How to Set up Electric Trailer brakes

[@TheMongo1357]

I have a 2019 Chevy Silverado 4x4 Trail Boss and towing a 2021 GulfStream Kingsport 31ft Ultra Lite travel trailer. I have never had to tow anything this size and no one has ever educated me on trailer brake setting, until NOW! THANK YOU!!

[@JetTech1966]

I'm a total newbie at this too and the way he explained it was perfect!!

[@SaltyRagu7393]

4 years later and still the best explanation and demo. Thanks brother

[@TheMoose1111]

Literally the best explanation of trailer brake set-up on this platform. Fantastic; thank you kindly.👍🏼

[@deloneknives9357]

This video is awesome and really helped me! It’s the people like you that take the time to make these videos that make the world better. Thanks for making this.

[@ozziemacias8072]

Yo man, had an idea on how to set, but not fully understood. You explained it to the point, fully comprehend the process now. Thanks man!!!

[@bobcarlsson4]

Years ago when I was a kid,, as electric brakes are mostly pouched, most of the time, I just put in a on off switch. Worked perfectly. Saved a couple of kids lives as they were riding on the hwy, on a narrow bridge, with an oncoming transport. The trailer started to fishtail, flicked the switch on and it straighten up smartly.

[@nick9124]

This is my 4th video watching and you, not only explained it better, but showed it. Nice video and thanks for the help! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@MurphDaSurf1956]

Thanks! Just installed an OEM controller in my '10 Dodge Ram 1500 but didn't exactly know how to properly calibrate it. This was an immense help and simple enough that I won't forget. Stay safe . . .

[@CBL138]

Appreciate the video. Never heard the setup explain in such a simplistic easy to understand manner. It’s awesome that you took the time to reply to questions...even the negative crap. What’s wild is when you replied to the folks that had something negative to say they didn’t even respond. Im sure you had good intentions when making this video. I challenge those people to make a counter video since you did such a bad job. Thanks for making the video and take care.

[@HitchinMitch]

Glad to hear how helpful my video was to you. I really appreciate the feedback! Some people will always find something to be negative about. 🤷‍♂️

[@CBL138]

Hitchin Mitch just towed my 20 foot RV and adjusted my controller following your video and it worked out great. Thanks man!

[@jayc149]

Very helpful. I have an older controller for a Ford F250 Diesel that goes from 0-6 and has a manual arm to activate the trailor breaks. Nevertheless this video really helped me figure out how to read my dial and set my breaks. Your load matters! Very helpful and thanks for making this video. Boise, Idaho.

[@donireland2640]

Finally, a video that made sense. Thanks

[@rick_3.50]

Thanks for sharing. For people who travel on gravel roads allot would need to set up for that surface.

[@HitchinMitch]

Yeah, it's better to do this on a paved lot.

[@wildberj]

Excellent explanation, thank you very much for the video.

[@gobdeep]

Hey man, this was a really helpful video. About to set the TBC for a 7500 lb trailer and I've never done this before. Thanks!

[@retiredandrollin]

Very informative. Ignore than negative comments, your video is spot on give or take a few personal opinions or techniques. None the less, good stuff. Thanks for sharing

[@HitchinMitch]

Thank you for the the support, I appreciate it very much! I understand there's different ways some one might do it but I just wanted to share my way, this way people can understand the concept.

[@andrestavri4278]

Hey great video. Ford manual on use of manual control is confusing. I now know how to calibrate the IBC from your video and now know what manual was trying to say. Thanks!

[@dougB4454]

Nicely done on the brakes.

[@senecat8071]

Thanks you made it easy to understand!

[@DawnCutaia]

This was so helpful - thank you!

[@scottsbr8076]

Hi Mitch, thanks for the video, I ordered my 2019 F150 with trailer package with the EBC and just purchase a RV trailer and was wondering how to set up.

[@michaelwood3272]

Thanks for your efforts, very helpful.

[@tennisbugg]

Thanks for the video very easy to understand.

[@SlammedZero]

Very informative. Thanks for the video!

[@baydog22566]

Great tutorial dude!! really helped me. Thanks.

[@hankdowling7740]

I thought the video was very informative. I get it. Thanks.

[@colinr4481]

Thanks very helpful

[@ericwallentine6119]

Great video! Thank you.

[@yomama6461]

Thanks for the tutorial

[@RonRivet]

Thanks for posting. This was very helpful and informative.

[@revanjg]

Very informative thank you

[@CrazyCanuckFitness]

Thank you!

[@dhonnoll78]

Sorry to hear you had the dealer unlock your brake controller FORSCAN can be downloaded for free and you can do it yourself.

[@HitchinMitch]

Yea I have it now but after the fact.

[@Richard5873]

How did you decide what # to set it at just by using the controller to stop the truck and trailer without using your truck brake pedal ? You want it one number set lower than locking up correct?

[@NearlyFromAfar]

Thanks for the time to make the video. I know you made this years ago, but if you care to, can you explain why your criteria was to see if the trailer brakes alone can stop both the trailer and the truck? If the trailer ever becomes disconnected, wouldn't the break away switch be pulled, causing the full 12V from the breakaway system to be sent to the trailer brakes, which commands 100% braking to the trailer? If the trailer is disconnected, it just has to stop itself, not it and the weight of the truck too. Good tip about backing off the gain once the trailer wheels started locking up, that was useful. Thanks.

[@carloellard8266]

Nice video sir. Taught me a number of things. Let me ask you a quick question. Is there a typical brake setting based on the amount you’re towing? So for instance, if you are towing 3,000 lbs then your brake setting should be 3-3.5 or 5,000 lbs will be 6-6.5? I’m just making those numbers up but I would think there should be some type of predetermined guideline. Again, thanks for making the tutorial.

[@HitchinMitch]

Thank you and I'm glad it was helpful. That would be a good starting point NG when setting up the controller. But then you'll fine tune it and it might change depending on the terrain.

[@adamadams1778]

Omg you are right down the street from my house.

[@adamadams1778]

You are in the forest preserve where i bale the hay.

[@HitchinMitch]

Crazy how small the world is!

[@jimlanigan7298]

Nice demonstration

[@HondaMechanic1]

There are 2 ways to install brakes on a trailer.. 1 is with a breakaway box .. 2 without a breakaway box .. The brake controller sends different amounts of voltage to the electromagnets in the trailer brakes (5-7 volts will apply some drag on the brake shoes , while 12-14 volts may actually lock the trailer wheels depending on how much the trailer brakes are adjusted) .. You just want some pressure on the trailer brakes NOT drag the wheels unless just 1 axle has brakes, if both axles have brakes and they all lock the wheels then the trailer will be out of control and possibly cross the centre line on the highway .. With a breakaway box the trailer has it's own battery if the trailer and truck get separated the wire on the breakaway box gets pulled which sends full battery voltage (from the onboard battery) to the brakes ..

[@happypappy6371]

All trailers with electric brakes are required by law to have a break away switch. Then whether a trailer has no brakes or brakes on one axle or more than one axle depends on the weight of the trailer. Any trailer over 1500 pounds is required to have brakes on one axle. Any trailer over 3000 pounds is required to have brakes on all axles.

[@polarlab113]

Not correct in some aspects.you don’t want the trailer to brake the truck .all brakes,truck and trailer,should activate equally.if the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle the breakaway switch,”that cable”, as the driver called it,will dynamite the brakes.FULL BRAKES.on the trailer.setting up brakes the way you do it will wear the trailer brakes unnecessarily.there should be another adjuster on the controller.a potentiometer.it syncs the brakes.the gain gives more or less application.

[@adriansims1596]

Great video.

[@firesquad0155]

Nice and helpful video my question is should the trailer be loaded or unloaded I’m pulling double axle and 2 RZRs

[@HitchinMitch]

When it's loaded you'll want to increase the gain of the controller to counter the extra weight on the trailer.

[@hugolemay1559]

So ideally, you should calibrate for every different load/weight you pull?

[@mikeschoolcraft1212]

This was extremely helpful but I think in a real-time situation if the trailer did disconnect on a highway you would have zero time to move that slide, and the emergency disconnect would take over and activate the trailer brakes. I'm thinking the slide is really just to tune your braking power just as you demonstrated.

[@HitchinMitch]

It's definitely the most use it'll get is while tuning the gain. Otherwise, I hope that a worse case scenario never happens.

[@88Petry]

So does the trailer recieve a signal from the truck to apply brakes to the trailer (through the power cable connected to the truck)?

[@Garagemonkey11575]

Thanks for help

[@jcs1492]

Thanks for posting

[@VuTruong75]

Thank you for this

[@robertreeg8212]

When you are doing 15 mph and apply the trailer brake, are you coasting the truck or do you keep your foot on the accelerator to see if it will stop? Thank you, your video is very informative!

[@HitchinMitch]

When I get to speed I left off the accelerator and only use the trailer trailer brakes to slow down. Thank you for the support!

[@robertreeg8212]

Thank you

[@kuntrryboy7078]

If you get FORScan you could have unlocked this for your self for free. As well as turn off that seat belt warning and many other things.

[@garyg985]

Very informative

[@HitchinMitch]

Thank you!

[@abdullahal-shimri3091]

This is the best trailer brake video on YT. You're explaining and you're also showing. Great work bro. Also, did you use a 4 or 7 pin with this trailer? I'm guessing 7 pin?

[@HitchinMitch]

The trailer has the 7pin connection.

[@magic2066]

thx for sharing

[@slimatmim]

Is this by the world ?

[@Evil_Morty2000]

You actually set it up going 25 mph and only on asphalt,unless you only drive on gravel,which most people don’t

[@HitchinMitch]

Yes asphalt is best, and most of what I've read and heard is 20-25, yes.

[@JB.1371]

Nice vid! New like & sub!

[@HitchinMitch]

Thank you for the support!

[@BigDawgTheGreat]

So is the idea that a empty trailer stops the truck... Which is the approximate weight of a full trailer? I'm gonna be hauling a 16 foot enclosed with my Tundra and I am installing a Reese... It seems like if it stops both empty truck and trailer that's about right for a full load?

[@HitchinMitch]

My trailer normally is right around 4k lbs but I've had it loaded to the max of 7k lbs and I will adjust the controller up depending on the weight change.

[@waled121]

Thank you.

[@cesarbarajas7623]

Hello mitch 👋 hey what happens when the brakes don't block even when you have max gain?

[@HitchinMitch]

I would check all the wires to make sure it's getting signal to the brakes themselves.

[@okramando]

Thanks!

[@Richard5873]

Is there supposed to be be a delay from trailer braking on a 2016 Diesel. Truck brakes first and then trailer few seconds later Trailer? Why don't they break at same time?

[@HitchinMitch]

I'm not sure if there's suppose to be one or not. But there probably will a delay with the signal from pushing the pedal to sending the signal to the trailer

[@symonoxide7873]

Around 4:30 you say that you'll need to use the trailer brake controller to stop the trailer if it becomes disconnected. If it's disconnected, how will the trailer brake system work? Doesn't it need to be connected?

[@HitchinMitch]

Symonoxide 7 I should've been more clear, if your trailer becomes unhitched and as long as the wire hook up stays connected you want to use the brake controller but if everything unhooks and becomes disconnected than that trailer is gonna do what it wants at that point.

[@snowismas]

If the trailer come completely disconnected then the trailer battery will take over an apply the brakes. that's what its for.

[@supadoopa926]

+snowismas Correct, that's what the breakaway cable {guy in the video refers to it as "this cable") is for. One thing I noticed is he has a little too much slack in his. Your breakaway cable should always have less slack than your safety chains.

[@happypappy6371]

The break away switch takes over if the trailer becomes completely disconnected from the truck.

[@rodmiller7131]

Theres a emergency break away wire that locks brakes...then there reece chains

[@kevinokun]

really with the beeping!

[@j.18wheeler17]

So I need to use the brake controller when driving as well not just my truck brakes when everything is hooked up?

[@HitchinMitch]

Once you set the controller up, it will activate when you use the tow vehicles brakes and send the signal to the trailer. Don't have to grab the controller Everytime.

[@j.18wheeler17]

@@HitchinMitch Thanks. Do u have a video how to install one?

[@HitchinMitch]

I do, however it's the oem for my f150. Depending on what vehicle you have there might be a harness already behind the dash and you just have to get a pig tail harnes to wire it to any brake controller of your choosing.

[@j.18wheeler17]

@@HitchinMitch I have a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 2 wheel drive

[@HitchinMitch]

You'll probably have to hard wire that in. I'm sure there are other videos installing a brake controller on your generation ram. Does it have the factory installed 7 way in the back?

[@daviddion3731]

Mitch- I'm looking at a 2019 f150 with a factory installed EBC. Operationally, is it "ready to go" right from the dealership? Is there any more to setting it up other than what you've covered in the video? please advise. thanks!!

[@HitchinMitch]

Nope! If it's already installed you just have to set up your trailer.

[@daviddion3731]

Hitchin Mitch Great thank you Mitch have a great holiday

[@HitchinMitch]

@@daviddion3731 thank you, same to you!

[@tunestone3071]

Nice chucks!

[@HitchinMitch]

Thanks!

[@omajka]

You want to come with me to get the boat?

[@smokeabeerski39]

If he spent the time on making a video, why wouldn't you find asphalt? Also this video is three times longer than it needs to be and why wouldn't you put your seat belt on or click it and sit on it

[@immrnoidall]

where is the video screen display in my 98 suburban?

[@HitchinMitch]

If your after market brake controller doesn't have a digital display then you just have to go by memory. Otherwise I'd say buy a newer F150. :)

[@kdigiacomo]

Hitchin Mitch - Suburbans are better than a new F-150. Unless it's a 1978/79 F-150, I'd take a Suburban.

[@HitchinMitch]

K Digiacomo that's fair, I wouldn't mind having an old 70s Ford truck. Pickups suit my needs better than a suburban would.

[@immrnoidall]

i hear ya. i need a truck but had to get what i could at the time.winter. not many 4x4's for sale in the snow.

[@kdigiacomo]

Hitchin Mitch -Just giving you a hard time is all. I've built several 78/79 long beds for the dunes here in Oregon, best years for doing that (IMO). I'm biased to the 73-91 Suburbans is all, only reason why I said what I did. You have a nice truck, was just teasing. I should have explained more before sending the response. My trucks were only around $12k, I wouldn't run 80 on the flats and jump a $40k+ new truck at 60. Unless it was a pre runner....

[@polarlab113]

This guy is out to lunch

[@dunerinaz]

You're method is close but shouldn't be done on gravel

[@leurqsterleurqster5229]

Tow haul button and get some gas.

[@rustyshakelford9777]

leurqster leurqster tow haul mode won’t let the transmission go in to overdrive which is 50 mph plus he is doing 15 mph in a driveway

[@jeffbanks9955]

this should all be automatic. what a nuissance

[@mytunesmokey]

Totally useless information. If the trailer did not stop at 3.5 and locked up at 4 why would you set it to 7. If you are going to post at least know what you are doing. Maybe I missed something.

[@Aardvarkarific]

He set it to 7 to demonstrate locked up brakes. It's very useful information if you're smart enough to understand it.

[@smileyclownyloks9949]

I still dont get it😠😠😡😡😡😡😡

[@HitchinMitch]

Diablo Loc what part is confusing? maybe I can help clarify.

[@smileyclownyloks9949]

If you want to stop your truck you have to press the trailer brake and your truck brake ,to ? , or only trailer brake or both?

[@HitchinMitch]

+Diablo Loc in an emergency situation if the trailer comes detached you would only use the trailer brake. But everyday normal driving around with the trailer you just use the truck brake and that will send the signal to the controller that tells the trailer how much to apply in its brakes.

[@smileyclownyloks9949]

So , if you want to stop your truck you only need to press the truck brake, right. How come you were pressing the trailer brake?

[@HitchinMitch]

Diablo Loc I was using the trailer brake to set the brakes for the trailer. after you're done setting up the brakes and the proper output then you only using the trucks brakes.

[@rafdecc]

I GAVE YOU A THUMBS DOWN . TOO MUCH TALK AND NOT ENOUGH ACTION???? WHAT WAS YOUR FINAL SETTING?? IT APPEARED THAT NON WORKED FOR YOU OR ARE YOU SAYING DON'T SLAM THEM ON LET IT ROLL TO A SLOW STOP???? INDEPENDENT OF TRUCK.??

[@bjones4245]

Absolutely horrible

[@HitchinMitch]

What could I improve on?

[@danvird8649]

Hitchin Mitch nithing. Just put the seat belt on earlier😂 great vid thanks for explaining

[@HitchinMitch]

@@danvird8649 Thank you for the feedback! Yea that chime get be abnoxious.

[@donaldthomason4588]

@@HitchinMitch You made a great video. Blake is just jelly he can't be like you.

[@zabuugarbutt3465]

So if that bare wire is not hooked to the truck it won’t work…..