Travel trailer in snow- Break controler setting

maddawg46 wrote:
If you don't have chains, and you get caught in the snow, is it better to lower your brake control setting? I would think you would want less breaking in the rear if there is snow on the road.

I towed in snow and just left them the same. I you lessen them, the trailer will push the rear of the TV around.

Just an FYI towing an pass in the left coast in winter without chains, you may be looking at ticket. My TV and 5er both have chains year round, no need to hunt down in the fall.

If you have a real brake controller, like the factory controllers, your foot determines braking power. You determine how much braking is needed.

An aftermarket controller will not be controlled by the driver. Brakes lights turn on a bit of braking. Whatever else happens as you attempt to stop is anyone's guess.

If you must tow in ice or snow without chains, lower the trailer brake setting. You do not want the trailer brakes to lock up. A sliding tire has much less traction than a rolling tire. And sliding trailer tires is a good way to have the trailer try to pass you.

I would rather have all the wheels attempting to brake rather than just the tow vehicle, so the controller should be set the same or slightly higher in slick conditions to allow the rear to drag more and straighten things out. If you're locking up the trailer, you are driving too fast or braking too hard. This contradicts the previous post but you need to find what works for your driving style and terrain.

I would disconnect sway control on your hitch in slick weather so the trailer tracks the vehicle movement better instead of fighting it. Since you will not be going fast, there is no worry about sway until the conditions are better and your speed increases.

Lynnmor wrote:
If you have a real brake controller, like the factory controllers, your foot determines braking power. You determine how much braking is needed.

An aftermarket controller will not be controlled by the driver. Brakes lights turn on a bit of braking. Whatever else happens as you attempt to stop is anyone's guess.

I have disagree with the aftermarket description. You can have time or inertia based controllers on modern vehicles. Older vehicles could actually tie into the hydraulic lines.

Given a choice, I prefer the OEM controllers that modify output based on ABS and stability input from the tow vehicle (my last two were OEM), but there are some good inertia controllers for those that did not buy a tow vehicle with the OEM option.

I leave everything the same and slow down. The majority of the time you won't need your brakes unless you are driving too fast for conditions. I down shift even on flat roadways if I'm not slowing fast enough.

rhagfo wrote:
Just an FYI towing an pass in the left coast in winter without chains, you may be looking at ticket. My TV and 5er both have chains year round, no need to hunt down in the fall.

Tell me more about chains on the trailer? I've seen this mentioned on this forum several times, but find no reference to it "on the web" other than chaining huge commercial tractor-trailers.

I tow in snow a lot here in Ontario going winter camping. Have the Ford integrated controller and leave it on the same setting all the time. Never had issue with rig passing me, jackknifing or anything else.

As usual drive for conditions and stay OFF the brakes as much as possible. Chains are not an option unless in Northern Ontario.

If you are towing a trailer on ice or snow I would not recommend downshifting to slow down. I would even think you would want to disengage an engine brake in such a situation.

With a controller such as the Prodigy I would also remove brake boost.

I towed in a couple inches of very heavy snow once but never again. I am retired so if such a situation were to happen again I will spend how many nights required in the closest Motel.

As for chains I believe they are required in most of the Western states both on the TV and trailer.

GordonThree wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Just an FYI towing an pass in the left coast in winter without chains, you may be looking at ticket. My TV and 5er both have chains year round, no need to hunt down in the fall.

Tell me more about chains on the trailer? I've seen this mentioned on this forum several times, but find no reference to it "on the web" other than chaining huge commercial tractor-trailers.

On the west coast, you typically have to have one braking axle wheel chained (sometimes called a drag chain). This is so that when you apply tow vehicle brakes, the trailer has sufficient grip to not lock up the braking axle and have the trailer attempt to pass or push you. I carry a set of chains for the tow vehicle and set of cables for my trailer. Traveling mountain passes in my area requires you carry chains November 1st through April 1st.

WA - http://www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/docs/cvd/chainbw.pdf
OR - https://tripcheck.com/Pages/minimum-chain-requirements.asp