Forum Discussion

Explorer

Sep 01, 2020

Trailer brake advice

Hi

Just purchased a 2015 Outdoor RV 20FQ (4400 dry/6200 GVW). I need to tow it home (35 miles). I currently have a 2008 F150 V8 pickup which I will replace next month with a newer truck. Current F150 has factory tow package (hitch, 7pin, transmission cooler and 36 gallon gas tank) but no trailer brake controller.

I don’t want to tow the trailer home without trailer brakes but I don’t want to spend a lot of money on the truck since I will be selling it next month. One option I found was the Curtis 7pin plug in trailer brake controller which uses an iPhone app to configure the controller. Anyone have any experience with this product?

Alternatively I could have the local hitch shop install an after market controller at a cost of $300 to $400. I’m pretty handy. Could I buy a controller at Amazon and install it myself? How hard is it to install?

The trailer seller is including the WDH he used to pull the trailer so he and I will set this up when I pick up the trailer.

I rented a similar trailer last month for a week and used the rental companies WDH and wireless brake controller since my truck doesn’t have a trailer brake controller. The rental trailer towed fine.

Advice/recommendations?

TIA
SailorGuy

33 Replies

Mark_and_Linda
Explorer
Sep 01, 2020
My truck is a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado. I bought it used and later bought a Puma 25RS. I ordered a Prodigy P2 Brake Controller from Etrailer. I drilled the mounting holes in the dash and then plug it into the truck circuit board, no problem. I set the controller up myself...

On the WDH...when I bought my trailer they set up the hitch...when I got it home I redone it after I had my trailer loaded. I did have to tweak it after pulling it on the highway. I did it myself...several years ago.
opnspaces
Navigator III
Sep 01, 2020
You absolutely can do it yourself, it's easy.

For a tow home buy the cheapest time based controller you can find. The install is pretty much plug and play. Here's a $37 controller plus a $15 pig tail to plug it into the truck.

Link

Link
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2020
“I don’t want to tow the trailer home without trailer brakes but I don’t want to spend a lot of money on the truck since I will be selling it next month.”

As long as you don’t hit or kill anyone on your way home, including yourself, it is a go to drive without trailer brakes. Glad to hear you’ll be level with the WDH. Form over substance.