Ram light and heavy electric trailer brakes

[upflying]

I just bought a new '18 Ram 2500 with the factory Integrated Trailer Brake Controller. I am trying to set up the trailer brake gain on my travel trailer and I am unable to select "heavy electric" through the steering wheel switches.
I pull up the towing menu on the dash display and it defaults to light electric with the little cargo trailer symbol. I can adjust gain but even at 10 I don't think the braking is aggressive enough with manual application of the brakes. I am following the owners manual instructions but I can't get heavy electric to display on the menu.
I have the Uconnect 3.0 with the 5 inch screen if that's important.

[CHICKDOE]

i have been able to set mine to heavy electric.

there are four possible settings
light electric
heavy electric
light hydraulic
heavy hydraulic

does anybody know what the differences between these four setting are and when each would be appropriate? for example, what is the transition point between selecting light electric versus heavy electric?

[Lins]

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

i have been able to set mine to heavy electric.

there are four possible settings
light electric
heavy electric
light hydraulic
heavy hydraulic

does anybody know what the differences between these four setting are and when each would be appropriate? for example, what is the transition point between selecting light electric versus heavy electric?

I think 10k, but really it depends on your specific trailer and if you need more braking or not. Our TT is an ultra light but I like having the controller on heavy and on a low brake setting. On light I have to have it on a high setting.

[2Evil4U]

On mine you need to go into the settings on the radio to set which trailer type you want. Both on the 8.4 and 5 inch screen versions.

The heavy setting seems to apply voltage a bit more aggressively than the light. Now that I've got an exhaust brake it really makes no difference.

[TimVWulp]

Try this youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvk9BAU5cwU

Hope this helps Tim

[upflying]

Thanks, it's a learning curve for the technology challenged to figure out the settings.

[Telstar]

We have a 36’ Cardinal 5th wheel, I have mine set on heavy electric.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by Telstar

We have a 36’ Cardinal 5th wheel, I have mine set on heavy electric.

Thanks, my TT is pretty light but I wanted to see how to pull up "heavy electric" on the menu as part of my trailer braking testing process.

[Ejs4029]

I'm towing right around 8K and I have mine set on heavy electric 5.5

[Gerogesin]

My TT is 6k loaded and I have mine set at light electric at 5.

[frank4711]

Set mine to heavy ... will give it a try

[emm-dee]

When I had my 9k trailer I used heavy hydraulic and it worked great. Hydraulic seems to send power to the brakes a little faster. Nobody nowhere has ever come up with a data backed explanation of the difference between the four settings...just a bunch of bull spread all over the internet. Try all four and use whichever feels best to you. Every trailer is going to be different.

[AndreTheGiant]

According to the manual, light electric for under 10K lbs, heavy electric for anything over.
That said, I was at 9 gain on heavy electric on my 5K lbs TT and on the same settings with my fifth wheel...


Truth be told, I don't really use the brakes much, the engine brake does an excellent job. Even when pulling into rest areas, I don't touch the brake pedal until it's time for a complete stop