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05-24-2016, 02:35 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 14
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Electronic Brake Control - Help Needed
Hello,
I'm a newb here on the forum, so my apologies ahead of time if this question has already come up (I searched for it, and didn't see any results).
My wife and I are on the cusp of upgrading from a pop-up (which we have outgrown), to a gently used 27 foot Rockwood travel trailer. The seller recommended installing an electronic brake control system on my Trailblazer; I have been researching various systems online, reading reviews, etc, and now looking for your feedback as far as what is good or bad, cheap vs long lasting, etc.
This is obviously something that is very important to keep my family safe, so I don't want to go the cheap route. But again, I don't know if lower cost = lower quality with this type of part.
Trailer Brake Control at AutoZone.com - Best Trailer Brake Control Products for Cars, Trucks & SUVs
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05-24-2016, 02:39 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Between Pickles Gap and Toad Suck, AR
Posts: 6,070
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__________________
"Next to prayer, fishing is the most personal relationship of man" Herbert Hoover
"American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God"Lewis Grizzard
FROG AR-0019-242
2016 GMC Denali 3500Dually--2017 CC 36CKTS
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05-24-2016, 02:41 PM
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#3
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Old Camping Squid
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Northeastern Ohio
Posts: 196
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I personally love my Tekonsha P3, I have no problems with it. I tow a 33 foot Forest River Salem with my F150 and could not ask for a better brake controller.
Good luck with what ever you do get.
__________________
Larry Collins { PM }
2006 F150 Supercab 5.4 Flex Fuel
2017 H-D FLHTK Ultra Limited
EZgo TXT and ClubCar Precedent golf carts
2009 Forest River Salem 30QBSS
U.S. Navy Veteran
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05-24-2016, 02:43 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,600
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DON'T tow a 27' TT with a Trailblazer!
PLEASE research before you purchase the trailer.
TBS are notorious for being squirrely, due to their short wheelbase.
That's TOO much trailer for a Trailblazer.
Please post year/make/model of trailer so we can help you not to make a big mistake.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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05-24-2016, 02:49 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
DON'T tow a 27' TT with a Trailblazer!
PLEASE research before you purchase the trailer.
TBS are notorious for being squirrely, due to their short wheelbase.
That's TOO much trailer for a Trailblazer.
Please post year/make/model of trailer so we can help you not to make a big mistake.
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Trailblazer is a 2006 4x4, the owners manual tells me the towing capacity is 5200lbs.
Trailer is a 2003 Rockwood, model number M-8278. (Link below says 29', however the seller is adamant it is 27'). I asked him to measure it, he'll be getting back to me.
2003 Rockwood M-8278 Specs and Standard Equipment | NADAguides
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05-24-2016, 03:22 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 724
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Guananteed you WILL BE OVERWEIGHT. By how much is the question. It is 4800 pounds dry that means no water, luggage, food, maybe propane, maybe battery, WDH, and changes the previous owner made but by time you add anything you are over 5200 no matter how hard you try to keep the weight down. I'm not saying you can't tow it but I am saying you WILL be overweight by a lot befor you even load it up.
__________________
2019.5 Rockwood 2509S
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05-24-2016, 04:29 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Toddupton
Guananteed you WILL BE OVERWEIGHT. By how much is the question. It is 4800 pounds dry that means no water, luggage, food, maybe propane, maybe battery, WDH, and changes the previous owner made but by time you add anything you are over 5200 no matter how hard you try to keep the weight down. I'm not saying you can't tow it but I am saying you WILL be overweight by a lot befor you even load it up.
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The weight has been my concern ever since we laid eyes on the trailer. It's a lot bigger than I was expecting. When a trailer sticker inducates that the unloaded vehicle weight (UVW) is X pounds, does that include any aftermarket things such as appliances, air conditioner…? The UVW of this particular model is 4810 lbs
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05-24-2016, 04:32 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 14
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05-24-2016, 04:35 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: in my new 29hfsxlr
Posts: 1,658
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NatureBoy22
Trailblazer is a 2006 4x4, the owners manual tells me the towing capacity is 5200lbs.
Trailer is a 2003 Rockwood, model number M-8278. (Link below says 29', however the seller is adamant it is 27'). I asked him to measure it, he'll be getting back to me.
2003 Rockwood M-8278 Specs and Standard Equipment | NADAguides
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I agree with the others your trailblazer is not up to the task . i've owned trailblazers a 2006 myself and no way will it handle well with the unit you are thinking about . to much TT for your TV . you'll be way over weight and the TB can not handle the TG weight
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05-24-2016, 04:37 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NatureBoy22
The weight has been my concern ever since we laid eyes on the trailer. It's a lot bigger than I was expecting. When a trailer sticker inducates that the unloaded vehicle weight (UVW) is X pounds, does that include any aftermarket things such as appliances, air conditioner…? The UVW of this particular model is 4810 lbs
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That mean as it came of the factory floor. If it had a/c from the factory it would include that. If it was added after purchase it would not include it. It also most likely would not include the propane and tanks or anything else. If it says 4810 from the factory add several hundred pounds of gear like pots pans chairs patio rug etc. etc. and you are over 5500 easy. You tv rating also is not really 5200 pounds unless the truck is empty. By time you add people pets gas and gear in the truck then you are even farther over.
My UVW is 3800 and loaded not too heavy and not too light is 4300 roughly. 500 pounds with food and gear is easy to reach.
__________________
2019.5 Rockwood 2509S
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05-24-2016, 05:05 PM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,266
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The Mfg specs say the TT is 29'2" long and the dry weight is 4,586. In addition to being unsafe, you will be very uncomfortable towing it. Would love to have you as a new TT owner, but want you to enjoy it. Once you put normal camping equipment in the TT and TB and passengers, you will be overweight. In addition, if you do not have a brake controller, that means you probably do not have an OEM trailer package which means you don't have a aux trans cooler or trailer wiring.
__________________
2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
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2 100W solar panels
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05-24-2016, 05:09 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 14
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Thanks Bob - my TB has trailer wiring, unlikely about the trans cooler. Looks like we'll be using the pop-up a little while longer
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05-24-2016, 05:43 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 322
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I towed my 19' toyhauler with a GMC Envoy. It was 4500# loaded (checked on a scale). I added a transmission cooler to keep fluid temperature down. The transmission fluid would run 160-180F while towing. The trailer was the max I would recommend to tow with that vehicle, both in weight and length. I towed at 60-65 mph. Any faster and cross winds from trucks would cause the trailer to sway (not uncontrollable, but an annoyance.)
If you add a transmission cooler and keep you trailer to ~19' it is very doable with a Trailblazer. I used a P3 brake controller which worked very good.
__________________
Catalina 333RETS
Keystone Outback 23RS
Silverado 2500HD
Goldwing 1800GL
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05-24-2016, 06:01 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 322
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As a side note; if you want to monitor your transmission temperature (and a lot of other parameters) I found the Torque Andriod App and an inexpensive bluetooth dongle (transmitter that plugs into the car computer diagnostic port) allowed me to monitor the transmission temp in real time.
It also allows you to read and reset the check engine light if it should ever come on.
__________________
Catalina 333RETS
Keystone Outback 23RS
Silverado 2500HD
Goldwing 1800GL
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05-24-2016, 09:18 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 14
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I appreciate all the feedback, we ended up passing on this TT due to overweight and safety.
What's the consensus on towing a 21' Rockwood Roo hybrid with my TB? UVW is 2732.
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05-25-2016, 06:25 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 724
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NatureBoy22
I appreciate all the feedback, we ended up passing on this TT due to overweight and safety.
What's the consensus on towing a 21' Rockwood Roo hybrid with my TB? UVW is 2732.
Attachment 108935
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2019.5 Rockwood 2509S
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05-25-2016, 08:42 AM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southwest Alabama
Posts: 9,850
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That's more like it!
Now back to that brake controller. Tekonsha P2 or P3 is the way to go.
__________________
Salem 29RKSS Pushing a GMC Sierra 2500HD!
Gotta go campin!
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05-25-2016, 08:54 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Carlisle, Arkansas
Posts: 1,387
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You will need a new Tow vehicle for that trailer, You cant tow with that Period.
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2005 Cedar Creek 30RLBS/TrailAir Hitch/ MORryde 7K IS/Disc Brakes/ PI PT-50 EMS/ RV Flex Armor Roof
2015 RAM 3500 DRW 6.7 Cummins 3.42/ Garmin 760RV
40 Gal TransferFlow fuel tank/ TST 507
Amateur Radio W5CI 2019 Days Camping 25
2020 Days Camping 7
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05-25-2016, 10:24 AM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W5CI
You will need a new Tow vehicle for that trailer, You cant tow with that Period.
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You must be referring to the original TT I was looking at? I've decided to pass on that due to the warnings and advice of the forum. 👍🏻
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05-25-2016, 11:52 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Watauga, Texas
Posts: 697
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Buy for the future
When you buy a new Tow Vehicle (note I did not say IF), do yourself a favor and buy more than you think you will need in the future. It leaves you a lot more options when you shop for the next TT and pulling with something larger will let you be more comfortable when towing. We bought a new GMC 1500 (not thinking about a future trailer) in 2013; the following year we decided to go RV'ing but were limited on what we could buy because of truck size. The GMC did pull the 35' Windjammer and did it very well, but now we are in the market for the next rig, a 5th wheel, and we have had to purchase a new TV. Following my own advise (I do not always listen to myself) we got a new GMC 3500HD, diesel, crew cab, dually. That should keep our options open! If you like camping and RV'ing, you WILL contract the "New Traileritus" disease. All the posters here are carriers, so be careful!
__________________
D_B Travelers - 39 nights in 2018, 58 nights in 2017. [U]1st love: 2014 TT WJ3001w, now 2016 40' FW SOB, 2015 GMC 3500HD CC DRW Duramax, TST 507rv TPMS.
"Happiness? A good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle."
George Burns (1896 – 1996)
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