 2021

Did you mean to say he has a 2009 (I don't think the 2109s have been released yet)? Assuming so since you said old body style. I don't thing these had built-in brake controllers so what controller is he using? Perhaps it's not big enough for the trailer. Or someone didn't wire it properly when they installed it.

Edited August 25, 2021 by AirForceAngler

retiredMarine2 · September 6, 2021

Circled back to my buddy. First a bit of clarification, yes its a 2019 not a 2109.. LOL and yes it does have an integrated controller. He loaned it to a friend who put a heavier load on it, when it cam back the brakes worked just fine. I'm guessing since it was a new trailer it had something to do with the brakes getting a better ground with use, or the magnets getting worn in. Thanks for all the suggestions, this place is a wealth of knowledge!