Integrated brake controllers

[Big_Love]

Have heard different perspectives as to whether a TV with IBC allows TT electric brakes to lock up when adjusting the voltage to the electric brakes. Some say an IBC is designed to not allow the brakes to lock up even at the highest voltage setting, others say that if you cannot lock up the brakes, you need a brake adjustment. Maybe this is different for different makes of TTs?

[RCMAN46]

brulaz wrote:

APT wrote:
No brake controller knows when the trailer brakes are locked up.
...

Sort of blew me away. And haven't heard of any trailer actually using it. Probably very pricey too.

Correct the controllers are about $1800 and you still have to convert to hydraulic brakes.

[brulaz]

APT wrote:
No brake controller knows when the trailer brakes are locked up.
...

On another thread here it was pointed out that the DirectLink (?) brake controller with their special ABS trailer module that requires sensors on the wheels (just like with cars) and disk brakes, can do just that.

Sort of blew me away. And haven't heard of any trailer actually using it. Probably very pricey too.

[APT]

No brake controller knows when the trailer brakes are locked up. All they do it output a variable voltage to the trailer brakes. The amount it takes to lock up trailer wheels varies by tire friction, magnet strength, etc.

[oldtrojan66]

sourdough2224 wrote:
My new 2014 Ram 2500 w/IBC will almost lock them up but not quite.

No disrespect intended, just curious. How can you tell that they are "almost locked up, but not quite"? thanks, david

[brulaz]

My 2011 F150 IBC will lock up the brakes at 8.5/10, but only after I adjusted the brakes. As the trailer came from the dealer, the brakes were too loose.

The IBC is way better than my previous Prodigy as it self-adjusts the brake voltage according to speed.

[camperforlife]

My trailer absolutely would not lock the brakes using a Prodigy on an 03 Sierra. Same trailer will lock the brakes if needed with my 11 Sierra with the integrated controller.

[goducks10]

My 2010 F150 would easily lock the brakes up on our previous trailer. My Ram 2500 TBC wouldn't lock up the brakes on the same trailer. It will lock them up on the current 5er if I have the TBC set to 'Heavy' for trailer weight. It won't lock them up with the manual lever on heavy. But if I hit the brakes hard they will lock. Biggest issue I have is the Ram TBC won't release the trailer brakes smoothly. Pretty annoying when in town. Or for that matter going thru a CG. I ended up buying and installing a Tekonsha Primus IQ. Works way better. Not as smooth as the Ford though. That was the smoothest TBC I've used to date.

[MFL]

exscream wrote:
I have a Silverado with IBC. The instructions actually tell you to adjust the gain until the trailer wheels lock and then back off the gain just enough to avoid wheels locking.

Yep, Ford says the same.

Jerry

[exscream]

I have a Silverado with IBC. The instructions actually tell you to adjust the gain until the trailer wheels lock and then back off the gain just enough to avoid wheels locking.

[MFL]

Big Love wrote:

Drew_K wrote:
I had a Prodigy brake controller in a prior truck and then integrated brake controllers in a prior F150 and now my F250. I could adjust the Prodigy high enough to lock up the brakes on any trailer. With the IBC on the F150 and F250, the max gain was either barely enough to lock the trailer tires or I couldn't lock them.

I suspect Ford intentionally programmed their IBC with less gain so people wouldn't use too much. You have to decrease the gain in slippery conditions and folks may forget to do that; next thing you know the trailer tires lock up in the rain and the trailer swings around.

Frankly, I think the Prodigy works a lot better than the Ford IBC. You can't adjust the gain high enough on the Ford. The Prodigy was much quicker to apply trailer brakes; the Ford has too much of a delay. The Prodigy also applied a more appropriate amount of trailer brakes. Granted the Ford IBC has sway control but I load my trailers/RV appropriate so sway has never been an issue for me.

Exactly what I have noticed in my 2014 F-250! I cannot get my brakes to lock up at 10 volts, and then back the voltage down to get a proper adjustment like I could with my prior TV. I think I will set it at 8 or 9 volts and hope for the best. The TT service manager told me that many IBCs do not allow full voltage to brakes, but only a proportional amount depending on speed and other factors.

By the way, I know my TT brakes work since the TT wheel locks up when I pull the safety switch on the tongue.

My 13 F250 brakes will lock up with any setting higher than 5, if you squeeze the manual lever. My IBC has worked just great, from day one.

Jerry

[sourdough2224]

I had a Prodigy in my last truck pulling my current trailer and I could lock up the brakes. My new 2014 Ram 2500 w/IBC will almost lock them up but not quite. That would eliminate the trailer brakes needing adjustment. It's the way the truck's electronics control the controller. I'm happy with my IBC and I was happy with my Prodigy.

[Big_Love]

Drew_K wrote:
I had a Prodigy brake controller in a prior truck and then integrated brake controllers in a prior F150 and now my F250. I could adjust the Prodigy high enough to lock up the brakes on any trailer. With the IBC on the F150 and F250, the max gain was either barely enough to lock the trailer tires or I couldn't lock them.

I suspect Ford intentionally programmed their IBC with less gain so people wouldn't use too much. You have to decrease the gain in slippery conditions and folks may forget to do that; next thing you know the trailer tires lock up in the rain and the trailer swings around.

Frankly, I think the Prodigy works a lot better than the Ford IBC. You can't adjust the gain high enough on the Ford. The Prodigy was much quicker to apply trailer brakes; the Ford has too much of a delay. The Prodigy also applied a more appropriate amount of trailer brakes. Granted the Ford IBC has sway control but I load my trailers/RV appropriate so sway has never been an issue for me.

Exactly what I have noticed in my 2014 F-250! I cannot get my brakes to lock up at 10 volts, and then back the voltage down to get a proper adjustment like I could with my prior TV. I think I will set it at 8 or 9 volts and hope for the best. The TT service manager told me that many IBCs do not allow full voltage to brakes, but only a proportional amount depending on speed and other factors.

By the way, I know my TT brakes work since the TT wheel locks up when I pull the safety switch on the tongue.

[Drew_K]

I had a Prodigy brake controller in a prior truck and then integrated brake controllers in a prior F150 and now my F250. I could adjust the Prodigy high enough to lock up the brakes on any trailer. With the IBC on the F150 and F250, the max gain was either barely enough to lock the trailer tires or I couldn't lock them.

I suspect Ford intentionally programmed their IBC with less gain so people wouldn't use too much. You have to decrease the gain in slippery conditions and folks may forget to do that; next thing you know the trailer tires lock up in the rain and the trailer swings around.

Frankly, I think the Prodigy works a lot better than the Ford IBC. You can't adjust the gain high enough on the Ford. The Prodigy was much quicker to apply trailer brakes; the Ford has too much of a delay. The Prodigy also applied a more appropriate amount of trailer brakes. Granted the Ford IBC has sway control but I load my trailers/RV appropriate so sway has never been an issue for me.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

The IBC works in conjunction with the ABS on the truck and is very proportional. I have had two trucks with the IBC and find they work extremely well. You really do not want lock up when braking. That reduces the braking surface to that small pad of rubber on the road. Best braking is just before lock up.

With IBC I set it at 9 and forget it.