Author: Todd Donaldson

Many people who tow a trailer just accept that sway control is limited. The fact is, trailer sway is a common issue, but there are things you can do that will improve sway control greatly.

There are plenty of questions about sway control and how to improve it. The top three questions are listed below.

What Causes the Trailer Sway?

A lot of haulers get frustrated with trailer sway because they feel like they have done everything on their part for sway control and yet they are still struggling with the sway. The fact is, many times, trailer sway is caused by things outside of the driver’s control.

A gust of wind, a semi-truck passing, and even a simple and slow lane change can throw the trailer off and cause it to sway. A gust of wind can cause two pounds of square foot pressure on your trailer and push it around.

In some cases it is driver error that causes an increase in sway. Lane changes made too quickly can be a huge contributing factor.

How Should Weight Be Distributed?

Ideally, about 15% of the weight of the trailer should be on the hitch. About 60% of the cargo should be loaded on the front of the trailer. This weight distribution can help to reduce sway. Redistribution of weight can help if you find that your trailer is swaying more than usual.

What is the Best Sway Control Method?

The best way to control sway is to have the right hitching mechanism. A typical ball hitch setup allows the truck and the trailer to act as separate pieces. This means that the trailer is free to move around on a ball hitch. As you are driving, the ball hitch encourages an oscillating action moving the trailer from side to side.

A straight hitch can force the two units to work as one. With a straight hitch, there is no oscillating motion. The truck and the trailer become the same unit with the right straight hitch, which means, where the truck goes so does the trailer.

You can trust Hayes Towing for all your towing needs and make towing safer. Hayes Towing Electronics Products are Proudly Made in the U.S.A.

When it comes time to look at new trailer brake controller solutions, you might feel a little bit overwhelmed. If you’re not sure what to look for, then you’ve come to the right place. From looking at reviews of brake controllers to examining your towing habits, here are three tips to help you choose the best brake controller for your trailer system.

Look at Reviews of Brake Controllers

One of the most underrated tools you have for choosing a brake controller is other customer reviews. Reviews are an incredibly helpful tool for you as a consumer. Not only will they give you a well-rounded idea of how each trailer brake controller works, but they may also help expose some issues you may not have known about. It’s also indicative of a brake controller company’s reputation. If you’re seeing a lot of four- and five-star reviews, it’s definitely a good sign. It’s also good to see reviews from repeat customers. Someone who has left multiple reviews on different products is a reliable source.

Determine What You’ll Need to Tow

As with any piece of equipment for your trailer, it’s important to consider how you’ll be using it. The trailer brake system that you choose will ultimately depend on your intent for your trailer. If you’re going to use your trailer solely for heavy-duty towing, then it’s important that you take that into consideration before you choose a brake controller system for your trailer. You might end up going with a more expensive or heavier-duty model if you make heavy use of your trailer on a regular basis. More recreational use may not require a brake system that’s so intense.

Examine How Often You Use Your Trailer

Similar to determining what you’ll be towing, you need to examine how you regularly use your trailer. If you’re only using your trailer for the odd annual camping trip, then you may not need a brake system that’s super intense. Daily towing, on the other hand, may require a brake system that’s designed for heavy use. These trailer brake systems may be more expensive, but they’re well worth the cost if you’re using your trailer daily.

Whether you’re one of the 30 million RV enthusiasts in the nation or you’re using a trailer for work purposes, it’s important to make sure you have the right brake system. Don’t forget to look at reviews of brake controllers.

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Most drivers don’t realize that towing is different from driving normally. There are some towing safety facts that you must observe when you are towing so that you don’t end up causing accidents. For instance, a 35-mph crosswind can put as much as 3,440 pounds of force pushing against a huge trailer. This is from research done on commercial vehicle towing accidents by Knott Laboratory.

Take Your Time

Speeding is very dangerous, especially when you are towing another vehicle or a trailer. When you have a trailer, you must move at a slower speed than you usually do. Ideally, you should maintain your speed at about 55 km/h. This will help you maintain control if your trailer starts to sway. If you are moving very fast and your trailer starts to sway, it might start to whip. Unfortunately, if this happens, the car will be very difficult to control and stay on the road. Also, as you go uphill, slow down and engage a lower gear. For additional safety, you will also have to turn your flashers on to warn other drivers that you’ll be moving slower than usual.

If You Lose Control, Don’t Panic

It’s not uncommon to lose control if you are towing. However, if this happens, don’t panic. Rather, remember your towing safety facts. Panicking might cause you to make all the wrong moves and worsen the situation. For instance, remember never to steer sharply or apply your brakes if you lose control. If you are towing something heavy, making sudden moves can cause accidents because your momentum can send both your car and the trailer in the wrong direction.

Stay Within Capacity

Every vehicle has a towing capacity. You must always check the towing capacity of your car before you go on the road. Going past your capacity can be very dangerous. This can affect the performance of your brakes, and this can cause handling complications. You might also end up damaging your suspension, engine, or drivetrain. Also, when towing, remember to factor in any passengers and extra luggage. This will contribute to your total load.

Inspect Your Trailer

Before you head out, you must inspect the trailer to ensure that everything is working as it should. For instance, you must check to see if the trailer lights are working before you start. You must also double-check to see if the trailer is hooked to your car properly.

There are a lot of towing safety facts that you should know about towing. Before you go on the road, you must also find someone to help you perform a final check of your trailer. They might spot something that you would have missed.

The NHTSA reports that there are more than 50,000 accidents yearly related to towing. Some of these accidents occur because of a poorly maintained air brake controller. The heat generated by your vehicle’s engine is converted into kinetic energy, which then makes the car move. However, when you want your car to stop, that same energy needs to be reversed. The kinetic energy moving your car must be converted to heat, which then brings the vehicle to a stop. This is where your air brake controller comes in. Your air brakes operate on compressed air, especially in a heavy vehicle. It is important to ensure that you maintain them often to ensure safe driving.

Low Risk of Brake Failure

Servicing your air brake controller is the most important step in airbrake maintenance. If your air brake controller is kept clean and in good shape, there will be fewer brake failures. You must also go the extra mile to make sure that the air compressor intake filters foreign material out of the lines.

To test whether your air brake controller is working, you can perform a simple operational test. This test can be performed on the road or at the brake shop. When doing an operational test, all you need to do is apply and release brakes while you observe if there is an equal application or binding linkage. You must also check if there is any sluggish engagement or release and exhaust of units.

You must also check the leakage of the entire system. To do this, you need to fully charge the air brake system and turn off the ignition. You must then check to see if the pressure will drop on the gauge installed on the vehicle’s dash.

Maintenance is Necessary for Optimum Performance

Air brake maintenance is an important factor in achieving optimum system performance. If you want to achieve maximum brake torque, your air brake controller should be maintained regularly. Failure to do so might result in a significant loss of brake torque. Air brake control maintenance also involves brake adjustment. Many air-braked vehicles on the road have brakes that are not properly adjusted. This means that all these vehicles will be operating at a reduced effectiveness level. If you want to improve truck safety, you must ensure that your air brake controller is maintained regularly.

When it comes to the question of what are the best type of brake controllers for trailers and RVs, there are several factors that one should look at. There are more than 11% of households in the United States headed by 35- to 54-year-olds—that own an RV. This percentage exceeds the 9.3% of those that are aged 5 5 and older. With so many individuals who own RVs, an effective brake controller is crucial. Let’s examine what your brake controller system should have as you seek to answer the question what are the best type of brake controllers for RVs.

Brake Controller with Harness

For an answer to the question what are the best type of brake controllers for an RV, the answer may lie in a brake controller kit with a brake controller wiring harness. This duo would be ideal to get your RV up and running. The brake controller kit is suitable for trailers that have up to four axles. The kit is also ideal for both electric and trailers that have an electric over hydraulic brake set up. The system is also very customizable; so, the braking will be perfect for your RV.

Brake Controller with Time Delay

When searching for an answer to the question what are the best type of brake controllers for trailers and RVs, you may consider one with time delay. Brake controllers with time delay will activate the trailer’s braking system while offering a rate of application with predetermined power output.

A Brake Controller with A Signal Alert

Within your quest to find an answer to what are the best type of brake controllers for trailers and RVs, you may entertain one that has a signal alert. The brake controller equipped with this kind of alert allows for safer braking. Fitted with a manual emergency braking control, you’ll be able to apply full power during those emergency stop instances.
For the most durable and reliable brake controller you need for your trailer or RV, we have them.

Connect with Your Arab, AL Brake Controller Specialists Today

Consider us the answer to the question what are the best type of brake controllers for trailers and RVs. Our selection of brake controllers is unparalleled. Perhaps you’re in need of a controller that offers a liquid crystal display that can show a reading for modes and braking power. Perhaps you have a light-duty trailer and are in need of a controller that has compatibility with two or four brakes. Regardless of your brake controller needs, we can assist.

We also sell accessories such as a universal wiring harness in addition to our selection of brake controllers. From electric trailer brake controllers, proportional brake controllers, time-based brake controllers, we have what you need. Connect with us today and discuss your brake controller needs.

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Hauling a trailer puts an incredible amount of stress on the braking system of the vehicle. Whether transporting cars, a boat, industrial freight, or any other type of cargo, it is imperative to have a brake controller to make sure that the trailer braking system will function. Here are a few things to consider when looking around at the best trailer brake controller solutions.

Correcting Trailer Sway

Trailer sway is a significant and dangerous part of hauling a trailer. Some of the reasons that trailer sway will occur include the wind, oversteering, and speeding. Basically, there are two types of devices that help correct trailer sway. One of them is designed to stop trailer sway before it starts. The other one attempts to work after trailer sway has happened by reducing its severity. Trailer sway can be effectively handled after looking at the trailer brake controller solutions that are available.

East To Install

One of the most critical things to think about when looking at the best break trailer controller solutions is if it is easy to install. Electric brake controllers, on the whole, are not extremely complicated, so they are mostly pretty simple to install. If it is to be mounted on the dash permanently, there may be some drilling needed to run aground wire. The remaining wiring would be done for lighting power that goes to the trailer, including for the brake lights. Under the dash of many of the newest trucks, there is a plug-in for an outlet designed specifically to be used to hook up a brake controller. This will work as long as the plugin is compatible with your controller.

Adjustable Mounting

In addition to installing the preferred and best brake controllers correctly, they must also be positioned with comfort in mind. Most of the time, only one hand is available to operate the brake controller, so it must be oriented so that it is on the opposite side of the driving (dominant) hand of the driver. Accessibility, right side, or left side are all factors that could make a huge safety difference. This is especially true in an emergency situation when attempting to make an awkward turn.

Types of Trailer Brakes

Make sure to understand the braking system you will be operating. Trailer brakes come in two different modes. A hydraulic braking system, also known as surge brakes, functions without a brake controller. Electronic brake controllers are more common. The controller in the truck sends a signal to the trailer, which makes the electric brakes in the trailer work. Without the controller, the brakes will not operate.

Consider an Adjustable Controller

Driving conditions vary, and the weight of the trailer is not always going to be the same. With this in mind, an adjustable brake controller might be a wise investment. Depending on your driving habits, depending on weather conditions, depending on the road conditions–with all these factors, an adjustable brake controller gives you more control. You as the driver will be in charge of how quickly the trailer brakes activate when you press on the brake pedal.

Finding appropriate trailer brake controller solutions is another step to help ensure safety on the highway. When traveling, it is always advisable to make sure all equipment has been checked and systems are in great working order. Another safety feature to think about would be having a trailer breakaway kit. Using this kit is an emergency situation that no one wants to be in, but it is wise to be prepared for any eventuality. Peace of mind will lead to miles of happy travels.

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To ensure maximum towing safety when on the road, your trailer brake system must be working perfectly. This means that your trailer brake wiring system must be expertly connected to function optimally. Today, most vehicles designated for towing come with a ready-to-use wiring system for trailer brakes. This makes it easy for you because all you have to do is insert your trailer plug into your vehicle’s system, hitch the trailer, and start towing.

However, when your towing vehicle is not pre-wired, you’ll have to use a wiring harness to connect your trailer to your tow vehicle or find a professional installer to do it for you. As a towing enthusiast, you’ll be better off knowing your way around trailer brake wiring. These three tips will come in handy.

1. Your Trailer Brake System Controls Your Trailer Lights

Typically, most trailers have three basic sets of lights — the taillights, left brake light, and the right brake light. Every time you’re out on the road towing your trailer, you want all your trailer lights to function properly to enhance your towing safety. The taillights flash every time you apply brakes, signifying the motorists behind you to slow down. When you’re making a right or left turn, the right and the left brake lights will flash to show every motorist which way you’re going. Properly functioning trailer lights increase your road safety when towing, especially on busy North American roads.

In light of this, you must connect your wiring system for trailer brakes skillfully for your trailer lights to function effectively. To their credit, most trailer wiring plugs are easy to connect. The standard trailer connector has four pins and an extra ground wire. The ground wire prevents the trailer brake wiring system from shorting in case of an electrical surge. The four pins connect to the two taillights and the right and left brake lights. Once you plug in your trailer brake controller to your vehicle, you only need to test if the lights are working well, and you’re good to go.

2. When to Buy Trailer Wiring Adapters

In the best-case scenario, your towing vehicle is pre-rigged, so all you have to do is plug in your brake controller, test it, and proceed to tow. However, it’s not always as easy. There are some instances where you’ll need to be ingenious. For instance, your towing vehicle may be pre-wired with a seven-pin wiring system connector, while your trailer has a four-pin connector. In such a scenario, a wiring adapter will save the day.

You’ll find different wiring adapters from the best trailer brake controller dealer. In this case, you’ll need a seven-pin to four-pin adapter. In other cases, your trailer may have five-pin or six-pin connectors. Likewise, you’ll need a five-pin to four-pin adapter or a six-pin to four-pin adapter.

3. When to Buy a Trailer Wiring Harness

When your truck isn’t pre-wired for towing, you should make use of a trailer wiring harness. The modern wiring kits are easy to install since you don’t need to solder, splice, or tape any wires. Once you install the wiring harness or have a professional install it, your wiring system for trailer brakes will function perfectly. You only need to get the right trailer wiring kit specifically made for your vehicle’s model. Fortunately, the top dealers will have the right wiring harness for any car model. These include Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Infiniti, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercury, Nissan, or Toyota.

Having a good wiring system for trailer brakes will boost your towing safety by a large margin. If you’re among the 30 million RV enthusiasts and RV renters as estimated by RVIA, it’s important to know your way around trailer brake wiring systems. This will make you a better RVer besides boosting your towing safety on U.S. roads.

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The NHTSA says that there are more than 50,000 accidents every year on North American roads related to towing. As an RV enthusiast, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you’re safe when towing on the road. One of the most effective ways to enhance your towing safety is by installing electronic brake controllers.

Let’s look at how electronic brake controllers enhance your towing safety.

Electric Brake Controllers Provide Smooth Braking

Braking is a major concern when towing a trailer, particularly on the highway or rough terrain. When you apply your truck’s brakes, you want the towing truck and the trailer to stop in tandem. Without electronic brake controllers, this may not be possible. You may not achieve a smooth stop, as every time you apply the brakes, your truck will not stop without jerking forward. However, this stops when you install proportional brake controllers.

When you install proportional controllers, the brakes will send the same amount of braking force to the towing vehicle and the trailer every time you apply the brakes. This means that your truck and trailer will brake smoothly without jerking. Smooth braking is important because it helps you avoid crashing into the car ahead by reducing the stopping distance. Proportional brake controllers have in-built accelerometers that monitor your truck’s speed and braking force.

As a result, your trailer and vehicle brakes will have less wear and tear because they’ll receive proportional braking force. Also, when you’re stuck in traffic, the accelerometers will cut out power to the trailer brakes, so they don’t get too hot. When trailer brakes are idle and remain too hot, there is a higher rate of wear and tear.

Electronic Brake Controllers Help in Controlling Trailer Sway

Trailer sway can be triggered by speeding, poor braking, overloading your tow vehicle, or exceeding the maximum gross weight of your trailer. However, being a careful RVer, you’ll be cautious to avoid some of these violations, like overloading your trailer and speeding on the highway. But even after taking all these precautions, you may still experience trailer sway when braking. Correcting trailer sway caused by poor braking is made easier by installing electronic brake controllers.

The best trailer brake controllers sync the vehicle’s and the trailer’s brakes, so they are activated simultaneously. This leads to proportional braking and prevents trailer sway. Excessive trailer sway during braking can have severe consequences on the highway. For instance, if you’re traveling at a speed of more than 55 miles per hour and experience trailer sway when making an emergency stop, your trailer may jackknife and cause a terrible accident.

Besides installing electronic brake controllers, there are other ways of enhancing your towing safety. They include:

Not Speeding on the Highway

When towing a large RV, you don’t want to over speed even if you have installed the best brake controllers. The rate of brake failure is higher when speeding. When towing a trailer, it’s advisable not to exceed 55 miles per hour.

Hitching Your Trailer Properly

You should ensure that you correctly hitch your trailer to the tow vehicle. As a rule of thumb, you should ensure that about 12% to 15% of the trailer’s weight rests on the tow vehicle’s hitch. This keeps the trailer firmly hitched to the tow vehicle even when towing on rough terrain.

Don’t Overload Your Trailer

The maximum gross weight of your trailer is indicated on the VIN label. You can find the VIN label on the left side of the front half of your trailer. From the label, you’ll read your trailer’s GWAR and GVWR. This will guide you when calculating the cargo weight to load in your trailer.

Installing electronic brake controllers is a good place to start if you want to enhance your towing safety. You should trust a reputable dealer to sell and install the best electronic brake controllers for your RV.

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Avid RV campers are likely to own a towable trailer or a motorhome. Research shows more than 11% of U.S. households with 35-45-year-olds have an RV, which is more than the ownership rates for 55+ year-olds. The majority prefer towable RVs to motorhomes as they are more affordable and allow users to use the towing vehicle freely when not camping.

However, towing an RV trailer needs a lot of power, and installing an electric trailer brake controller might just be the solution. It helps operate the trailer’s brakes when driving and reduces wear on the towing vehicle’s brakes. Even with the best maintenance, the trailer brake wiring system can get faulty. Diagnosing such electrical problems is difficult, especially when you don’t know the cause. Here are the common problems in trailer brake systems and how to fix them.

1. Damaged Wiring

The trailer brake wiring system wears out after prolonged use. And, if you’ve been driving in rocky or rough terrains, the wiring system is likely to get damaged rapidly. The best way to solve the problem is to ensure the trailer wiring is outfitted properly to avoid coming into contact with the rough road. This means using a high-quality conduit, so the wires are not left hanging under the trailer. Also, avoid using scotch locks to join the brake controller wiring. The locks aren’t suitable for this kind of application and can cause problems on the road.

2. Corrosion

Weather elements also wear out the trailer brake wiring system. The connector pins inside the plug can accumulate dirt over time and need freshening up occasionally. Pouring a can of WD-40 removes all the dirt and anything else that creates resistance to the trailer connection. Use the solution on the socket and trailer plug too. Once all foreign elements are removed, connect the plug and disconnect it three to four times to improve connection. Check the connector pins for bending too. If bent or pinched, straighten them into position, and if they have developed rust, replace them.

3. Low or No Voltage

This is the most common problem in an electric trailer brake controller. Some causes of low voltage are open circuits, poor electrical connections, broken wires, blown fuses, and faulty resistors. To test the voltage of the system, use a voltmeter. Connect it to the lead wires at any brake while running the engine of the towing vehicle. Normally the voltage begins at 0 volts and increases to 12 Volts as the controller bar is actuated. If the controller doesn’t produce any voltage control, check the manual. The rule of the thumb states the voltage of the controller is equal to the voltage applied to the brakes when it’s first turned on.

As such, a low threshold provides smooth braking while a high voltage makes the brakes feel harsh. The system may also short circuit due to defective controllers, shorted magnet coils, or bare wires touching a grounded object. Finding the cause of either of these problems is done by checking the amperage of each part. System amperage measures the current flowing in the electric trailer brakes when all the magnets are energized, and it varies in proportion to the voltage. When testing for the amperage, ensure the engine tow vehicle runs and the ammeter has adequate capacity. A high amperage reading that drops to zero once the trailer is unplugged means that the short-circuit is in the trailer. However, if the amperage reading remains high when all the brake magnets are disconnected, the short is in the trailer brake wiring system.

4. Poor Connections

Even with advanced brake controllers equipped with a circuit analysis, it’s important to examine the parts for poor connections. For hardwire installation, ensure each wire is connected to the right location. If the vehicle has brake lights and turn signals, check whether the brake wire is grounded with the white color. A circuit breaker kit comes in handy, too, as it is equipped with all the necessary tools to help the installer to connect the controller adequately.

In case you find advanced trailer brake wiring problems, enlist the help of an expert. Taking care of your trailer’s wiring system is just as important as looking after your regular towing truck.

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For anyone who has hauled a trailer, trailer sway is inevitable. Trailer sway incidents that happen among noncommercial drivers often go unnoticed. If you are a trailer owner who hauls cargo, mobile homes, or supplies for recreational travel, you want stability for transport. Trailer sway devices are manufactured as either a device that prevents sway altogether or devices that reduce sway once it has started. Let’s delve further into controlling trailer sway and the importance of controlling sway for your business and transportation needs.

What Causes a Trailer To Sway Side to Side?

When it comes to controlling trailer sway, you may be at the mercy of other forces. Trailer sway can come from drafts that other passing semi-trucks create. Trailer sway can also come from utilizing an incorrect braking technique and common crosswinds while traveling on a road or a highway. Although there are more innovative techniques being used to manufacture trailers, controlling trailer sway can still be an issue.

Does Too Much Tongue Weight Cause Trailer Sway?

Generally, controlling trailer sway with less than 10% tongue weight, can be hard to do. Trailer sway is likely to happen, especially if the trailer is traveling at a high rate of speed. Additionally, if there is too much tongue weight, then most of the load is on the front end of your trailer.

Excessive tongue weight could overload the trailer’s rear tires of the towing vehicle. This would then result in the rear end being pushed around. When this takes place, the vehicle is now difficult to maneuver. Curves and corners are difficult to negotiate and your vehicle may not be responsive enough to brake efficiently and effectively.

What Can I Do to Decrease My Trailer Sway?

When you are looking at controlling trailer sway, there are things that you can do. The first is ensuring that your tires have the correct air pressure. Secondly, you may consider installing a type of friction sway controlling device. They can help reduce the effects of wind gusts and sharp turning in the trailer. Another thing that can be done in controlling trailer sway is to try to watch the weather and if you can, avoid windy days for trailer driving.

Quality Brake Controllers and Anti Sway Products

You’re a successful trailer driver with plenty of years of experience. Since you have to transport important supplies and items, you need a business that can supply you with quality electric brake controllers, electric trailer brake controllers, and more. This is where we come in. Our team provides the most effective, ground-breaking items for help with controlling trailer sway and more.

Fixing trailer sway shouldn’t take up your days. Instead, connect with us and learn how you can control that sway and safely transport your supplies, tools, machinery, and more. We offer premium brake controllers, proportional brake controllers, and more. Connect with us today, and learn how controlling trailer sway can be affordable and effective.

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