Trailer Brake settings

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 08:20 AM

Before I left the dealer parking lot, I played with brake settings, and a very helpful tech (thank you Billy of Lonestar RV in Houston) helped me out. We started on 12, but that would yank the TV to a stop. I finally left the dealer with my P3 set on 8.2. It "felt" ok. Didn't feel the trailer pulling me, braking from any speed. But, the brakes smelled a little warm on the TT when I got home. The TV has absolutely amazing brakes, so I started backing my P3 down. I walked it all the way down to about 2.2 before I really noticed an increase in braking effort on the TV. Is there and "science" or method to set the gain, other than seat of pants and experience.

Camper_bob · 10-08-2015, 08:35 AM

I think there are a couple different methods including the "feel's right" method.

If you look in the instructions for your brake controller, I believe you'll find that it will say something along the lines of "pull your trailer up to 20 mph on smooth, flat, dry road and fully apply the manual brakes; increase the gain until the trailer tires lock up, then back the gain off until just under the amount where the brakes lock up."

That being said, I could never get my trailer brakes to lock up, so I do it by feel; I can just barely feel the trailer pulling on the truck when I stop. If I back off .5 on the gain, it feels like the truck is struggling a little to stop the load, if I go .5 higher, the trailer pulls the truck too hard during a stop.

charles_cincy · 10-08-2015, 08:36 AM

P3 manual says to drive at 20(25?) mph and apply the TT brakes manually to full. If the wheels lock up, back it down. and repeat. You want the most you can get w/o lockup.

Big heavy trailers may not lockup even at 10. OTOH, you may find the max found above is a little too much...backing down a few is ok.

Make sure you test with a loaded for camping trailer.

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 08:50 AM

I do remember reading the 20mph lock up thing, but that seemed kinda ridiculous? Guess it's that or by feel.

As long as the TT isn't locking up, or pulling the TV, is it possible to have the gain too high. Maybe the brake smell was just new pads bedding in?

Iraqvet05 · 10-08-2015, 08:57 AM

On the P3, make sure the boost feature is off when you are trying to set the gain. I hardly ever use the boost feature...I may set it to "1" once we are on the open freeway but most of the time it stays off.

Camper_bob · 10-08-2015, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iraqvet05

On the P3, make sure the boost feature is off when you are trying to set the gain. I hardly ever use the boost feature...I may set it to "1" once we are on the open freeway but most of the time it stays off.

+1

The "Boost" feature can be nice sometimes. Also, don't forget to turn it off when you're slow maneuvering. If you forget, it will remind you, but the reminder is rather unpleasant, so it's better if you just turn it off before you have to dig the steering wheel out of your molars.

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 09:04 AM

+1 haha

I started with boost on 1. NOPE, too much brake, been off ever since.

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 09:07 AM

It just occurred to me, that the gain setting also affects the manual control doesn't it? So I could use the manual lever, without putting my foot on the brake to "feel" how much braking the trailer is actually doing?

Camper_bob · 10-08-2015, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finally03gt

It just occurred to me, that the gain setting also affects the manual control doesn't it? So I could use the manual lever, without putting my foot on the brake to "feel" how much braking the trailer is actually doing?

That's where I would start. Then when you think you've got it where you like it, try it with the truck brakes and see how it feels.

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 09:15 AM

Great, now I have some direction to set it that doesn't involve brake lock up, sheesh.

jasoncw · 10-08-2015, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finally03gt

+1 haha

I started with boost on 1. NOPE, too much brake, been off ever since.

I kept my boost off my last TT (7,500# loaded) because it was too much. I did occasionally use it on the highway, but never around town. I love it at 1 even around town with my new TT though (10k# loaded).

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 10:31 AM

That's why I got the P3, I figured it would grow with me.

264BHW · 10-08-2015, 05:43 PM

I just towed my new (to me) 264BHW home the other day and set my P2 to 11 and the boost on 3. Just before I got it home the car in front of me locked 'em up. I stood on my brakes and hung on, stopping 4-5 feet from the rear of his bumper. I was glad to have all that extra stopping power!

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 06:25 PM

Holy Cow, that's alot of gain. What does that TT weigh. Boost 3 is nearly 25% as soon as you touch the brake pedal, isn't it? Glad you got it stopped though.

I had a 30' goose behind a dodge 2500 going from Houston to WV. I was nearly empty going, the load was in WV. About 500 miles out of Houston I discovered the trailer brakes were out. But I was only carrying about 2500# and I needed to get to the job sight, so I decided I'd have the brakes looked at in WV. Well, I was coming out of the mountains and it started misting. I went into a 25mph curve at about 15mph and felt the truck push. Every attempt to brake just locked up. I was out of road, so I started to turn in and brake. The trailer started to push the back of the truck around, and I just got on the gas (gently) and "power slid" through the corner hoping for the best. NOT FUN. Needless to say, I gained a whole new respect for good trailer brakes.

264BHW · 10-08-2015, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finally03gt

Holy Cow, that's alot of gain. What does that TT weigh. Boost 3 is nearly 25% as soon as you touch the brake pedal, isn't it? Glad you got it stopped though.

I had a 30' goose behind a dodge 2500 going from Houston to WV. I was nearly empty going, the load was in WV. About 500 miles out of Houston I discovered the trailer brakes were out. But I was only carrying about 2500# and I needed to get to the job sight, so I decided I'd have the brakes looked at in WV. Well, I was coming out of the mountains and it started misting. I went into a 25mph curve at about 15mph and felt the truck push. Every attempt to brake just locked up. I was out of road, so I started to turn in and brake. The trailer started to push the back of the truck around, and I just got on the gas (gently) and "power slid" through the corner hoping for the best. NOT FUN. Needless to say, I gained a whole new respect for good trailer brakes.

Wow, nicely done. Admittedly, I need to do more tweaking on the controller. But at that moment, I was glad it was set where it was. My trailer was dry at around 4700lbs.

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 06:41 PM

Not a technique I would advocate..haha. I simply ran out of black top = ran out of options.

I thought it was in that neighbor hood. My 26BH is 4700 dry also. I'm pulling with an Explorer and 12 with no boost was yanking me. I mentioned earlier that I worked all the way down to 2.2 before I really notice the TV working to stop. I pulled it home from the dealer at 8, so I'll find a happy spot in the middle I suppose.

314BHDS · 10-08-2015, 07:51 PM

I use Boost 1 and have no issues at all,P3 is set at 7.2 and truck and trailer stop together and no trailer pull.My trailers dry weight is 8400 and without weighing it and factoring in other things im closer to 9500 lbs loaded(being generous).Maybe the boost feature is to much with lighter trailers but for me its great so far.Dealer set me up at 5.5 and trailer pushed me a bit so I gradually went up a few on my ride home and then when loaded on first trip and haven't had to change it since.

Edd505 · 10-08-2015, 08:00 PM

Didn't you get a manual? Here is the link to how the manufacture says to set it up.
http://hitchpro.com/application/supp...ons/N90195.pdf

finally03gt · 10-08-2015, 08:00 PM

We were only about 5200# loaded, so the boost is pretty aggressive. I'm going to bring it back up. The only reason I backed it down was I smelled hot brakes on the TT. But that was on the way home, so it may just be pads bedding in.

314BHDS · 10-08-2015, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finally03gt

We were only about 5200# loaded, so the boost is pretty aggressive. I'm going to bring it back up. The only reason I backed it down was I smelled hot brakes on the TT. But that was on the way home, so it may just be pads bedding in.

Very well could be the brakes burning off any manufacturing oils or grease on pads or drums.Keep a eye on it next time your headed out.

You may also like: