Brake Controller Set Up - Tekonsha Primus IQ

mcman56 wrote:
I'm inexperienced with trailers and just installed a Primus IQ and used it with a newish trailer that likely was never towed with the brakes active. All I did was set a recommended boost per the manual for trailer and tow vehicle of similar weights. A short maybe 10 minute ride around suburbia with a top speed around 45 mph followed. There were lots of stops. It felt OK but I have no experience with trailers larger than little dirt bike trailers. When I got back, I could smell brakes. Placing my hand on the wheel by the brakes, they were noticibly warm to hot. Could this be normal for a first time activated brake system? Is boost really a good idea or could that be the issue? 2002 Silverado with tow package, Fun Runner toyhauler, estimated 5000 lb

Did you pull the manual lever, to tell how much trailer brakes you had? at 25 MPH, pulling the lever with no pedal input should give you a pretty good jerk. If you don't feel anything, dial in some more. If the brakes lock up, Let off just a tad.

As for the boost. That just activates the brakes for a brief second. IF the controller does not feel the TV slowing. It releases the Trailer brakes. In other words. The boost just helps the TT brakes start at the same time as the TV brakes. Once braking has started, The controller "feels" the TV decoration and send the needed power to the trailer.