Trailer Brakes

Tweeter · Mar 31, 2009

I purchased a trailer with electric brakes and would like to pick it up soon but I do not have a brake controller in my truck yet. What happens if I plug the 7 flat connector into my truck and pull this trailer? Will everything work except the trailer brakes or will the trailer brakes lock up immediately?

RockyMo · Mar 31, 2009

Everything should work except the brakes, with no controller there will be no signal to activate them.

Rocky in MO

usetob · Mar 31, 2009

everything will work except your brakes, so be carefull...............

Tweeter · Mar 31, 2009

So, the brake controller sends power to the trailer brakes? I thought that the trailer brakes were directly related to the truck brake lights.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 31, 2009

Since you mentioned a 7 flat, if its the round plug with the spade terminals(rv style) the middle and bottom terminals are opposite of the 7 round plug with round terminals. That being said if you have your truck wired for rv and hook to a flatbed trailer wired to standard your brakes will be looked up until you unhook the plug. I'm just trying to be helpful, have seen them both ways, good luck. chris

45M-meathead · Mar 31, 2009

The brake box gets the signal from your brake lights and sends the power to your brakes at what ever setting you have the box set. I would go ahead and get a good box and not try to get the cheapest you can find because it will give you alot less trouble and headaches.

RockyMo · Mar 31, 2009

Perhaps this will help.

Rocky in MO

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Gary from Muleshoe · Mar 31, 2009

Tweeter

I picked my controller up off of ebay for $20.00 shipped. It is an older one but it works great. Here is one like it for $9.99. I have two of these in my trucks and not a problem.
Brake controller

Mike (WA) · Mar 31, 2009

Nope, brake lights are completely separate (they're actually a combination of right and left turn signals). Trailer brake signal comes from brake controller. Unless you don't have one. Then, nothing happens regardng the brakes.

chvet73 · Mar 31, 2009

I have had cheap controllers and a good one. The Prodigy I have now is the best. There is no comparison to a cheap one.
Buy a good one and you will not regret it. Remember your safety is what is the most important. I pull my 12,000 lb dump trailer full sometimes and the Prodigy always applies the brakes smoothly.

Wheat Farmer · Apr 1, 2009

You need to know how the trialer is wired for the brakes. If the trailer has the old small plug and then a new larger adapter, you need to know if the center plug is Brakes or All ways hot. The new adapters come in center Aux, or center brakes.

Cub n M in OR · Apr 1, 2009

Like others have said, it depends on how it's wired. And like others have said, spend as much as you can on a good controller.

Ben

rgvtx · Apr 1, 2009

I have the Mark 12 that Gary mentioned on Fleabay. I bought mine new in 96 when I bought my new Power Stroke F350. I still have the truck, and it still has the same brake controller. Not one second of trouble with it in 13 years. Back in the old days I always removed the old controller and put it in the new truck, but they were all plumbed into the brake lines back then. I finally had to break down and buy one of these new fangled electronic ones and I must admit I was impressed once I got it leveled. Simple to install too.

Trailer Brakes

Tweeter

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RockyMo

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usetob

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Tweeter

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Anonymous-0

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45M-meathead

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RockyMo

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Gary from Muleshoe

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Mike (WA)

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chvet73

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Wheat Farmer

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Cub n M in OR

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rgvtx

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