Hot brakes on new tow vehicle

If you don’t know what hot brakes ( or clutch) smells like and couldn’t be bothered to physically check if one or more of the 8 wheels on the ground were running hot, then I would advise having the entire unit looked at by a mechanic.
And brakes don’t smell like an electrical fire. 2 distinctly different odors.

Why would you tow a trailer with bad bearings?
Why didn't you get a truck with the factory brake controller?

I carry a temp gun in the truck so identifying the culprit is a trigger pull away.
But agree with above post as new brakes need break in.

Here are some potentials =

All new brakes need to be broken-in...AKA cured and AKA bedding in new brakes

This is to burnish the cast iron and get the friction material both hot enough to 'cure' the friction material. While they are getting hot and curing, they will out gas and deposit a very thin layer of friction material on the cast iron braking surface. Best braking is friction material on friction material.

That is most likely what you two are smelling and will go away after the friction material is fully cured.

If you stopped while the brake friction material is still hot and out gassing, it will bake a high spot on the cast iron surface, which will manifest itself as an apparent vibration while braking. The Fix for that is to drive out on the freeway and NAIL the brakes several times. That will scrub off the high spot and get the friction material to get hot enough to out gas again and just keep moving so that the out gas will deposit an even coating. MUST not stop and keep going until the friction material cools down and NOT out gas anymore.



Other is like your husband thought and increased the preset of the Prodigy so that the trailer brakes engage either sooner and/or more.

A lot depends on how the new TV/F150's brake switch is adjusted. If in the best setup, it will turn on the brake switch BEFORE the master cylinder's piston is moved.

That will have the trailer brakes 'lead' the TV's braking. A good thing.