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03-30-2016, 11:17 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Boston
Posts: 319
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RAM 2500 / 29.5 Towing Question
For those that have this combo, Ram 2500 and the Eagle HT 29.5, what do you set your Factory Trailer Brake Controller Gain at? I'll be picking mine up the Friday and don't know what to set the gain at? By default, its set at 10, but I thought someone once mentioned that 5 was good?
Thanks,
Dave...
__________________
2015 Ram 3500, CTD, CCLB Dually, Aisin, 4x4 in Maximum Steel, Andersen Ultimate Hitch (v2)
2013 Ram 2500, CTD, CCLB 4x4 in True Blue - SOLD
2016 Eagle HT 29.5 BHDS Picked-up 4/1/16
2007 Rockwood ROO 21SS - SOLD
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03-30-2016, 11:23 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 227
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I'd expect there to be instructions in the manual telling you how to determine the setting for your truck and trailer
I'd be looking for an empty spot nearby to adjust it before heading home.
__________________
Charles in SLC, UT (formerly in Cincinnati, OH.)
2014 F-150 XLT, 3.5EB , HDPP
2011 Jayco x23B
Blue Ox SwayPro WDH
2006 Honda Ridgeline (retired TV)
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03-30-2016, 11:30 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Rochester, MA
Posts: 491
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I would start at 5 and adjust from there. I go up until I feel the camper engage before the truck, then dial it back down at least 1 from there. 5 is what I towed my Roo at, fwiw
I'm curious what others suggest though. My step-dad prefers to feel the trailer engage first (specifically his 10K lb flatbed trailer he uses to haul is tractor around, not a camper)
How many set it so the trailer brakes are doing "more" work than the truck? And is that a bad thing?
My goal is to get everything to stop evenly, but perhaps that's not ideal for reasons I can't think of lol
__________________
Tom
2017 F250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab, 4x4, 6.7L Power Stroke
2016 Jayco Eagle HT 29.5 BHDS
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03-30-2016, 11:38 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: winnipeg
Posts: 257
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My manual states to engage the trailer brake while driving aprox 20mph, you don't want them to lock up but you do want them to grab hard.
__________________
2015 29QBS
2015 Sierra 2500 6.0l
2009 Silverado (gone and missed!)
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03-30-2016, 12:01 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Rochester, MA
Posts: 491
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canadiankid
My manual states to engage the trailer brake while driving aprox 20mph, you don't want them to lock up but you do want them to grab hard.
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Thanks canadiankid! Your reply sent me to Google and Youtube (the equivalent of RTFM these days haha)
Found a short video showing how to set it on my GMC (couldn't find one for Dodge but it's gotta be the same basic idea). I didn't realize testing in the 20-25mph range was recommended, so I'll be following this when I pick up my 29.5 in a few weeks.
__________________
Tom
2017 F250 Lariat Super Duty Crew Cab, 4x4, 6.7L Power Stroke
2016 Jayco Eagle HT 29.5 BHDS
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03-30-2016, 12:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 2,210
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Also you will want to set the trailer as electric and also size.
I would start with Heavy Trailer and 4 or 5.
Currently I have mine set at Heavy Trailer 7.5. Due to only one tow with this TV I intend to set in a parking lot first trip out for lockup then back off.
__________________
2014 375 BHFS Eagle Premier
2014 Ram 3500 Longhorn DRW CC
6.7 CTD, Aisin, 4.10's
Yamaha EF3000iSEB
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03-30-2016, 12:17 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,216
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3'senough
Also you will want to set the trailer as electric and also size.
I would start with Heavy Trailer and 4 or 5.
Currently I have mine set at Heavy Trailer 7.5. Due to only one tow with this TV I intend to set in a parking lot first trip out for lockup then back off.
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That's right about where mine is. Not a Fiver, but a fairly heavy TT. According to the instructions, I should be using "Light Electric" (instructions are based on weight), but there wasn't enough grab even up to "10" on the "Light" setting. So I moved over to "Heavy", and IIRC, I'm right at 5. I get pretty even stops, but sometimes I can feel the trailer grab and pull the truck just a touch, and I'm okay with that.
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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03-30-2016, 12:19 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Mid-Mi
Posts: 1,492
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I have always found a relatively flat parking lot, and releasing the truck brakes, letting the truck & trailer start to slowly roll at idle speed (trans in gear), then adjust the brake controller to stop both without being to abrupt. Then fine tune from there if needed.
Good luck!!!
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03-30-2016, 12:38 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: winnipeg
Posts: 257
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Force
Thanks canadiankid! Your reply sent me to Google and Youtube (the equivalent of RTFM these days haha)
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No problem Force, I was really surprised when I read it, I always did they checks at idle speed. I haven't actually towed my trailer since I read this but I'll be trying it out to see how different my settings will be doing it this way.
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2015 29QBS
2015 Sierra 2500 6.0l
2009 Silverado (gone and missed!)
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03-30-2016, 01:06 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 348
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Dave,
I have the same combo. Our current set-up is Heavy Trailer mode at 7.5 gain! We started at 8.0, but moved it back to 7.5, after the trailer brakes have been broken in a few hundred miles. You'll start to notice that your trailer brakes will start 'chuckin' the trailer as you gain more mileage. This means that your trailer brakes are now slowing your truck down, which will wear its brakes more if you don't dial back on the gain.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aero_Dave
For those that have this combo, Ram 2500 and the Eagle HT 29.5, what do you set your Factory Trailer Brake Controller Gain at? I'll be picking mine up the Friday and don't know what to set the gain at? By default, its set at 10, but I thought someone once mentioned that 5 was good?
Thanks,
Dave...
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__________________
U.S. Air Force (1979 to 1994)
2016 Jayco 29.5BHDS
2015 Ram 2500 (6.7L Cummins Diesel)
Queen Creek, Arizona
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03-30-2016, 03:24 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 1,803
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I have an 8500 lbs 29QBS and am set at 6 on heavy electric. I tow with tow/haul and auto exhaust brake and it slows it down real nice.
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03-30-2016, 03:26 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Fenton
Posts: 86
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I have the same set up too. I didn't do the whole 20 mph thing. I've pulled enough trailers to feel where it needs to be. FYI, the trailer should be slowing more than the truck by a little.
It's set on heavy electric and I started at 10 and quickly dialed it back to around 7.5 as I got a feel for it. Over the last 5 or 600 miles it's been towed so far I've noticed the brakes getting stronger as they bed in ( that's normal) and have dialed it back more. I currently have the gain set at 6.
No matter your settings, you should feel the trailer pull the truck slightly when the brakes are applied. However, when backing the brakes shouldn't be so strong that the truck feels like it's forcing it either.
I also run the exhaust brake when on the open road but prefer to turn it off when in stop and go traffic because the slower speeds don't heat up the brakes much and the downshifting of the trans makes for a jerky ride with it engaged.
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03-30-2016, 05:04 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Southeast TN
Posts: 260
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As others said, you'll just have to pick a spot, and adjust from there. It wont take but a few stops to get it adjusted right.
Mine works great on light electric 7 for my 14 29.5. I've had a 14k directional drill behind it and light electric was still fine, but i think i did bump the gain up to 9 or so.
__________________
2013 Ram 3500 Laramie Cummins
2014 Eagle HT 29.5 BHDS
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03-30-2016, 07:33 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Grand rapids
Posts: 36
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I am at 5 heavy electric with a 2500 diesel ram and a 29.5 BHDS
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03-31-2016, 05:00 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Vienna
Posts: 2,044
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trackermi
I am at 5 heavy electric with a 2500 diesel ram and a 29.5 BHDS
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I may need to re-check as my memory is not that good. But I believe I am at light braking and set at 5 and I have plenty of braking power. I am also using tow/haul and auto exhaust. However, it has been a couple years since I set this so may need to re-check to be sure. Main thing is, it is all working just fine!
__________________
Joe Hinson
2010 Jayco Quest G2(SOLD)
2014 Jayco Eagle 33.5RETS
2007 Ram 2500 5.9L Cummins(SOLD)
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins 4WD
:)
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04-02-2016, 04:26 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Duxbury
Posts: 7,113
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I'm at Heavy Electric and 7.0, and similar to others, also use Tow/Haul and auto exhaust. So far so good, but I've only towed a couple of hundred miles so will have to see how things go and adjust as necessary
__________________
Rob & Kelly, Bella & Brady (Miniature Schnauzers)
2022 Eagle HT 28.5RSTS
2017 RAM 3500 SRW CTD/AISIN CC LB
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04-08-2016, 01:53 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Palmdale
Posts: 12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aero_Dave
For those that have this combo, Ram 2500 and the Eagle HT 29.5, what do you set your Factory Trailer Brake Controller Gain at? I'll be picking mine up the Friday and don't know what to set the gain at? By default, its set at 10, but I thought someone once mentioned that 5 was good?
Thanks,
Dave...
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I have a 2012 3500 SRW with a 2016 29.5 and I set my factory brake controller on heavy load with the gain at 3.0. Seems to be good for me. Not to grabby and smooth. I do have a half a second delay when I get off the brakes. I noticed the trucks rear lights say on that half a second. Must be a Ram thing.
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04-09-2016, 02:49 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Broomfield, CO
Posts: 84
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I have my Ram set at 6.5 Heavy Electric.
No problems so far.
__________________
2014 Dodge 3500HD Cummins Crew Cab, Dually, Aisin, 3.73, 4x4, Long bed, Curt Q20. Appliance White!
2015 Jayco Eagle 339 FLQS
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04-20-2016, 03:05 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Mostly the US
Posts: 10,002
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Force
Found a short video showing how to set it on my GMC (couldn't find one for Dodge but it's gotta be the same basic idea). I didn't realize testing in the 20-25mph range was recommended, so I'll be following this when I pick up my 29.5 in a few weeks.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by need-a-vacation
I have always found a relatively flat parking lot, and releasing the truck brakes, letting the truck & trailer start to slowly roll at idle speed (trans in gear), then adjust the brake controller to stop both without being to abrupt. Then fine tune from there if needed.
Good luck!!!
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We are picking up our new Jayco in early May. This thread reminded us on how to adjust our trailer brakes. We'll go ahead and use both methods (idle speed and 20mph). Thanks! Great reminder! 
Quote:
Originally Posted by oz97tj
Over the last 5 or 600 miles it's been towed so far I've noticed the brakes getting stronger as they bed in ( that's normal) and have dialed it back more. I currently have the gain set at 6.
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Another great reminder! We will recheck the trailer gain a few times every couple hundred miles on the ride home
__________________
Denise, DH, grandkids, and two rescue pups
-2016 Jay Flight 29QBS Elite
-2016 Ford F-250 XLT 4x2, 6.2L EFI V8, 4.30 Elec Lock, Heavy duty Alt
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04-20-2016, 03:28 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,216
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When I had my trailer inspected for my state registration, the inspector had me put my foot on the brake, put the truck in gear, hold the manual brake slide hard over, and let my foot off the brake. The idea was for the trailer brakes to keep the truck from moving at idle.
He was surprised that mine worked properly. I asked him why was he surprised, and he said many don't pass his little test. That was concerning to me.
FWIW, I checked mine, and I'm on heavy electric set at 5.0 towing around 8,000 lb travel trailer.
__________________
-2018 Greyhawk 29MV
-2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) (Primary Toad)
-1994 Jeep Wrangler YJ (Secondary Toad)
-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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