Towing our 5th wheel with our "new to us" 2008 Silverado truck with the IBC (integrated brake controller) I find that I have to max it out to 10 to get any decent braking at all. On our old truck with a Tekonsha controller we only had to have it set at 4.7 and had good brakes. Are the IBC's just not that good or should I adjust the brakes on the trailer tighter? Right now the brakes are adjusted to 8 "clicks" loose.

I've never been able to get the same performance out of the IBC than an aftermarket unit. My 13 had to be at 8 as opposed to 4.5 on my Prodigy. Now my 15 is at 10. It grabs fairly good and is adequate, but it IS turned all the way up.

Check to see if you have a trailer type selection. My (Ram) IBC has a setting in the menus to select if the trailer is light ( under 7500 lbs) or heavy ( over 7500 lbs), in addition to the power level setting.edit: forum didn't like my use of greater or less than symbols

My '08 GMC IBC is set at 7 and the new fiver stops great. My old fiver I had the IBC maxed out. Remember these don't have the same stopping feeling as the after market do. These are designed to feel as one whole unit and you won't generally feel the trailer grab. Make sure you are in tow haul mode and you will use a lot less brakes as the Allison is awesome at slowing the rig down. Take it out, get up to speed and try some hard braking to get the feel on how it works. I love the IBC on the new trucks.

Halmfamily wrote:My '08 GMC IBC is set at 7 and the new fiver stops great. My old fiver I had the IBC maxed out. Remember these don't have the same stopping feeling as the after market do. These are designed to feel as one whole unit and you won't generally feel the trailer grab. Make sure you are in tow haul mode and you will use a lot less brakes as the Allison is awesome at slowing the rig down. Take it out, get up to speed and try some hard braking to get the feel on how it works. I love the IBC on the new trucks.It does seem to work but if it's not suppose to grab like the aftermarket stuff then it might be ok. I just don't like it maxed out and I haven't loaded anything in the camper including water!! I'm going to try to tighten the brakes up at each wheel, I have been told to tighten then then just back off till the wheel turns freely, not 8 clicks. I'll give that a try. I have also been told that the brake controller is "adaptive" and will have to be backed off later as it will get better, any truth to this??.....

If any brake controller setting in insufficient after following the owners manual's adjustment procedure, then adjust the brakes on the trailer.

Chevy's IBC (integrated brake controller) setup question

17 Replies

ktmrfs
Explorer II
Jun 01, 2015
pulled my 5k cargo trailer with the duramax a month or so ago and was impressed with the IBC. Today towed the outback, 35ft 10K lbs. The IBC is amazing. much smoother and better stopping than the prodigy ever was, and I thought the prodigy was darn good. I had the prodigy set at 7 with the outback, have the IBC set at 5 and may go to 5.5 but probably no higher.
benb21601
Explorer
Jun 01, 2015
coach is 18000lbs. ibc is set at 6.5. stops better than my prodigy ever did. I'd look at adjusting the brakes. hope this helps.
beermanjoe
Explorer
May 30, 2015
I run mine at 7 on my 2008 2500HD. I love it compared to the separate aftermarket units.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 24, 2015
Our Place wrote:
...I was also told that since the camper is new the brake shoes need time to "bed in" to work their best. That could be the case because I don't even have 300 miles on the camper yet.

Yes, that is correct.

Some bedding in occurred while the unit was being delivered from the factory to the dealer, but more is required. Generally speaking, not much bedding in happens while the unit is enroute to the dealer since the transport drive is on the highway the majority of the trip, doing a lot more going than stopping.

I do RV transport and I ALWAYS have to crank my gain setting to the highest it will go on my 2009 with IBC, as well as the Prodigy in my 2006 truck (both Duramaxes)
deltabravo
Nomad
May 24, 2015
APT wrote:
If any brake controller setting in insufficient after following the owners manual's adjustment procedure, then adjust the brakes on the trailer.

Ditto.

It's almost a sure bet that the trailer brakes need adjusting.
ktmrfs
Explorer II
May 22, 2015
My trailer tires lock up at about the same settings on my prodigy and the IBC in my 2015 Sierra Denali 2500. but they are more progressive and smoother with the IBC.
Our_Place
Explorer
May 17, 2015
My 5th wheel is around 10500 lbs. and I'm currently running the controller at max or 10. I went back around and readjusted the brakes at the wheels but only was able to tighten them up a click or two. I was also told that since the camper is new the brake shoes need time to "bed in" to work their best. That could be the case because I don't even have 300 miles on the camper yet.
Charles2222
Explorer
May 14, 2015
I have a 2011 IBC on GMC.Works great with aprox.8000 tt at about 7.I do have 12 in brakes.Also works well with my flat bed with wt. any where between aprox. 2500 to 7000 lbsThat I have to adj. from about 3.5 to around 6 or 6.5.Really nice.Love it!!
Halmfamily
Explorer
May 14, 2015
Our Place wrote:
Halmfamily wrote:
My '08 GMC IBC is set at 7 and the new fiver stops great. My old fiver I had the IBC maxed out. Remember these don't have the same stopping feeling as the after market do. These are designed to feel as one whole unit and you won't generally feel the trailer grab. Make sure you are in tow haul mode and you will use a lot less brakes as the Allison is awesome at slowing the rig down. Take it out, get up to speed and try some hard braking to get the feel on how it works. I love the IBC on the new trucks.

It does seem to work but if it's not suppose to grab like the aftermarket stuff then it might be ok. I just don't like it maxed out and I haven't loaded anything in the camper including water!! I'm going to try to tighten the brakes up at each wheel, I have been told to tighten then then just back off till the wheel turns freely, not 8 clicks. I'll give that a try. I have also been told that the brake controller is "adaptive" and will have to be backed off later as it will get better, any truth to this??.....

I adjusted my brakes on my old fiver and really didn't notice much of difference, I later found out it had smaller axles and brakes than my new one. My dealer adjusted the brakes on my new fiver before we left the lot. When I pulled out I had the IBC set to ten and locked the brakes up at the first stop sign. I was amazed at the difference between the two trailers. I will adjust my brakes again after my next trip in June to make sure they are set properly after the good break in period.

Not sure about the adaptive learning. It will take a few trips to get.comfortable on how they feel and you'll love it.
MFL
Nomad II
May 14, 2015
It can vary, but I normally back my adjuster out 3-5 turns from tight, when doing brake adjustment. You should still be able to hear drag. A general rule is one turn of the tire, after giving a light spin. My Ford IBC is set at 5.

CS, yes self-adjusting brakes can be manually adjusted, and should be, at initial install.

Jerry