Car jerks when letting off brake

[oyarsa]

We are heading on our maiden voyage!

I have a 2012 Toyota Sequioa pulling a 2017 Bullet 247BHSWE. I of course have a brake controller installed, but I'm struggling with getting it properly adjusted. The car is jerking a lot when I let off the breaks. This is particularly annoying in town. If I lower the gain, I can get rid of the jerking, but at that low the trailer breaks don't feel like they're doing much. If I just use the paddle it doesn't slow us down very well. I've tried adjusting the sync, which seemed to help, but only modestly.

Should I expect it to be smooth when releasing the break, or just get used to the jerking?

[time2roll]

Reese Brakeman can be several different including timed and digital.
Need the actual model number but I think you will soon be looking at a Prodigy P2 or P3.

[temccarthy1]

oyarsa wrote:
That's what I did, but wasn't sure if that was advisable.

It's a Reese Brakeman controller. I have a feeling it's about as cheap as they come since it was included in the purchase price of the trailer.

That is the exact same kind I had in my previous TV. Installed by the RV dealership and included-- But it is a decent controller. Try what I mentioned and I think you will be pleased. My current TV was purchased last year and being a 2013 Expedition vs the old one which was a 1997, the new one has a built in controller and I don't get the jerking motion at slow speeds any more.

[oyarsa]

That's what I did, but wasn't sure if that was advisable.

It's a Reese Brakeman controller. I have a feeling it's about as cheap as they come since it was included in the purchase price of the trailer.

[sgfrye]

temccarthy1 wrote:

oyarsa wrote:
We are heading on our maiden voyage!

I have a 2012 Toyota Sequioa pulling a 2017 Bullet 247BHSWE. I of course have a brake controller installed, but I'm struggling with getting it properly adjusted. The car is jerking a lot when I let off the breaks. This is particularly annoying in town. If I lower the gain, I can get rid of the jerking, but at that low the trailer breaks don't feel like they're doing much. If I just use the paddle it doesn't slow us down very well. I've tried adjusting the sync, which seemed to help, but only modestly.

Should I expect it to be smooth when releasing the break, or just get used to the jerking?

The jerking you feel is normal in slow moving heavy traffic when you are constantly stopping and starting at lights. Just dial down your controller until it stops the jerking movement(1-3). It will not be a stopping problem when you are generally going 25 mph or less. When you get back to open areas and highway speeds, just dial the controller back up to mid range (5-7). It will make the stop starts much more comfortable! Try it! Works for me every time! I read about it on a blog like this! Hope it helps!

X2 on this. My factory installed brake controller on my Ford f250 works perfectly. Our 33 foot TT loaded at approx 8500 lbs brakes and feels like it's one with the truck. Honestly it feels like I'm pulling a medium size utility trailer.

[temccarthy1]

oyarsa wrote:
We are heading on our maiden voyage!

I have a 2012 Toyota Sequioa pulling a 2017 Bullet 247BHSWE. I of course have a brake controller installed, but I'm struggling with getting it properly adjusted. The car is jerking a lot when I let off the breaks. This is particularly annoying in town. If I lower the gain, I can get rid of the jerking, but at that low the trailer breaks don't feel like they're doing much. If I just use the paddle it doesn't slow us down very well. I've tried adjusting the sync, which seemed to help, but only modestly.

Should I expect it to be smooth when releasing the break, or just get used to the jerking?

The jerking you feel is normal in slow moving heavy traffic when you are constantly stopping and starting at lights. Just dial down your controller until it stops the jerking movement(1-3). It will not be a stopping problem when you are generally going 25 mph or less. When you get back to open areas and highway speeds, just dial the controller back up to mid range (5-7). It will make the stop starts much more comfortable! Try it! Works for me every time! I read about it on a blog like this! Hope it helps!

[Terryallan]

oyarsa wrote:
We are heading on our maiden voyage!

I have a 2012 Toyota Sequioa pulling a 2017 Bullet 247BHSWE. I of course have a brake controller installed, but I'm struggling with getting it properly adjusted. The car is jerking a lot when I let off the breaks. This is particularly annoying in town. If I lower the gain, I can get rid of the jerking, but at that low the trailer breaks don't feel like they're doing much. If I just use the paddle it doesn't slow us down very well. I've tried adjusting the sync, which seemed to help, but only modestly.

Should I expect it to be smooth when releasing the break, or just get used to the jerking?

sounds like you either have a Voyager Brake controller, or you have the gain set too high. The Voyager does a good job, and is NOT time based. but does jerk at low speeds as it does not release the TT brakes until you release the pedal.

A better controller, such as a Prodigy will release the TT brakes when it "feels" the TV has stopped, and there is no jerk.

And just because you don't "feel" the Tt brakes come on. that doesn't mean they are not working. Properly adjusted you will not feel them come on. The Tt, and TV will stop as one, IF you have a good controller. Most time. Many RV dealers will install Voyagers, because they do the job, but are much cheaper than a Prodigy.

[beemerphile1]

What controller?

Lots of us started out with timer type controllers and switched to the pricier progressive controllers to eliminate jerking.

[ScottG]

If this is a new trailer and it has always done it, the axle(s) may be installed backwards. They can be very grabby going backwards.
It's happened before on the forum.

[SoundGuy]

oyarsa wrote:
Should I expect it to be smooth when releasing the break, or just get used to the jerking?

What brake controller? If it's time based then no wonder it jerks but a properly adjusted inertia based controller such as a Tekonsha P2 or P3 shouldn't.