Author: Todd Donaldson

Electric brake controllers are crucial safety components for vehicles. A 35 mph crosswind can apply about 3,440 pounds of force on a trailer’s side. There are several types of electronic brake controllers available online. How can you choose the right one for your needs? Here are five features to look for when looking for the best brake controller.

Reliability

Reliability is one of the most important factors when considering the best brake controller. A proportional brake controller has a fully automated motion-sensing feature that is reliable to adjust easily to any situation. Time-delayed brake controllers can be less reliable but more affordable.

Ease of Use

Another thing to look for in a brake controller is an easy-to-use interface. This will allow you to adjust the functions of the device according to your needs. Being able to adjust these functions manually is crucial with time-delayed electric brake controllers for trailers.

Construction and Design

The construction and design of electric trailer brake controllers help you to figure out how the device works. The majority of electronic brake controllers feature a monitor that displays the voltage delivery from the controller to the brakes. This monitor needs to be able to be placed where the driver can see it at any moment. This will enable you to see if you need to increase or decrease the voltage delivery at a given time to the trailer brakes.

Overall Cost

The best brake controller will typically cost more than other devices. Buying a high-quality device is crucial for trailer sway control and towing safety. Paying more is definitely worth the investment to avoid expensive repairs and damages to your vehicle in the future.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Customer reviews of brake controllers can be helpful when deciding which brake controller to purchase. Ratings can help you determine the quality of the devices. Make sure to do your homework and compare various types of controllers and features before you buy.

Looking for the best brake controller is one of the best investments you can make. Use these tips to find the best one suited for your needs. If you need professional assistance, our professionals at Hayes Towing Electronics would be happy to assist you. Contact us today!

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Trailer brake controllers increase towing safety by facilitating even braking between a towing truck and the trailer. When you install brake controllers, you’ll avoid common trailer accidents that are caused by insufficient braking power. To get the best out of your trailer, you must install the best brake controllers. However, even the best trailer brake controller will be of little use if you don’t know how to use it properly.

Here is the step-by-step process of how to set up and use brake controllers effectively.

Before you purchase the best brake controllers, you must be certain that they’re applicable in your towing truck. Some modern trucks come fitted with brake controllers as part of their factory-installed towing packages. In such cases, you may not need to install trailer brake controllers.

Secondly, you must decide what type of brake controllers you want. Predominantly, there are two types of brake controllers –proportional brake controllers and time-delayed brake controllers. You may consult the experienced brake controller manufacturers, fellow RVers, or read brake controller reviews to know which type is best suited for your trailer.

After getting the best brake controllers that are most appropriate for your trailer and truck, follow the following steps to properly set up your brake controllers and maximize utility.

Step 1: Connect the Trailer Wiring Harness to the Tow Vehicle

After hitching the trailer to your towing truck, plug in the trailer wiring harness to the vehicle. Brake controllers need power to work. Connecting the trailer brake wiring system to the tow vehicle supplies the brake controllers with the power they need to function. Since the brake controllers are connected to the trailer’s brakes, they supply braking power to the trailer. The connection is also responsible for the trailer’s lights.

Step 2: Adjust the Settings of the Brake Controllers

The display interface of a brake controller is usually installed on the drivers-side dashboard of your tow vehicle below or on the side of the steering wheel. This gives you easy access to the digital display screen controls, which you use to adjust the braking force of the controllers. The braking force is displayed in numbers of one to ten. When you press and hold the brake pedals, the screen will display the output setting. You may then adjust it to the desired level. Additionally, you may also adjust other settings such as the brightness of the display screen, location of the brake controller, and the angle of the interface. The best brake controllers will have many options, enough to satisfy your personal preferences.

Step 3: Test the Trailer Brake System

For the test drive, ensure that you’re on flat, level ground. Drive at about 25 miles per hour and apply your truck’s brakes. If the trailer doesn’t stop in tandem with your truck, you may have low or high gain. You should then adjust the braking force to the appropriate level. Drive again at the same speed, apply the brakes again, and adjust the braking force accordingly. You should do this until you achieve the desired braking power that gives you the smoothest stop.

Step 4: Loading and Unloading

Depending on the type of brake controllers you select; you may have to adjust the gain every time you load or unload weight on your trailer. This is because the weight loaded on a trailer influences the braking power needed to stop the trailer smoothly. To prevent wear and tear, adjust the gain of your brake controllers accordingly after loading or unloading weight on the trailer. This is more common for time-delayed brake controllers. Proportional brake controllers usually have a self-adjusting mechanism.

If you’re among the 30 million RV enthusiasts as estimated by the RVIA, you undoubtedly know that you must invest in the best brake controllers for your trailer. A good trailer brake system ensures smooth braking, preserves your trucks and trailer’s brakes and enhances towing safety. You should trust the reputable brake controller dealers to install the best brake controller on your truck. Hayes Towing Electronics Products are Proudly Made in the U.S.A.

With the NHTSA reporting over 50,000 towing accidents annually, increasing towing safety should be a top priority for all RVers. Whether you’re towing on the highway or in the city, these tips will help you increase your towing safety.

1. Don’t Exceed Your Towing Capacity

Towing capacity varies from truck to truck. The current towing champs include the F-450 Super Duty with a maximum towing capacity of 37,000 pounds and the 2021 GMC Sierra 3500HD that can tow up to 36,000 pounds. When it comes to towing safety in these trucks, what should you keep in mind?

You don’t want your trailer to exceed the towing capacity of your truck because it will be a recipe for disaster. First, you’ll be doing your truck’s transmission and engine system a great injustice. Second, the brakes of your truck are likely to fail and lead to a catastrophic accident. Additionally, stopping your truck and trailer while at stop speed or when towing in hilly terrain would cause your truck to jackknife or crush into the vehicle ahead.

For this reason, you should know your truck’s maximum towing power and the weight of the trailer you seek to tow. Towing experts recommend that the total weight of your trailer and its load, commonly referred to as gross trailer weight (GTW) should not exceed the towing capacity of your truck. It’s also recommended that you install a weight distribution system if your trailer’s weight is more than half of your towing truck’s weight.

2. Invest in the Best Trailer Brake Controller

Brake controllers are installed in your truck’s cab and wired to your trailer’s and truck’s braking systems. A trailer brake system helps your truck stop smoothly without jerking when you apply the brakes on your towing vehicle. You can choose to install time-delayed controllers or proportional brake controllers.

Time-delayed controllers activate your trailer’s braking system with a predetermined braking power that you can program in the control sync settings. With these controllers, there’s a slight time-delay before the controller activates the trailer’s brakes. The other type of brake controller you can install is proportional brake controllers. These brake controllers use modern sensors that automatically detect when your towing truck is slowing or stopping. They then apply equal braking power to your trailer. This leads to a gradual stop as your truck and trailer stop in tandem.

3. Select the Appropriate Trailer Hitch

There are five classes of hitches available for towing trailers. The type you choose is determined by the gross trailer weight rating of your trailer, the maximum towing capacity of your truck, and the maximum trailer tongue weight. Selecting the right trailer hitch system will increase your towing safety because it will reduce the risk of your trailer accidentally dismounting from the towing vehicle. This may happen when you’re driving on bumpy roads.

Luckily, the GTW and maximum tongue weight are usually labeled on your trailer so you won’t have a hard time figuring them out. You can tell the maximum towing capacity of your truck from your truck’s manual or from your dealership.

4. Install a Trailer Sway Control Hitch

A sway control bar is extremely useful in controlling trailer sway when you’re driving. Trailer sway control systems use friction to keep your trailer in position with your towing vehicle. Whenever your trailer begins to sway, the trailer sway system stops the trailer from overturning by putting up enough resistance. When towing tall trailers and heavy enclosed trailers, installing a sway control system will come in handy.

While the above factors will work to enhance towing safety, the way you drive on the roads counts. You’re advised to drive safely and avoid overspeeding and dangerous overtaking when towing. The maximum recommended towing speed is 55mph. Even after following all the requirements that increase your towing safety, like installing the best brake controllers, they’ll be useless if you drive carelessly. When followed to the letter, these towing tips will enhance your road safety by a long shot.

When it comes to towing a trailer, two things are overly important. You need a towing vehicle with enough towing power and efficient trailer brake controllers for towing safety. They’re the reasons why most of the 30 million RV enthusiasts and RV renters in America invest in the best brake controller to enhance towing safety.

Here is what you need to know about trailer brake controllers.

How a Trailer Brake Controller Works

A trailer brake system is installed in the cab of your towing vehicle. It utilizes a trailer brake wiring system that is connected to your vehicle. When you apply the brakes of your towing vehicle, the trailer brake wiring sends an electronic signal to the trailer brakes. This makes the trailer stop in tandem with your tow vehicle.

Resultantly, your trailer will brake smoothly and evenly without jerking. Smooth braking comes in handy when you’re driving on the highway at top speeds, or when towing up and down a hill. The best brake controller will preserve the brakes of your trailer and your tow vehicle. The trailer brake system takes the responsibility of braking instead of your truck’s and trailer’s brakes.

Types of Brake Controllers

Generally, there are two main types of brake controllers:

1.Time-Delayed Brake Controllers: Time-delayed controllers allow you to select how much power is sent to your brakes over a fixed time. When you apply the brakes on your towing vehicle, the time-based brake controller sends an electronic signal to the trailer brakes and activates them. It does so by applying an increasing amount of braking power over a set amount of time. Since time-delayed controllers give you much control over the trailer brakes, they’re ideal for off-road towing.

2. Proportional Brake Controllers: These controllers depend on an electrical circuit referred to as an accelerometer that automatically detects changes in momentum. When you step on your towing vehicle brakes, proportional brake controllers activate the trailer’s brakes with braking power proportional to the vehicle’s momentum. Most people prefer to install proportional controllers because they provide smooth braking and also preserve the health of your trailer’s and tow vehicle brakes.

What Would Happen Without Trailer Brake Controllers?

When you don’t have the best brake controllers installed, your towing truck’s brakes and the trailer’s brakes will be fully responsible for stopping the truck. Without a system to sync the brakes of the trailer and the truck, braking would be uneven, and the chances of your vehicle jackknifing would be high.

For instance, if you’re driving on the highway at top speed and apply emergency brakes, the momentum of the trailer may exceed the force of your truck’s brakes. Therefore, your stopping distance will be increased as the trailer’s force will push the tow vehicle forward as it brakes unevenly. This will cause danger to you and other drivers on the road because your truck will likely bump into the car ahead.

It’s even riskier to drive uphill or downhill without the best brake controllers. Given that many RV enthusiasts enjoy off-road driving when camping or touring, brake controllers are a must-have. You’ll need to brake smoothly when towing on steep terrain without the risk of toppling over or destroying your brakes.

What If You Connect Your Truck’s Brakes Directly to the Trailer?

You may be tempted to directly connect your tow vehicle brakes to your trailer’s brakes and bypass brake controllers. Yes, you’ll have braking power, but to the disadvantage of your truck’s brakes. The connection will supply your trailer’s brakes with maximum braking power every time you apply the brakes. In the long run, the brakes will wear out and you’ll have to replace them.

Brake controllers are responsible for increasing towing safety by facilitating even and smooth braking. Besides increasing towing safety, brake controllers prolong the service life of your truck’s brakes. You should invest in the best brake controller that will serve you efficiently for a long time.

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While most RV campers pack their trailers and head south during the winter season, avid campers stick around to enjoy the sparkling snow, quiet campgrounds, and the peaceful woods. Winter RV camping provides a break from the scorching summer season and is an affordable way of exploring different camping parks. With more than 16,000 public and privately owned campgrounds, campers are spoilt for choice during winter RV excursions. While exploring the Northern parts of the country, you want to keep an eye on the system for trailer brakes because it is prone to freezing. Temperatures drop below zero add moisture to the roads in the form of ice and snow. When mixed with salt or corrosive chemicals used to keep roads clear, they affect the trailer brake system. So how do you keep the brakes from freezing? Check out these four suggestions.

Check the Air Dryer and Filter

Equipping your trailer with an air dryer doesn’t stop the brake system from freezing. Moisture still accumulates in the air tanks, leading to freezing. As such, you want to check this component regularly and drain it daily. Observe the amount of water draining out; if it’s increasing every time, check the air filter, too. Air filters prevent particles, dust, and debris from reaching the engine and ensure a balanced mixture of fuel and air to enhance performance.

A slight drop in temperature causes condensation, which then makes the system for trailer brakes freeze. If you hadn’t changed them in the fall, it may be a good time to install new ones. However, if the filters are in good condition, it would help if you disassembled the air valves and lines and checked them for wear and tear and leaks.

The rule of thumb states the components should be removed at least twice a year and blown using an air compressor. It would help if you kept a bottle of airline antifreeze in your car, too. Add a shot of the product into the supply line gland once the airlines freeze. While you’re at it, examine the purge valve for corrosion or accumulation of grit and replace it if necessary. This simple procedure can keep RV trailer brake controllers operating safely throughout the winter season.

Avoid Idling for Long Periods

Camping entails savoring the beauty of nature, but you don’t want to linger in one place for too long during winter. Keeping your trailer idle for extended periods can cause lines to freeze and affects the air compressor. If you could park the trailer indoors, it goes a long way in preventing your trailer brake controller from freezing.

Inspect the Disc Brakes

A visual inspection of the disc brakes helps identify faulty components that need to be replaced. Start by checking the dust plug and the chamber housings and proceed to the guide pins looking for tears. Ripped boots allow moisture into the trailer brake wiring system that can lead to long-term damage. Part of prepping discs brakes for winter also requires replacing the air dryer cartridges ahead of the winter months. This is because moisture can get into the system causing an air brake freeze-up. Also, if the vehicle has an oil-coalescing cartridge, replace it with a new one to maintain the quality of the air entering the trailer brake controls.

How to Deal With a Freezing System for Trailer Brakes

You may have forgotten to drain the tank lines and the braking system freezes to the drum. One way to remedy the situation is to reduce the air supply and restore it until the ice comes loose. This technique is most effective when one brake drum freezes to the pad. Also, you can add washer fluid or methyl hydrate fluid. Either of the products can melt the ice on the braking system quickly. Be sure to keep away from open flames when using the fluid as it’s flammable.

Camping during the winter can be fun and nerve-wracking at the same time. The bad weather strikes hard on the system for trailer brakes, hence the need to inspect it before and after the trip. You can identify problems and correct them on time so you can have an enjoyable camping experience.

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When hauling a trailer one of the most important things to think about is safety. Trailer sway can cause damage to whatever is being hauled and cause accidents. There is also significantly more weight for your car or truck to be hauling, which can lead to its own difficulties. Because of all this, there is a need to take precautions, like making sure your trailer has the best trailer brake controller possible.

There are essentially two types of brakes. The first is an air brake controller and the other is an electric brake controller. With either one of these types of brakes, you’ll need special wiring for trailer brakes. This wiring for trailer brakes is vital to using a turn signal and having working brake lights. That’s obviously more than a safety issue, but a legal one that is needed and comes from the wiring system for trailer brakes.

To understand which brake system would best fit your needs, here is a breakdown of the two systems:

What are Air Brake Controllers?

Air brake controllers are a braking system that uses compressed air to stop the vehicle. They’re used on commercial vehicles all time and are some of the most important parts of a vehicle. The reason that they have become the preferred method for commercial vehicles, like semi-trailers, is because the way the system works can couple multiple vehicle units. This works great for a trailer being hauled, as it will help brake the trailer as well.

What are Electric Brake Controllers?

Electric braking systems are based on magnets and wiring for trailer brakes that send signals to the magnets. Basically, the brake and tailer wiring are tapped together, and when the electricity pulses through, it magnetizes the brake magnet, causing the trailer to brake. This system is, like the air brake system, commonly used when hauling a trailer or RV.

Considering that there are over 50,000 accidents every year related to towing, it’s massively important to have the right brake system in place to avoid that kind of incident. So, if you’re going to be towing anything it is important to know which brake system is right for you and your trailer. It’s also worth understanding the wiring for trailer brakes that is involved with your trailer, to make sure that everything is operating as it should. This will keep you, and those around you, as safe as possible on the road.

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When you’re trying to make use of the right safety measures to make your trailer riding experience that much safer and more comfortable, it can be tough to know what kinds of devices and pieces of equipment you should be using. That’s why the team here at Hayes Towing Electronics offers you this brief guide on how you can make use of trailer sway control systems to have a safer ride.

Trailer Sway Control Systems Help You in Bad Weather Conditions

Driving with a trailer can present some real problems once bad weather comes along. Winds are a primary concern among many people. Storms that bring high winds are a known cause of difficulties for those who are using a trailer. The right trailer sway control system can help to offset some of the dangers of inclement weather and high winds.

Some people are most concerned about preventing accidents that occur from crosswinds. Did you know that a 35-mph crosswind could put as much as 3,440 pounds of force pushing on the side of a large trailer, according to a study on commercial vehicle towing accidents by Knott Laboratory? As you search for the right trailer sway control system, asking questions about these issues will allow you to find a device that works for your needs.

Different Devices Offer Different Features

There are many different types of trailer sway control systems. Some are great for larger trailers, while others are better suited for compact trailer tasks. Knowing some of the basics between devices will help you out as you begin your search for the right system to meet your needs. For example, most trailer sway control systems come in two main types. Reading up on the different systems and doing your research will put you in the position to find a device that meets your requirements.

Working With a Reputable Towing Electronic Device Supplier

All the research in the world won’t help you if you don’t buy your trailer supplies from a company that knows what they’re doing. Read plenty of reviews on a company before you invest in them. Make sure that you know who you’re doing business with, and you’ll be in the prime position to find the right trailer sway control systems that will make each and every ride as safe as it can be for you and the rest of your team.

The team here at Hayes Towing Electronics will help you out whether you’re in need of trailer sway control systems, a multi axle brake controller, electric brake controllers for trailers, or any other type of trailer brake system. To learn a bit more about how we can help you, please don’t hesitate to reach out and get in touch with a member of our team today. Hayes Towing Electronics Products are Proudly Made in the U.S.A. and In-Stock!

Trailer sway is one of the most dangerous things that can happen when you are hauling a trailer behind your truck or SUV. Essentially, trailer sway is exactly what it sounds like. It’s when the trailer drifts or sways back and forth, oftentimes out of the lane it is supposed to be in. This can cause accidents and is enough to turn someone off camping entirely and make them wonder how to tow safely. Luckily, there are different devices that can help to reduce or limit trailer sway.

The most important reason to reduce trailer sway is that your vehicle isn’t the only vehicle on the road. If your trailer drifts into another lane you could easily crash into another car, resulting in vehicular damage, personal injury, and higher insurance rates. It can also lead to loss of property if the sway is extreme enough that objects are actually thrown off the trailer. This is made more possible by a roofless trailer, commonly hitched for small businesses like landscapers.

In other cases, if your speeds are high enough or your weight isn’t distributed properly, this can also cause the trailer to roll over. When your trailer rolls, so will you. Severe winds or icy roads can easily exacerbate this potential issue of towing a trailer. No matter the case, controlling trailer sway comes down to safety.

There are a couple of different types of trailer sway devices, which can be used to making hitching a trailer safer. There are those that look to prevent sway from occurring and those that look to limit it once it has occurred. Primarily, what you’ll see is are electric brakes for trailers or electric trailer brakes. These are essentially small devices added to the trailer which will control trailer sway by actually sensing that sway occurring and braking to prevent it. There are also variations of electric brakes for trailers that can be manual or automatically operated. Electronic brake controllers are also used to brake for the trailer, which come in several different styles. The right electronic brake controller for you comes down to preference.

It’s simply not safe to hitch a trailer without fixing trailer sway, which is why electric brakes for trailers are so important. There are a lot of ways to avoid trailer sway besides these devices as well, such as limiting the load capacity and not driving in windy conditions. However, it’s incredibly important to install a trailer sway device, such as electric brakes for trailers, and get the best brake controller for you, to ensure that you experience as little sway as possible.

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