Do I need a Brake Controller

[16WhiteColly]

Originally Posted by 67L48

He’s only towing a 19 inch trailer. Shouldn’t need brakes for that.

Anything over about 2,000 lbs will greatly benefit from brakes, though. Check local laws, too, as they vary.

If he was towing a 19 inch trailer, he would not need a brake controller, but if it’s a 19 foot trailer, he should have a brake controller.

[Mike Dickinson]

Well This morning I got the brake controller and the new weight distribution bracket installed. I think (hope) that this is the last of the parts that I need. Thank for all the help everyone. It has been over Twenty years since i hauled a trailer. Wish us luck. Mike Dickinson

[16WhiteColly]

Best of luck!

[JFlightRisk]

Originally Posted by Mike Dickinson

Well This morning I got the brake controller and the new weight distribution bracket installed. I think (hope) that this is the last of the parts that I need. Thank for all the help everyone. It has been over Twenty years since i hauled a trailer. Wish us luck. Mike Dickinson

Enjoy your Jayfeather! A little refresher towing practice at a quiet place, and it'll al come back to you. Awareness is important. Happy camping, and good luck.

[RKHengst]

Glad you got the controller. Among other things, it will move some of the braking load from your truck to the trailer behind you. This does 2 things: 1 - it saves your expensive truck brakes from excessive wear and 2 - it will help keep the entire rig straight and under control while braking, and that is especially important in emergency situations.

Also, get used to operating the controller manually while under stress, activating it will help straighten the rig if the trailer is fishtailing behind you. You need to make that hand moving to the controller an automatic response to a control problem. Be sure to set up the controller properly for your truck/trailer combination.

[Khudson54]

Yes you should
It’s a very easy process do a dealership should be reasonable price
If you don’t then the breaks on your truck will have to do all of the work and will cause them to wear out faster than normal

[db7512]

Yes, panic stop and that trailer will push you. IMO.

[MoreSmoresPlease]

We have a Jayco x17z. Towing with Toyota Highlander. We had a RV repair place Install a Tekonsha brake controller. It is right under the steering wheel. Cost was $450 Installed.

[AllysonG-NY]

I have a 2021 Colorado and it did not come with brake controller

I use a electronic brake controller that I can set with my phone. Has worked great so far.

Many states have laws on requiring brake controllers over 3000lbs

[67L48]

Originally Posted by Bill Johnson

Any trailer empty weight 3,000 pounds must have brakes some states require 1,500 must have brakes

This is patently false. I've already provided one such example, Delaware, that does not require brakes with a 3,000 lb trailer. Scroll up and actually read the thread for the specific reference. There are other states, too, that have different criteria.

Anything over around 1,500 or 2,000 lbs will greatly benefit from brakes, but that is a far cry from incorrect assertions that brakes are required by law.

Originally Posted by AllysonG-NY

[...] Many states have laws on requiring brake controllers over 3000lbs

This is correct. Many do and 3,000 lbs seems to be the most common threshold. However, Delaware, Alaska, and others have different laws. Be familiar with the local and state laws of where you live and tow.

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

Originally Posted by RKHengst

Glad you got the controller. Among other things, it will move some of the braking load from your truck to the trailer behind you. This does 2 things: 1 - it saves your expensive truck brakes from excessive wear and 2 - it will help keep the entire rig straight and under control while braking, and that is especially important in emergency situations.

Also, get used to operating the controller manually while under stress, activating it will help straighten the rig if the trailer is fishtailing behind you. You need to make that hand moving to the controller an automatic response to a control problem. Be sure to set up the controller properly for your truck/trailer combination.

X2

You need a good brake controller for big down-hills if nothing else. My Tahoe stops my 3500# trailer fine on level non-panic stops, but I'd never risk it. I check the trailer brakes often - just press the manual slide on my Tekonsha Primus unit as we start off, feel the trailer brakes, adjust with the dial if needed and feel safe and secure driving. I set mine to produce a little drag on the Tahoe, but not stop it. The car stops itself and the trailer stops itself.

[Bugman]

YES you need a controller. I have a 2019 Colorado with a towing package but it didn't have a factory installed controller. The GM accessory controller is the Curt Triflex. About $95. Works really well, easy to install and use. The controller has the needed pigtail in the box.

[JFlightRisk]

NY trailer brake and lighting requirement is here:

https://dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv529c.pdf

[signguy707]

i was towing a 12' pop up tent trailer with a ford expedition, I sure wish i had put a brake controller going down a steep hill. It felt like my brakes got so spongy and I pretty much blew past the stop sign at the bottom of the hill.

[Charlie G]

I would absolutely want trailer breaks. I had to install on my first truck. Chev 1500. It was the most inexpensive thing I have bought. I have never thought the trailer was pushing me.

[WFOracing]

Absolutely need one!

You can thank me later. :-)

[mrmom]

I would definately suggest a brake controller! I have had great success with the Tekonsha Prodigy line, [URL="https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90885.html"]

Since you have a GMC pickup, you will have to get the correct harness for your truck. From E-Trailer:
Installation Notes:
No plug is present under the dash, but the needed wires are already run. You will connect the brake controller wiring with the vehicle wiring already present under the dash.

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by mrmom

I would definately suggest a brake controller! I have had great success with the Tekonsha Prodigy line, [URL="https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Brake-Controller/Tekonsha/90885.html"]

Since you have a GMC pickup, you will have to get the correct harness for your truck. From E-Trailer:
Installation Notes:
No plug is present under the dash, but the needed wires are already run. You will connect the brake controller wiring with the vehicle wiring already present under the dash.

Bluetooth ones are easy no wiring at all

[Wireman]

Originally Posted by Kim Gass

Think of this; going downhill your brakes fade and won't stop you.. and you have the equivalent of another truck that you are towing. What can go wrong?

Why this is even a question dumbfounds me.

Exactly. Error on the side of being as safe as possible.

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by Stan&Sharon

Here's an item I saw at my local RV dealer! I haven't used it but seems like quick/easy way to try it out... you can always take it back if you don't see it's value too.

The CURT Echo mobile brake control is a Bluetooth-enabled brake control device that wirelessly connects to your smartphone and allows you to control and monitor all trailer brake activity right from your own device. It features a simple, plug-and-play installation on your vehicle inserting between the 7-way vehicle-trailer wiring connection. It also features a portable design to easily switch between vehicle-trailer combinations and a highly durable construction to outlast the elements.


It's sold at etrailer, amazon, homedepot, walmart... even ebay.

I'll stick with a wired controller.

The trouble with Bluetooth is interference. BT uses 2. ghz. Anything operating on 2.4 ghz can interfere with the BT signal. So if your smartphone is connected to your truck via WiFi, chances are you're using 2.4 ghz (unless your vehicle supports dual band and you consciously connect to 5 ghz). If the cars around you are doing the same thing, then you could lose connectivity to your trailer brakes just because 2.4 ghz is noisy.