Get the most from your trailer brakes
Trailer towing packages from the factory are more adaptable when you add a controller
Trailer towing used to be simple and straightforward. You’d get a hitch and a simple four-pin trailer wiring kit installed, hook things up, and head out to the cottage or storage unit — and then look for some back pain medication after your moving chores are finished. But more trailers now come pre-wired for a seven-pin hook-up, servicing additional circuits for electric trailer-brakes and/or reverse lights. And for those vehicles that come with trailer tow packages from the factory, more and more are being equipped with both four- and seven-pin setups.
The biggest drawback with a seven-pin system is that, if you don’t have a trailer-brake controller mounted on the dash, you’re not getting the full benefit of the trailer’s braking system.
Having the ability to adjust the amount of braking force via a controller allows the driver to match the trailer’s braking performance to the load being placed on it. And just like every other area of the automotive world, trailer brake controllers have taken some big steps in advancement with a multitude of models offering a slew of different features.
The first thing to consider when shopping for a trailer-brake controller is the usual mounting location. No matter how advanced or expensive they are, their common home — just under the instrument panel lower cover on either the left- or righthand side of the steering column — makes them a favourite target of your shins when getting behind the wheel. To this end, almost every model (usually about the size of three stacked smartphones) comes with rounded plastic edging on their cases to lessen pant-leg, and skin damage and pain.
This shin-shearing location is usually recommended for two reasons. It allows the controller to be mounted in a level orientation and provides an easy reach for the driver to manually operate the trailer brakes by a slider switch on the controller, as well as adjusting the automatic gain. It can also be achieved — without the need for bandages or padding — if there’s any open real estate higher up in the dashboard, such as a small storage pocket or cubby. This may involve a little more labour for installation, but it’s well worth it.
Digital gain displays are another popular feature for controllers that can take the guess work out of how much (or how little) force is being applied by the trailer’s brakes, but these units range in price from around $150 to $450. When shopping, also ask about the availability of wiring adapter kits.
These are specified by individual make and model, and can turn the controller wiring from a labour intensive expensive job into a simple DIY plug-and-play. They usually cost less than $40. If you’re an avid off-roader or hilly trail/lane climber, you can get controllers that automatically self-correct for steep grades — but really, why would you even be towing something under those conditions?
Finally, make sure your controller installation is tested after the job is done. Some vehicles will require that one or more of the on-board computers receive a software update to get things working.