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04-10-2013, 08:36 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: In our CC.
Posts: 646
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TT brakes
We tow a TT that weighs 5K, loaded, with a GMC 2500, Diesel. The truck came with the trailer brake control. Initially, it was set at 5. I've moved it up to 8 and still see no difference in the braking. Is this because the truck is so heavy? Is it because I've got it set correctly? I have absolutely no idea what "trailer gain". followed by numbers and "......" means. That's the indication I get on the dash during braking. Any advice/help will be appreciated.
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Alan, Kathy & Cooper the camping cat
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS
2013 GMC 2500 Denali
Duramax/Allison
Full timers since 5/30/2013
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04-10-2013, 08:57 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Space Coast of Florida
Posts: 4,024
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Do the "...." Increase as you apply the brakes harder? If you go down at about 25 mph and apply just the TT brakes manually, does it stop your truck? At some point the gain of the brakes on the TT should lock up the tires.
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2016 Siverback 33IK, Towed 50K+ mile
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L V8 Diesel 4WD Crew Cab
"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."
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04-10-2013, 09:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Madison Heights , Michigan
Posts: 125
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When you say "no difference in the braking", please explain a little. as soon as you move a little, are you letting go of the gas and squeezing the levers together? Your rig isn't stopping?
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John N.
Madison Heights, Mi.
2009 Salem LE 27RBEC
2013 F250 Lariat 6.2L
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04-10-2013, 09:04 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Madison Heights , Michigan
Posts: 125
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oops...someone already answered this. Man do I type slow! lol,
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John N.
Madison Heights, Mi.
2009 Salem LE 27RBEC
2013 F250 Lariat 6.2L
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04-10-2013, 09:23 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: In our CC.
Posts: 646
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The brakes
Quote:
Originally Posted by dalford
Do the "...." Increase as you apply the brakes harder? If you go down at about 25 mph and apply just the TT brakes manually, does it stop your truck? At some point the gain of the brakes on the TT should lock up the tires.
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Yes, I have pulled that lever at 25mph and yes, it did lock up the trailer brakes. I released it immediately. I wonder if doing that set the control? No, it did not stop the truck.
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Alan, Kathy & Cooper the camping cat
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS
2013 GMC 2500 Denali
Duramax/Allison
Full timers since 5/30/2013
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04-10-2013, 09:34 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Space Coast of Florida
Posts: 4,024
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Well if it locked up the brakes it would eventually stop the truck. What you want to do is lower the gain until you can apply the manual control fully without locking the trailer brakes. Once you do that you know that if you brake hard your trailer will brake to the max without brake lock up.
All that being said, you should be able to feel the trailer brake if you aggressively apply the truck brakes. There is a switch that is triggered by the brake pedal. Make sure that is operating properly.
I never asked. What type of brake controller do you have?
__________________
2016 Siverback 33IK, Towed 50K+ mile
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L V8 Diesel 4WD Crew Cab
"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."
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04-10-2013, 09:37 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Space Coast of Florida
Posts: 4,024
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Did you pull this TT with another tv before or is all this new to you? Typically when you brake aggressively your trailer will pull down on the rear of your tv...
__________________
2016 Siverback 33IK, Towed 50K+ mile
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L V8 Diesel 4WD Crew Cab
"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."
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04-10-2013, 10:18 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: In our CC.
Posts: 646
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The brake controller came with the truck. It has a lever and buttons labeled plus and minus for TT brake. No name on it. I really appreciate your answers!
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Alan, Kathy & Cooper the camping cat
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS
2013 GMC 2500 Denali
Duramax/Allison
Full timers since 5/30/2013
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04-10-2013, 10:43 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Space Coast of Florida
Posts: 4,024
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Sounds like a factory installed unit. I have what sounds like the same unit in my F150. From your posts it sounds like your controller is working in the manual mode since you were able to lock up the brakes with the manual control.
Try this to see if the controller is working properly when you apply the brakes. Turn the gain up high 8 where it locked up with the manual control. Adjust your mirrors so you can see the tires on your trailer. Get up to about 25 and stop quickly using your brake pedal not the manual slide switch and see if the tires lock up (smoke). If they do then your controller is working properly. Now calibrate your brake controller by lowering the gain to say 5. Go 25 mph and slide manual control to max. If smoke, lower to 4, try again. Just do this until your tires don't lock up when you apply the manual control.
If you can't get your tires to lock up when you apply the brakes aggressively, you need to make sure the brake switch is operating properly. I am nor exactly sure how it connects to the brake pedal shaft but my guess would be that it is held closed until you push on the brake pedal and then it opens.
You do also have a significant truck to TT so that does play into what you feel but I would think you should be able to set up to much gain and lock up the brakes on your trailer and know it works.
Hope this helps...
__________________
2016 Siverback 33IK, Towed 50K+ mile
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L V8 Diesel 4WD Crew Cab
"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."
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04-11-2013, 07:56 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Beaver, PA
Posts: 911
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idle down the driveway and manually pull the trailer brake lever and you should feel the trailer brakes kick on - and stop the truck, or close to it.
the higher the number the more the brakes on the trailer
My integrated controller is set at 2.5 to 3.0 range - I change it based on feel, load, weather, road, etc. I start on 3 and as the brakes warm I"ll usually move to 2.5.
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Chris, Wills (16) Evie (13) & Toby our collie (6)
2011 Grey Wolf 28BH
2013 Chevy K1500 Crew w/ Reese StraitLine Dual Cam
Nights camped 2011: 11 2012: 18 2013: 12 2014: 12 2015: 13 2016: 56 2017: 8+
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04-11-2013, 08:06 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 277
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Hello the following video is a pretty good demo for the GM IBC: http://www.youtube.com/v/RXJ-Jn1My9c It may be helpful
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PT Avenger 33BHS-TE
2020 f-250
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04-11-2013, 09:57 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Carmel, Indiana
Posts: 309
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I have a 08 Duramax pulling a 6500 lb TT. I have noticed similar breaking qualities with my set up. I think the issue is the Truck weighs more than the trailer. When I pulled the same trailer with my Jeep Commander you could feel the trailer slow the Jeep down. I have never been able to lock up the trailer brakes with either TV.
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kz08h5
2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 Duramax Crewcab
Jeep Commander - sold
Flagstaff V-Lite WRB26
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04-11-2013, 10:05 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: In our CC.
Posts: 646
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I sort of wondered if it wasn't that the truck was so much more powerful than our previous TV. Never gave the weight difference a thought.
__________________
Alan, Kathy & Cooper the camping cat
2014 Cedar Creek, 36CKTS
2013 GMC 2500 Denali
Duramax/Allison
Full timers since 5/30/2013
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04-11-2013, 10:56 PM
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#14
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Mod free 5er
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 24,702
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kz08h5
I have a 08 Duramax pulling a 6500 lb TT. I have noticed similar breaking qualities with my set up. I think the issue is the Truck weighs more than the trailer. When I pulled the same trailer with my Jeep Commander you could feel the trailer slow the Jeep down. I have never been able to lock up the trailer brakes with either TV.
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I can't lock the 5ver trailer brakes either, nor could I lock up the 831RLSS TT brakes. I think the trailers are too heavy to smoke the tires in a stop. I don't want them sliding and flat spot the tires, but I want feel the trailer trying to slow down the truck anytime I touch the brakes. Just my towing style.
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04-11-2013, 10:57 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 47
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Is the controller mounted in the dash ? If it is and it's like the one that came in my ford it's a progressive controller......you shouldn't feel the trailer pushing or pulling on the truck when you stop. It should feel like your towing something with surge brakes.
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05-21-2013, 11:49 AM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 46
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Same with me, Prof fate, 2.5 is max any higher and I feel the trailer pulling back on the truck, sooo at 8 you should feel something.
28' Tracer ~ 6K
F-250
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