Do You Need A Brake Controller To Tow A Trailer? Everything You Need to Know

Although there are many different factors to consider before you take your trailer on its many adventures, one of the most important decisions you'll make is whether you need a trailer brake controller.

So, you will probably be asking yourself if you actually need trailer brakes to safely tow your trailer. The simple answer is: yes.

A trailer brake controller is used to engage the electric brakes on your trailer so that it brakes at the same time as your tow vehicle and will keep you and other drivers safe when you're out on the road.

The only reason that you wouldn't need to have a brake controller is if you own a trailer that uses surge brakes instead of electric brakes.

You don't need a brake controller for trailers with surge brakes as they use a hydraulic braking system to adjust the braking power of the trailer based on the momentum of the trailer.

If your trailer has electric over hydraulic brakes or just electric brakes, then you definitely will need to install a trailer brake controller. It is actually a legal requirement in most states to have one installed if you're towing a trailer that weighs over 3,000 pounds when it's fully loaded.

In this guide, we'll take a look at the benefits of brake controllers, how they work, which types are best for you, and how to choose the right type.

Brake Controllers Explained

A brake controller is a device that allows you to control your travel trailer's electric brakes whilst you're driving your tow vehicle. Brake controllers don't typically come installed on trailers, so you'll most likely have to have one installed yourself.

Trailer brakes are activated when you press on the brake pedal in the tow vehicle. The majority of them will also allow the driver to manually activate them without having to engage the tow vehicle's brakes.

This helps the driver to deal with driving on loose gravel, inclement weather, and control trailer sway.

It's becoming a little bit more common for newer trailers to have brake controllers already installed when sold, but it's not yet something that's done as standard.

All brake controllers have an adjustable voltage output which allows you to set the amount of braking force depending on factors such as the trailer's weight, weather conditions, and the type of trailer.

If you're towing an empty trailer, then you should have the braking force set to low to avoid locking the brakes up and losing control of the trailer, as well as potentially ruining the tires.

If you're towing a fully loaded trailer, then the braking force will need to be set to high to reduce the stopping distances if you need to brake in an emergency situation.

The three main types of brakes on light-duty vehicles are electric brakes, surge brakes, and electric over hydraulic brakes.

Surge brakes don't require a brake controller and are usually found on boat trailers. They sit inside the trailer and are automatically adjusted.

The type that most people are familiar with are electric trailer brakes, as they are found on the majority of work or travel trailers.

Electric over hydraulic brakes are used on heavier, larger trailers as they brake with more force than electric brakes. They most commonly will have disk brakes, but some systems will use drum brakes instead.

If your trailer has electric over hydraulic brakes, you'll need to be sure that you buy the right type of brake controller, as not all of them will work with these types of brakes.

How Brake Controllers Work

While there are three main types of trailer brakes, there are also three types of brake controllers, which are the most typical. These are proportional brake controllers, time-delay brake controllers, and factory trailer brake controllers.

Here, we'll take a close look at how each one of them works to get you up to speed.

Proportional brake controllers

To determine the amount of braking force that needs to be applied, proportional brake controllers use an accelerometer or internal pendulum.

If they're set up properly, then you can brake as you normally would when you don't have a trailer attached to your tow vehicle, and they usually function more smoothly than time-delay brake controllers.

Most proportional brake controllers can be adjusted in three ways: minimum output, gain, and sensitivity of the sensors. Adjusting the sensitivity means that the brakes will be applied differently depending on the braking abilities of the two vehicles.

Some systems do have extra brake controller settings that can be adjusted for different trailer setups, such as the type of brake system, the number of axles, and boost settings.

Although proportional controllers are still usually more expensive than time-delay controllers, the price has significantly lowered in recent years, and they are much more affordable than they used to be.

The more expensive models can be mounted in almost every position, but most models can only be mounted level, side to side, flat, and up and down within a certain angle.

The main downside to proportional controllers is that they don't work as well with vehicles that have a stiff suspension.

If the vehicle bounces around quite a lot, then these controllers are known to apply more force to the brakes than necessary and become jittery if you hit a bump whilst you're braking.

Time-delay brake controllers

Time-delay brake controllers work by working their way up from the minimum amount of voltage output of your braking force to the maximum amount that you have set.

They allow the user to adjust the maximum output depending on the trailer, and a lot of time-delay controllers will also allow you to adjust the time delay to the most optimal amount of time for you. This means that you can either have a short time delay or a long time delay.

There are some time-delay controllers that will also allow you to set a minimum output. This is known as boost and is usually calculated from a percentage of the maximum setting.

This would mean that if the maximum output of your system is 12 volts and you had your minimum output set to 30% of that, the force that would be applied when you pressed your brake pedal would be 3.6 volts.

As there are no moving parts inside time-delay controllers, it is possible to mount them in any position, and they are known for their consistency and to work well in all situations that they're designed for.

They generally cost the least out of the three types of controllers and are usually best for medium-duty trucks or rough-riding vehicles.

Factory trailer brake controllers

A factory trailer brake controller is tuned to the tow vehicle meaning that it works as it should in almost any situation. It uses sensors to determine how much force is being applied to the brake pedal and then applies the brakes to the trailer equally.

You still have the option to adjust the gain to maximize the braking performance for any application, which means the braking will be consistent and smooth every time.

These systems also usually offer several different trailer settings and are truly proportional. Factory trailer brake controllers offer a great deal of versatility and don't need to be manually adjusted whenever you attach a different trailer to your tow vehicle.

Using the tow vehicle's onboard computer, you can easily select the type of trailer you are towing, and the system will automatically adjust to accommodate it.

When using factory controllers, they will allow the tow vehicle's computers to keep trailer sway under control by automatically applying the trailer brakes whenever trailer sway is detected.

This allows you to stop safely and change the way that your trailer is loaded so that you can stop any other trailer sway from happening later in your journey.

It's only within the last few years that most factory controllers have been able to be used with electric over hydraulic brakes. So, you'll need to check and make sure that your factory system is compatible with electric over hydraulic brakes if you have them on your trailer.

The Pros Of Using A Brake Controller

There are many benefits to using a brake controller on your trailer aside from the simple functionality. Here, we examine the biggest pros that come from using one of these devices.

Legal requirements

There are many states in which you are legally required to use a brake controller when towing a trailer, so it's absolutely vital that you know the laws regarding this in any state that you intend to travel in.

Most of the laws around brake controllers depend on the size and weight of your trailer, and there may also be other factors included in the laws, like being legally required to have a breakaway kit installed.

As a rule, you should always study the state laws before you begin towing a trailer, and having a brake controller installed means you should be legally covered to tow a trailer in the majority of states.

Increased safety

The biggest reason for installing a brake controller is the huge amount of extra safety that it will give you when you're out on the road. When you press the brake pedal in the towing vehicle, electric trailer brakes will simply not work unless you have a brake controller installed.

This means that you will be at a much greater risk of an accident occurring when towing your trailer. The most common type of accidents include your trailer flipping, fish-tailing, jack-knifing, or swaying dangerously.

More stopping distance

Due to the added weight of a trailer on the back of your vehicle, the time and distance it takes for you to come to a stop after braking is naturally increased.

If you have a brake controller, then your stopping distances will be significantly improved when you are towing your trailer. When you fully apply your brakes, it will take less distance and time for you to come to a stop which has many benefits.

There is a multitude of different reasons that you may need to stop as quickly as possible when you're towing a trailer, but both braking and accelerating take more time when you have a trailer attached to your vehicle.

This is why having brake controllers installed is so important, as the improvements in your stopping distance will make you and other drivers on the road much safer.

Less wear on vehicle brakes

Installing a brake controller for your trailer will also help to prevent you from causing any avoidable damage to your vehicle's braking system. Your tow vehicle's brakes are only designed to withstand a certain amount of force and weight on their own.

This means that if they have to deal with the extra weight and force of braking whilst towing a trailer over a long period of time, they will start to wear down very quickly.

Brake controllers will relieve a good amount of the pressure that's put onto your vehicle's brakes and will reduce the amount of wear that is caused to them over time.

Vehicle brakes failure

Another important reason for having a brake controller installed is that it can be incredibly useful in case of an emergency situation.

For example, if the brakes on your towing vehicle were to fail, you would still be able to control the brakes on your trailer, which would bring both the trailer and your towing vehicle to a stop.

Although this scenario is relatively unlikely to happen, it is a good example of the many ways in which a brake controller will give you added security when towing a trailer.

Choosing The Right Type Of Brake Controller

After you've decided which type of brake controller you're going to choose, you then also need to decide on the model that is most suitable for you. The main things to consider when choosing are the price, the display method, the ease of installation, and how convenient the model is to use.

The four main options are:

• __Under-dash controllers - __this is the most traditional model of controller, and the module is mounted underneath your dashboard.
• __Wireless controllers - __this type of controller is controlled by using a smartphone or a remote. It doesn't require any hardwiring when it's installed.
• __Trailer-mounted controllers - __these are also controlled by a remote and are mounted on the frame of your trailer.
• __Dash-mounted controller knobs - __these controllers are controlled by using a knob on your dashboard. Like the traditional boxes, they are hardwired in during installation.

Under-dash brake controllers

Convenience

Underdash controllers are probably the most inconvenient to use out of the four main types. This is due to the fact that they tend to be fairly bulky and boxy and have to be mounted in your cab at knee height, usually at a specific angle.

This means that they can somewhat restrict your leg room and movement, and if your cab is already quite crowded, you may find yourself frequently bumping the controller with your legs.

Installation

This type of controller is usually the most complex type to install, which is partly due to the fact that they are the most traditional and oldest option.

Depending on the type of vehicle that you're installing an under-dash controller into and what it is equipped with, the installation process can be either a lot more or a lot less complicated.

If your vehicle has a 7-way trailer plug, you will often have the option of using a wiring adapter that's specific to your vehicle in order to avoid having to hardwire the controller. If your vehicle has a 4-way trailer plug, you should use a 7-way installation kit.

If your vehicle doesn't have any pre-wiring, you should install a 4-way trailer plug and then use a 7-way installation kit.

display

If you've installed a proportional controller, then it will most likely have a digital LCD or LED display screen. This will provide you with information such as error codes, boost settings, and your brake power output.

This is the most common configuration, but there are some proportional controllers that use function indicator lights instead of LCD or LED display screens.

You should consider the brightness and size of the display that will be best for you, particularly if you have poor eyesight.

price

The price of a dash-mounted controller tends to be lower than the other models, but it can still vary quite widely depending on the one that you choose. If you want a premium range controller, you will still have to pay quite a lot, but you can find cheaper versions that are less than $100.

Wireless brake controllers

convenience

Wireless controllers are considered by many to be the most convenient of all the modern brake controllers. They won't get in your way whilst you're driving as there is no bulky box to take up room in the cab and there will be no interference with vehicle accessories such as airbags once installed.

You can also move them between vehicles easily, and they're very straightforward to operate and install.

installation

Although they're a fairly new addition, wireless brake controllers are already very popular amongst trailer owners. As they're wireless, there is no complex hardwiring required like there is for other models making them much more convenient.

For many wireless controllers, if you have a 7-way trailer plug, then all you need to do is connect the unit in between your trailer connection, download the app and then pair the devices to each other with Bluetooth.

If you don't have a 7-way connection, then you'll need to add one in order to use a wireless controller.

There are several other ways in which wireless controllers can be installed, and all of them are simple and convenient. For example, if you have a trailer-mounted model, you just need to plug the connector for your trailer into the controller and then into the 7-way plug.

The controller will then be easily controlled using a remote control in the cab of your vehicle.

display

If you choose a wireless controller that is controlled via a smartphone app, then the display will be the screen of your smartphone. If your screen is small, then you may want to consider if this type of controller is the best option for you.

For wireless controllers that are controlled via a remote, the display screen will be incorporated into the remote control, and it can be plugged into your standard 12-volt outlet in the cab of your vehicle.

price

The cost of wireless controllers is their main disadvantage, as they are more expensive than the traditional models of controllers. If you're a frequent trailer tower, then the higher price is usually worth it due to their easy installation, convenience, and ease of use.

Dash-mounted brake controller knobs

convenience

Dash-mounted controllers are also very convenient and have minimal impact on the way that your vehicle's cab looks. There's no bulky box to get in the way of your legs, and the knobs that are installed into your dashboard are very discreet.

Having this type of controller also means that you won't be squinting at any display screens and will just be using LED knobs that are easy to see.

Dash-mounted models are available for both time-delayed and proportional brake controllers, and some models will even allow you to switch the settings between the two different types.

installation

This model of brake controller must be installed in a similar way to a traditional under-dash controller. On top of this, the controller knob will also need to be installed and wired.

The main module of the controller can be mounted somewhere out of sight in the vehicle's cab, and the knob itself can be mounted anywhere that you choose and at any orientation.

As with the traditional models, if your vehicle has a 7-way trailer plug, then you can use a wiring adapter specific to your vehicle so that you don't have to hardwire the controller and can simply just plug it in to start using it.

If you have a 4-way trailer plug, then you should use a 7-way installation kit, and for vehicles that don't have any pre-wiring, you will need to install a 4-way and then use a 7-way installation kit.

display

The knobs that are installed with this type of controller have multicolored LED lights that are easily visible even if you have poor eyesight. The lights are used to indicate certain information like diagnostics, braking power, and specific settings.

price

These controllers are usually mid-range in terms of price and typically cost around $200. Although they're more expensive than under-dash controllers, they are mostly cheaper than wireless ones.

Trailer-mounted brake controllers

convenience

Most trailer-mounted controllers are pretty convenient and easy to use, but this can vary depending on the exact model you choose. They make it easy to adjust the braking system, and they won't take up any room in your cab as they're fitted into the frame of your trailer.

You also don't need to modify your vehicle in any way as they simply slot into your 7-way connector.

installation

Trailer-mounted controllers tend to be easy to install as the majority of them are wireless and simply connect to your 7-way connector. If you don't have a 7-way connection, you'll need to add one before installing one of these controllers.

Some of these controllers do need to be hardwired in, but your vehicle won't need to be modified as long as you have a 7-way trailer plug installed.

display

There are several different types of display for these controllers, such as LED lights, smartphone screens, or remotes with digital screens. Which type of display your controller has depends on the specific model that you choose.

price

These controllers tend to be fairly expensive but are usually worth it for their ease of use. This is especially true if you tow trailers very often.

Testing & Adjusting A Brake Controller

Adjusting and testing your brake controller settings each time you tow a trailer is very important. Each combination of a vehicle and a trailer is different, and the setting will also need to be adjusted and tested depending on the type of load that you're towing.

Some controllers have the capability of storing various different profiles of vehicle and trailer combinations so that you can switch between them easily each time. But many require you to manually adjust the settings.

It's vital that you read the instructions from the manufacturer for your brake controller so that you know how to perfectly calibrate and adjust the controller for each specific towing situation.

A good way of testing your brake controller is to find a dry and level surface and then test how long it takes you to stop after you press your brake pedal with the trailer attached.

If you notice that your trailer brakes are locking up, then you will need to increase the braking output until you have the maximum amount of braking power without your wheels locking up.

Which Is The Right Brake Controller For You?

Deciding which brake controller is right for you will depend on many different factors, such as ease of use, installation, cost, and the type of braking system that your trailer has.

Whichever type you choose, always make sure that you're fully up to speed on the instructions that come with the controller and that you know how to operate it in the most efficient and safest way possible.

FAQs

Can I tow a trailer that has electric brakes without a brake controller?

If your trailer has electric brakes, then you will have to have a brake controller installed before you can start towing it. If not, you won't be able to control your trailer's brakes using the brake pedal in your towing vehicle.

You will also be breaking the law depending on which state you're driving in. So, you always need to make sure that you have a suitable brake controller installed before you head out onto the roads with a trailer.

At what weight of trailer am I required to use a brake controller?

In most states, it is legally required that you use a brake controller if your trailer weighs more than 3,000 pounds once it's fully loaded.

However, if your trailer has electric brakes or electric over hydraulic brakes, you will need to use a controller regardless of the weight of your fully loaded trailer.

What is the average cost of buying and installing a brake controller?

On average, the cost of purchase of a brake controller is around $300, but this can vary widely depending on the type and model of controller that you choose to buy.

If you want to avoid installation costs, you can install most brake controllers yourself. However, if you'd rather pay to have it installed for you, then the cost is usually around $150.

How can I tell if my trailer has electric brakes?

If you're unsure whether or not your trailer has electric brakes, a simple way to check is to see if your trailer has an actuator. If it doesn't, then the brakes are almost certainly electric, and you will need a brake controller.

Final Thoughts

Using brake controllers is a crucial part of safely towing a trailer, and the vast majority of trailer owners will need to have them installed.

It's important that you understand the specific requirements of your own vehicle and trailer so that the controller that you choose will be the right type and will give you the most benefits possible.

As well as increasing safety, using a controller will also improve your driving experience when towing a trailer and will lead to a smoother ride for you and your trailer.

Sources

https://thesavvycampers.com/do-you-need-a-brake-controller-for-a-travel-trailer/

https://news.pickuptrucks.com/2019/02/pickup-trucks-101-trailer-brake-controllers.html

https://www.etrailer.com/faq-brakecontroller.aspx

https://www.curtmfg.com/trailer-brakes-controllers

https://justdownsize.com/can-i-tow-a-trailer-with-electric-brakes-without-a-brake-controller/.:~:text=No%2C%20you%20cannot%20tow%20a,trailer%20from%20inside%20the%20vehicle.

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