GMC Trailer Brake Controller Explained

Another video in our series about owning and using your car trailer. In this video, we explain the GMC trailer brake controller system in the GMC Sierra and how it interacts with the trailer braking system.

[@slapenta100]

Good job and thanks for the information!

[@ElevateHTX]

Awesome video! Very informative

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Hey, Thanks for watching, Man!

[@MrTexaz101]

Thanks, I have a GMC 1500 and it looks like it's the same setup.

[@NathanCopeland]

Stepping up the video bro! Awesome! Love it.

[@davidbodnar18]

Thanks I needed that

[@elflaco4550]

Great video thanks

[@Fulloctanegarage]

You bet

[@aparki66]

Very useful. Thank you.

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dedalliance1]

That's good to know.

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Thanks for watching and commenting.. it really helps out!

[@ginonet]

I have a 2019 3500HD SRW now, but I had an aftermarket trailer brake controller in my 2007 LBZ truck. It had two settings, how hard the brakes would come on, and how fast it would get to that point. So I would normally set the controller around 8, with around a 4 second, gradual brake, so not to jerk the truck constantly. Does my new '19 have this feature? I can't imagine having a high brake setting driving around town, and having the brakes coming on so hard and so immediate. Or, does the new controller ease on the brakes in relation to pedal pressure?

[@travisgue8535]

I have a 2019 Silverado 3500 srw with the intergraded brake controller. They are not timer or inertia based like the old school brake controllers. It decides how much juice to give your trailer brakes by how far you push the brake pedal, and what you've got the gain set to. They are very smooth and it's also tied into ABS, hill hold assist, stabilitrac, and trailer sway Controll.

[@hc9987]

New 2500 HD owner here who pulls a boat and a UTV trailer regularly. My boat trailer I believe is equipped with surge breaks, so I'm guessing I cannot use the built-in trailer brake feature inside the truck, is that correct?

[@gerardomalacara4450]

Thank you

[@daledunwoodie4569]

I like 👍 your videos

[@gk9417]

Thanks 👍✌️🇨🇦

[@SSSSongbird]

HELP! How the hell do you turn off the backup camera/alarm when your trying to hook up the trailer? It drives me mad on my 2017 Silverado High Country/High Desert...

[@justinlindsay6406]

When using the trailer brake control, do you use it in conjunction with your regular truck brakes, or just the brake control alone?

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Once you set them up to grab without locking up manually then the rest is automatic. The trailer brakes will engage when you apply pressure to the brake peddle.

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[@quentinkian2434]

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[@armandomrgl85]

How does the stock trailer breaks compare to aftermarket break controller example the Tekonsha prodigy P3? Thanks

[@irvinwilson3245]

For anyone here later it's worth noting the Tekonsha works absolutely great but works a bit differently than a factory setup. The Tekonsha only knows you've touched the brakes (kind of like a brake light). It doesn't know how hard you've hit them. For it to "guess" how much trailer brake to apply it's relying on inertia by sensing how quickly you're decelerating. Seems weird and I don't know how it does it internally but it works very well. I had one for years and pulled a 36 ft. (with hitch) Keystone Vantage 32fls travel trailer with dry weight 6850 lbs (loaded up to 8200lbs) with no problems driving a GMC Sierra 1500. Absolutely was a must have and used it for roughly 15,000 miles of towing. That said, the factory one is what I'd strongly prefer going forward as it's hooked up in such a way that pedal pressure determines how much trailer break is supplied, not any sort of motion sensing (is still adjustable though). If you don't have a factory controller note that the Tekonsha can be installed in your driveway in minutes. Is super easy and really feels top of the line for an aftermarket one.

[@SkipC]

My 2024 GMC Sierra 2500 Duramax displays "Check Trailer Wiring" when I plug it into the fifth wheel wiring socket but then it goes out, and then comes back on, goes on and off with a 10 minute interval or so. How can I find the "fault" ?

[@go.squeeze]

That usually means the plug isn't all the way in. If you have it seated in there, the cover over the top of the plug will grab and prevent it from slipping back out. I've had that happen, just pull over and replug it.

[@americassportscar]

I have never towed with my GMC denali but i am about to start and i have went through the steps that you guys went through without a trailer attached. For this to work do you have to attach a trailer to see the output when pressing the brake?

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Awesome! The truck does detect if and when a trailer is connected. If there is no trailer connected you can only see the amount of gain change when you hit the plus or minus, you will not see the amount of brake applied bars until a trailer is connected. Also if the trailer becomes unplugged while the truck is in the on position you will get a warning on your dash letting you know the trailer circuit went away. Back it up to the trailer and just plug it in then hit trailer mode and you will see some additional items in the dash. Curt

[@cmdreffietrinket]

What does the +/- button do on the shift lever?

[@nh1carrara27]

Shift gears

[@Coecoebrown]

Is it possible to do this on the 2022 Refreshed GMC Sierra (SLT or above)?

[@Fulloctanegarage]

I will be working on it shortly.

[@robertlalonde6699]

Comment je fais pour l'avoir en français

[@rubiomrc]

just curious what size is that trailer? thanks

[@Fulloctanegarage]

18 feet

[@Fulloctanegarage]

And the other is a 20 foot flat nose.

[@Crunkjewce258]

@@Fulloctanegarage Any idea how much that trailer weighs when you load it up with a 5000lb car like you mentioned?

[@tonyman8941]

Great video but Grade break is activated on that truck By holding the tow haul mode for 5 seconds and the message will be displayed

[@Fulloctanegarage]

I just found it in the owners manual, it seems to be a gas engine only option. When we did the video I had a 2015 Diesel where it had a J-Brake button on the console instead of the hill decent button the gas trucks have so I was not up to speed on the gas engine grade brake option. This is awesome information, have you used it while in tow mode and if so how did it work for you? Thanks for the catch! Curt

[@tonyman8941]

Full Octane Garage I understand keep up the good work love the GM videos I have a 2017 gmc Sierra 1500 Denali and I love it. But I have never had to use the Grade break because we don’t really have any mountains here in New Jersey. Ps that’s for the reply

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Thanks! I just traded my 2015 2500 Denali for a 2018 1500 6.2 Gas Denali, so far I like the daily drive ability much better. I did use the J-brake in the Diesel, I will try the grade break on one of my next trips pulling an enclosed car trailer.

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Cool. thanks for the info. I think I see a video coming up where we cover the ApplePlay and the Android apps and compatablities with the GMC trucks. Seems to be a lot of questions there.

[@romani7637]

Tony Man a

[@hondacamoutdoors7104]

Audio hard to hear

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Honda Cam Outdoors thanks for the feedback.. it was a spur of the moment video... we have since bought Rode LAV mics! #alwaysroomforimprovement #iblameitonCurt

[@antoniopacheco6751]

Alguien lo puede subir el tutorial en español por favor tengo una GMCSierra 2014 1500 GRACIAS.

[@Fulloctanegarage]

muchas gracias!

[@rogeliocruz7886]

Full Octane Garage Sale

[@AllenLidar]

Hill Descent Control only works at low speeds

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Allen Lidar thanks for the comment and watching!

[@codikenley9492]

What about a 26ft boat

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Should work the same if the trailer has electric brakes.

[@jwints28]

The diesel does not have a Jake brake... it has an exhaust brake

[@Fulloctanegarage]

Thanks, similar function, wrong terminology.

[@watertownfddotcom]

I thought it was a “jake” brake…….

[@Fulloctanegarage]

That all depends if it is me explaining it, no one is perfect but thanks for watching :)

[@craigquichocho344]

Thank you