Adjusting Trailer's Electric Brakes

   / Adjusting Trailer's Electric Brakes #1  

demote

Silver Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2000
Messages
141
Location
Georgia
Tractor
Mahinra 2810 HST
Adjusting Trailer\'s Electric Brakes

How do you adjust the electric brakes on a trailer?
I've been braking with my trucks brake pedal and adjusting the controller until the trailer tires lock on soft ground. I have since realized that my controller has a manual switch on it that will work independently of the trucks braking so I think using it to adjust trailer braking would be the correct method but I don't have any information with the controller on proper adjustment.

Danny
 
   / Adjusting Trailer's Electric Brakes #2  
Re: Adjusting Trailer\'s Electric Brakes

Danny, I think what you really want to do is to adjust the controller, not actually the trailer brakes. If that is the case there are some online copies of controller instructions that you can download. The first question to ask is what make and model is your controller. If it is one of the relatively new models, they are very easy to adjust. I have a 'Prodigy' controller and the proper method is to do the adjustment with the brakes heated (in other words drive a mile or 2 of stop and go driving where the brakes are used, this heats the shoes to an operating temp). Never adjust brakes on soft ground, this must be done on a hard smooth surface.
From a speed of about 25 mph activate the manual controller fully to stop the trailer and truck. The optimum result is an aggresive smooth steady stop in a safe distance without the trailer wheels locking up.
 
   / Adjusting Trailer's Electric Brakes #3  
Re: Adjusting Trailer\'s Electric Brakes

My control has an adjustment slide and a manual button. All the manual button does is apply the trailer brakes without stepping on the vehicle brake pedal, but doesn't adjust anything. The slide adjusts how 'hard' the trailer brakes come on when you push the vehicle brake pedal. I adjust mine by moving the slide until I just feel the trailer tug at the truck when I apply the brakes. It feels like the trailer brakes grab ahead of the trucks brakes. And this adjustment is very dependent on the weight of the loaded trailer. I deliver firewood in a 12k dump trailer. When I get to the delivery location, I actually readjust to essentially shut off the trailer brakes. At a couple of MPH, the trailer brakes don't add any value other than tearing up the customers driveway or lawn.
 
   / Adjusting Trailer's Electric Brakes #4  
Re: Adjusting Trailer\'s Electric Brakes

Danny, here is a link to a site that list several different controllers. It shows pictures of several different controllers with links to instructions for most.

http://www.brakecontroller.com/
 
   / Adjusting Trailer's Electric Brakes
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Re: Adjusting Trailer\'s Electric Brakes

Thanks Joe, yes, I should have said that I was referring to the adjustment of the controller. Mine is several years old and the name on it is Escort II Sensor.
 
   / Adjusting Trailer's Electric Brakes
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Re: Adjusting Trailer\'s Electric Brakes

My control has an adjustment slide and a manual button.
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rozett, that's pretty much the way mine is. It has sequential led's from 1 to 10 indicating the amount of braking.
 

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