A brake controller is used to apply the brakes on a trailer that has electronic brakes fitted. Some trailer use hydraulic brakes - the basic principal for these is as you brake the trailer pushes up against your truck as your truck slows, the pushing motion applies the brakes on the trailer. This makes reversing up a slight incline a real problem with hydraulic brakes as the rearward pushing motion applies the brakes! (most have an option to turn the brakes off, but this involves getting out and pulling a lever).
Electronic brakes work in a different way. As you apply the brakes on your truck it then applies the brakes on the trailer (you can also manually apply the trailer brakes with a button or lever on the unit without applying the brakes on your truck) - you could for example be coasting down hill and apply the trailer brakes to slow your truck and trailer down, without pressing your brake pedal on your truck. Electronic brake controllers apply different voltages to the trailer brakes, to emulate the breaking of the truck. So gently braking the truck will apply gentle braking to the trailer - you can fine tune this on the unit (you may decide when you brake the trailer does all the work in braking, rather than the truck).
Anyway, it is not just heavy or large trailers that have this feature. One of my smaller horse trailers also has electronic brakes - it makes for a smoother braking system than a hydraulic unit could.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SybErkRimInAL
What is a brake control used for? I have the tow package on my truck and will be towing seadoo's or a boat during the summer on at least 6 occasions. Do I need this brake control? I have the plug in my glove box that you are talkinga bout, but no brake control unit. Sorry for the dumb question.
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