My son bought a new Ford F-250 with the tow package. He says when he brakes the truck, it doesn't feel like the trailer is braking. But he can feel the trailer brake if he uses the manual switch. The dealer says that if the manual is working, the foot brake should also be braking the trailer because they use the same wiring. Otherwise the problem is in the trailer, which is also less than a year old.Any thoughts?

My first though is, the brake controller needs to be set to a higher "gain". Have him max it out on #10 once and try the brakes. See if he feels the trailer jerk to stop then?

If he uses the manual switch and the trailer brakes work, then the trailer brakes are good. If it then doesn't work when using the foot brake, it's the truck/controller.I think dealers hate to work on these things because they aren't accustomed to them.

I think your dealer has it backwards.If the trailer brakes work on manual, the trailer wiring is working properly as the trailer wiring doesn't know if it's the pedal or the switch activating the brakes (same wires from the plug to the trailer brakes).Far more likely is it's in the truck as there are separate wires from the pedal to the controller vs the manual switch to the controller.Update: checking the gain is a good first check. The wiring might be just fine but if the gain is turned way down, you won't feel the brakes grab.

My controller has 2 additional ways of controlling how sensitive the brakes work.

Hi.. is the brake controller intergrated in the truck? If it is go into the system brake menu and determine what it is set on /light trailer, heavy trailer, should be a scale 1 to 10 for each. Set it up to where you can get he brakes to grab.. I go 10mph. You then back down the setting, to where you get a soft smooth stop. I really do not think the dealer.like to work with this stuff. Jim2007

trailer not braking when I hit the brakes | Good Sam Community

valhalla360
Navigator
Jun 15, 2017
I think your dealer has it backwards.

If the trailer brakes work on manual, the trailer wiring is working properly as the trailer wiring doesn't know if it's the pedal or the switch activating the brakes (same wires from the plug to the trailer brakes).

Far more likely is it's in the truck as there are separate wires from the pedal to the controller vs the manual switch to the controller.

Update: checking the gain is a good first check. The wiring might be just fine but if the gain is turned way down, you won't feel the brakes grab.
ScottG
Nomad
Jun 15, 2017
If he uses the manual switch and the trailer brakes work, then the trailer brakes are good. If it then doesn't work when using the foot brake, it's the truck/controller.
I think dealers hate to work on these things because they aren't accustomed to them.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jun 15, 2017
My first though is, the brake controller needs to be set to a higher "gain". Have him max it out on #10 once and try the brakes. See if he feels the trailer jerk to stop then?

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trailer not braking when I hit the brakes

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