Ford built in brake control question

Gdetrailer wrote:

Nunyadamn wrote:
I think they are talking about surge brakes. Most travel trailers are full electric - magnet is energized to pull in the pad to the drum or disk. To figure out what you have, check to see if you have a hydraulic reservoir - I doubt you do. Usually you will find electric/hydraulic brake systems on boat trailers. They have an electric pump to send the hydraulic fluid to the brakes. I suspect you will be setup correctly with your truck brake controller and your travel trailer. See the setup for adjusting for electric brakes.

"surge" brakes and "electric over hydraulic" brakes ARE two different things.

Surge brakes are typically found on boat trailers and rental trailers (UHaul). Surge brakes have a specially designed hitch coupler outfitted with a hydraulic master cylinder. The coupler can move against the actuator on the master cylinder and that will operate the trailer brakes.

Surge brakes do not use or require a vehicle with a electric brake controller.

"Electric over Hydraulic" brakes is similar to surge brakes with the exception of the hitch coupler.. The hitch coupler is a standard non moving fixed coupler. This type of brake has an additional hydraulic pump that operates the MC on the trailer. The pump requires a vehicle with a electric brake controller which is compatible with the pump (not all brake controllers work with this system).

The vehicles brake controller sends a signal to the trailer hydraulic pump and the pump pressurizes the hydraulic brakes on the trailer.