I'm in the process of buying a 2013 Rockwood 2560G pop-up from a private party. The seller isn't particularly knowledgeable about the trailer, but he believes its only brakes are the emergency ones which activate when the trailer separates from the tow vehicle. In other words, no trailer brakes for normal braking. If this is true, I won't need a brake controller installed on my Toyota Sienna, though I will have to have the electrical connector changed to the seven-wire type. Or, can I just use an adapter with my existing flat five-wire connector?Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this...Gary,Elgin, TX

For just lights an adapter will work fine.Bill

Looks like electric brakes were only on the 2560G - LTDs

I am not buying that it has only an emergency brake. Maybe the seller doesn't know how to operate the brakes and maybe he doesn't have a brake controller, but the same briefs that get used for routine stopping are the same break stack it activated it in emergency disconnect. I couldn't imagine a trailer having breaks that were only designed to be activated by the emergency switch.

It probably has surge brakes instead of electric brakes. Electric would require a brake controller.Surge Brakes vs Electric Brakes. This is a fairly good explanation, even though it's written for boat trailers.

If it has electric brake away switch then it has electric brakes which require a controller in the tow vehicle.Does it have a small lanyard that connects to the tow vehicle and goes into a small box on the trailer? Would look like this: Breakaway switch and lanyard

Brakes on this pup? | Good Sam Community

GMandJM
Explorer
Aug 27, 2015
Surge brake systems use a mechanical cable or chain connected to the tow vehicle that activates the master cylinder.

Electric brake systems use a battery-operated activator that energizes the electromagnets in the wheels.

Both types can have a cable. If they're electric brakes it will have the box shown in enblethen's link.

Let us know what you find out and what kind of controller you decide to get. We liked our Prodigy P3.
enblethen
Nomad
Aug 27, 2015
If it has electric brake away switch then it has electric brakes which require a controller in the tow vehicle.
Does it have a small lanyard that connects to the tow vehicle and goes into a small box on the trailer? Would look like this: Breakaway switch and lanyard
GMandJM
Explorer
Aug 27, 2015
It probably has surge brakes instead of electric brakes. Electric would require a brake controller.

Surge Brakes vs Electric Brakes. This is a fairly good explanation, even though it's written for boat trailers.
All_I_could_aff
Explorer
Aug 27, 2015
I am not buying that it has only an emergency brake. Maybe the seller doesn't know how to operate the brakes and maybe he doesn't have a brake controller, but the same briefs that get used for routine stopping are the same break stack it activated it in emergency disconnect. I couldn't imagine a trailer having breaks that were only designed to be activated by the emergency switch.
GMandJM
Explorer
Aug 27, 2015
Looks like electric brakes were only on the 2560G - LTDs
Trackrig
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2015
For just lights an adapter will work fine.

Bill

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