What is a brake controller and why do I need it?

[GATORB8]

I think your dealer is full of shit.

Unless someone with more money than common sense added a braking axle, I’m waving the BS flag.

For starters, brakes on commercial trailers are found on two axle and up, not single axle. They’re just too light to justify flat spotting the tires from too aggressive controller settings. The pull vehicle is the brake, not the trailer.

Your comment peaked my curiosity so I went digging. Hell, maybe times have changed. As expected, none of the specifications or brochures mention an option for electronic brakes, surge brakes, or drag chutes.

Have your boy at the dealership show you the brake system he says you bought.

As for installing a brake controller on a Jeep? I wouldn’t do it. If you plan to tow a double or triple axle rig with your Jeep, you’re a fool. One good gust and the trailer will guide you straight to the ditch…….

Pretty crazy how little information these trailer manufacturers post. Grabbed a pic of one off RV trader to confirm, and there is a breakaway in the pic.

As tow ratings have gone up on smaller SUVs, the RV guys are up marketing. At least it seems they are adding brakes to help with safety.

My trailer is in the 2k range, and I’m glad I put brakes on it. With them off, even that lighter weight will reduce braking effectiveness significantly.

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[driventoadventure]

I think your dealer is full of shit.

Unless someone with more money than common sense added a braking axle, I’m waving the BS flag.

For starters, brakes on commercial trailers are found on two axle and up, not single axle. They’re just too light to justify flat spotting the tires from too aggressive controller settings. The pull vehicle is the brake, not the trailer.

Your comment peaked my curiosity so I went digging. Hell, maybe times have changed. As expected, none of the specifications or brochures mention an option for electronic brakes, surge brakes, or drag chutes.

Have your boy at the dealership show you the brake system he says you bought.

As for installing a brake controller on a Jeep? I wouldn’t do it. If you plan to tow a double or triple axle rig with your Jeep, you’re a fool. One good gust and the trailer will guide you straight to the ditch…….

Please don't spread such wrong and potentially dangerous information. Per (https://www.rvia.org/system/files/media/file/Trailer Brake Requirements.pdf) basically every state requires trailer brakes on at least one axle for any trailer whose gross weight is over 3k lbs. Most even require that all wheels are braked. Several even require that trailers more than 1500-2000lbs are braked. In fact, of the only 7 states that don't require it, only one of those doesn't have an absolute performance requirement of stopping within so many feet at specific speeds.

This is why so many cargo trailers have gross weights of 2990lbs. and its difficult to find anything between 2990 and 5k lbs.

Basically every single RV trailer sold these days has electric brakes - that's why they have the 7-pin circular wiring harness. Some may have surge brakes, but those are few and far between because they are so much more expensive. Hell, my single-axle tent trailer has electric brakes.

 

[Cappy]

I think your dealer is full of shit.

Unless someone with more money than common sense added a braking axle, I’m waving the BS flag.

For starters, brakes on commercial trailers are found on two axle and up, not single axle. They’re just too light to justify flat spotting the tires from too aggressive controller settings. The pull vehicle is the brake, not the trailer.

Your comment peaked my curiosity so I went digging. Hell, maybe times have changed. As expected, none of the specifications or brochures mention an option for electronic brakes, surge brakes, or drag chutes.

Have your boy at the dealership show you the brake system he says you bought.

As for installing a brake controller on a Jeep? I wouldn’t do it. If you plan to tow a double or triple axle rig with your Jeep, you’re a fool. One good gust and the trailer will guide you straight to the ditch…….

I never said I was towing a double or triple axle RV.

My RV is single axle, dry weight ~2900 and most definitely includes electric brakes that came with the convenience package


CONVENIENCE PACKAGE:

Double Welded Aluminum Frame, Powder coated chassis, 12v power converter, tinted safety glass windows, PVC roof membrane, spare tire, diamond plate rock guard, electric water heater, electric refer, radial tires, interior/exterior LED lighting, AM/FM/bluetooth stereo, power vent, solar plugin, rear stabilizer jacks, interior/ exterior speakers, HD TV antenna, smoke detector, a C/O detector, 20# LP tank, Electric brakes, quick connect gas line, cable satellite hook up, microwave, 2 burner cook top.

 

[nU7OuxIx]

Watched the video. Looks nice. Even though the video shows a gladiator, it looks like the install will be exactly the same as the Wrangler install.


It looks like they put the dial where the cigarette light is. Is that what you did?

The Wrangler is the same install way as the gladiator so it will be easy.

Their mount is a bit different. From what I can remember, the cover plate didn't fit the hole that the cigarette hole was in. I think there's an aftermarket part you need to buy, which I didn't.

Here's a picture of what I did.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/trailer-brake-controller-location.57512/post-1500722

 

[BaconFury]

I went with the Mopar controller. It was a super easy plug and play install that took me about 20 minutes. It works as well as any other controller I have owned and I have had zero issues with it.

State requirement or not it'll save your brakes and make the road safer for you and those around you.

 

[GATORB8]

@Cappy Just to give you another option to cloud your decision.

I used a product called Autowbrake on my trailer build, it is a trailer mounted brake controller and allows you to pull the trailer with other vehicles if necessary without having to install/move a brake controller on the vehicle side. It's a module that gets self tapped to the tongue of the trailer next to the junction box, and has a handful of wires you nut on to the studs in the existing box.

It would require moving a connection, but it's also the only setup I found that allows for electric trailer braking with only a four pin vehicle side.

 

[Cappy]

Their mount is a bit different. From what I can remember, the cover plate didn't fit the hole that the cigarette hole was in. I think there's an aftermarket part you need to buy, which I didn't.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/trailer-brake-controller-location.57512/post-1500722

Sweet install!

I went with the Mopar controller. It was a super easy plug and play install that took me about 20 minutes. It works as well as any other controller I have owned and I have had zero issues with it.

State requirement or not it'll save your brakes and make the road safer for you and those around you.

@BaconFury - Can you give me a link to the Mopar brake controller you installed? I was looking at this one https://infotainment.com/shop/parts/bundle-components/c-kittbc-20jl/ and it is more expensive than the highly rated REDARC's Tow-Pro brake controller.

Price doesn't really matter as long as it works, is fairly easy to install, looks good, and I can use in the cigarette lighter spot. I spent the $50 upgrade and got the smokers package for some reason (no one I know smokes tobacco).

Anyway, I have an actual cigarette lighter in the outlet that would need to be removed so I am wondering if that will complicate the install...

 

[LawrenceR]

WOW, so many opinions, from proclaimed experts to those who have good intentions, but really don't know what they are talking about.

Rather than taking advise from total strangers (my self included) go to a professional who does this work for a living. If you don't feel you got good advice, get a second opinion and compare notes.

As for the main topic, yes you need the controller, a simple "Google Search" brought this up:
"...Electric trailer brakes do not work without a brake controller. If your trailer is equipped with electric brakes you will need the controller".

The brake controller does just that, it controls the brakes on the trailer. If your trailer has electric brakes, make sure you have the seven pin wiring harness and matching Male connector from the trailer. When one pushes on the vehicles brake pedal, this also sends an electric signal to the electric brakes on the trailer - the trailer brakes come on to help with the slowing/stopping action so that the vehicle isn't doing all of this work - thus prematurely wearing out the vehicle brakes.

The controller adjusts the input to the trailer brakes, if the controller is adjusted correctly, the signal to the trailer brakes will be somewhere between too mushy -vs-hard stop, remember the braking can be adjusted up or down.

Keep in mind, if towing something with animals (horse trailer) that trailer needs an "emergency braking system" - surge brakes or electrical brakes alone will not suffice. It is a simple system.

As mentioned, in most states a trailer with a weight over 3000lbs (some states have exceptions) will need brakes.

The brake controller is installed normally near the driver, without the controller one does not have any way to manually "hit or tap" the brakes on the trailer. You might see a controller with a "slide bar" the driver can manually push this to manually activate the trailer brakes - the further one pushes the harder the trailer is braking.

The controller can be adjusted between "too mushy -vs- hard stop" so during normal slowing/stopping the trailer brakes are assisting with this process and that during normal driving the brake pads (old school would be shoes) are not making contact with the rotors (old school would be drums) and prematurely wearing out the pads or shoes. With the controller, the driver can manually without pushing on the brake pedal activate the trailer brakes.

Hope this helps.

 

[BaconFury]

Sweet install!



@BaconFury - Can you give me a link to the Mopar brake controller you installed? I was looking at this one https://infotainment.com/shop/parts/bundle-components/c-kittbc-20jl/ and it is more expensive than the highly rated REDARC's Tow-Pro brake controller.

Price doesn't really matter as long as it works, is fairly easy to install, looks good, and I can use in the cigarette lighter spot. I spent the $50 upgrade and got the smokers package for some reason (no one I know smokes tobacco).

Anyway, I have an actual cigarette lighter in the outlet that would need to be removed so I am wondering if that will complicate the install...

The cigarette lighter pops out and the contol knob snaps in.

https://store.mopar.com/oem-parts/mopar-trailer-brake-controller-82215652ad

 

[VKSheridan]

Please don't spread such wrong and potentially dangerous information…….

Pump your brakes mate.

Kindly note my statement of, “Times may have changed” and my effort to see if I could find a brochure that implied what comes standard or option on OP’s rig.

Lastly, take heart to my recommendation the dealer show OP the brake system he bought on the trailer.

If it’s a f’ing surge brake or there’s no wires going to the axle, he doesn’t need a controller. If it has a 7-pin, an auxiliary battery and a breakaway cable, he needs a controller. If it’s a drag chute, he needs to buy a different trailer….

If I had said, “screw it, tow it”, your feedback would have been fitting but I said the opposite (I wouldn’t tow something with my Jeep that needs supplemental brakes). If that’s a “dangerous” position, I stand guilty.

 

[OSCAR II]

Not sure I can add anything but your trailer has brakes and unless it has some kind of built in controller (and it could), nothing is operating them.
On a 7 pin harness the blue wire operates the brakes. It should run all the way up and be under the dash waiting for you to connect the controller of your choice.
You'll want them to work, a hard stop on a rainy day could be an ugly situation!

 

[Cappy]

The cigarette lighter pops out and the contol knob snaps in.

https://store.mopar.com/oem-parts/mopar-trailer-brake-controller-82215652ad

I was looking at that listing also.... I see what looks like the same thing at some off brand site for a few bucks cheaper but I think I would rather buy from Mopar direct.

Did they send the special tool to get the cigarette lighter out? I did a quick search and it looks like it could be $40ish for the MILLER 10246 tool. I imagine I could Macgyver it out with some ingenuity.

 

[driventoadventure]

Pump your brakes mate.

Kindly note my statement of, “Times may have changed” and my effort to see if I could find a brochure that implied what comes standard or option on OP’s rig.

Lastly, take heart to my recommendation the dealer show OP the brake system he bought on the trailer.

If it’s a f’ing surge brake or there’s no wires going to the axle, he doesn’t need a controller. If it has a 7-pin, an auxiliary battery and a breakaway cable, he needs a controller. If it’s a drag chute, he needs to buy a different trailer….

If I had said, “screw it, tow it”, your feedback would have been fitting but I said the opposite (I wouldn’t tow something with my Jeep that needs supplemental brakes). If that’s a “dangerous” position, I stand guilty.

Your post literally says that there aren't brakes on anything less than two axles, then you literally say you wouldn't install a brake controller on the a Jeep. Those things in your post imply that at best the braking is a nanny feature they are being over charged for. The 4-door Jeeps can tow 3500lbs which is plenty enough to want and even need a brake controller, and the OP stated that his trailer's dry weight was around 2900lbs so he figures it would be close to 3500lbs loaded.

That's where my statement comes in - everything the OP mentioned in their first post says they need a brake controller. Yes, you are correct that if they have a surge brake, then they don't, but boats and u-haul rental trailers are about the only thing that comes with surge brakes anymore because they are so much more expensive than electric brakes.

 

[BaconFury]

I was looking at that listing also.... I see what looks like the same thing at some off brand site for a few bucks cheaper but I think I would rather buy from Mopar direct.

Did they send the special tool to get the cigarette lighter out? I did a quick search and it looks like it could be $40ish for the MILLER 10246 tool. I imagine I could Macgyver it out with some ingenuity.

I used a dental pick, it shows you how in the instructions if I remember right.

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

No one mentioned this at any of the RV dealers I shopped at or the camper shows. I just happened to see someone mention it on the facebook page for my trailer brand.

That's because most of them are lazy fools who only want to sell trailers and have no concept of actually towing one.

I've towed trailers of all sorts of weights and sizes over the decades - trust me, you get thousands of pounds pushing your tow vehicle when you are trying to stop or slow down, you'll wish you had trailer brakes.
How did you imagine the trailer worked without something to trigger brakes?
Just wondering.
No offense - but before you ever even think of hooking to a trailer, please please do some reading and learning from places like REDARC, etrailer and others. You don't have to buy their stuff - but they have great information. Be wary of some camping forums - I've seen some really bad advice out there.

Watched the video. Looks nice. Even though the video shows a gladiator, it looks like the install will be exactly the same as the Wrangler install.

You betcha. Same exact thing.

I've used REDARC and the MOPAR unit. I like the MOPAR for the looks, but the REDARC has a better, more beefy dial and control.

This is the MOPAR trailer brake controller in my 2022 -

Don't try this with a 2023 or older Wrangler, please - a bit over 5,000 pounds...........

REDARC I had in my 2020 -

There are electric brakes, or surge brakes. IF electric, you must have a controller. Surge brakes work by the trailer pushing on your truck and the hydraulics of the trailer apply the trailer brakes. You don't have a lot of control and if you get into a sway situation you can't press a button to apply trailer brakes only to straighten it out.
The bit about single vs. double axles, brakes or not - it depends on the GVWR for the trailer - if it's rated for 2990 pounds or less it likely won't have brakes - doesn't make it safe, just legal.
Anything 3,000 pounds or more will likely have double axles and brakes (there are laws.....)
The threshold for needing brakes is 3,000 pounds. They don't HAVE to be electric, but electric is far safer and better.
Yes, some single axle trailers DO have brakes - so check. They do exist. There's nothing saying "single axle it will not have brakes" - just that it's not likely and if it's limited to under 3,000 pounds it's not required.

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