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Brake controller for towing a 11,000# trailer.
What kind of trailer brake controller do you guys use to tow a heavy trailer (11,000#)?
I understand there are new controllers for pickups and HD SUVs that have hydraulic brakes which sense the amount of pressure and apply the trailer brakes accordingly.
I currently pull the race trailer with a Suburban. The controller applies the brakes to the trailer progressively based on the amount of time the brakes are applied, I do have control over how fast it applies them. This is fine for the Suburban because I can feel the trailer pulling the Suburban “back” and will release the brakes an instant if I think the trailer is trying to stop the Suburban. If I lightly touch the brakes for a long period of time I think I could probably lock the trailer brakes up.
Obviously in a 45′ Prevost I won’t be able to feel the trailer pulling the bus back. When we rented a 40′ CC with a brake controller I set it at close to the slowest setting and tried to remember to release the brakes once in a while.
Is there a trailer brake controller for the Prevost that can sense how hard I’m applying the brakes and brake the trailer accordingly?
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6 Replies
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I really doubt if there is a controller specific to the Prevost. My guess is an off the shelf controller will have to be wired in as if it were a car.
The problem with a controller as described is you do not use air brakes like you do hydraulic brakes on a car. A long downhill for example in a car might require pumping the brakes or a long steady brake application. You cannot do that in the coach because you will bleed down the air or heat up the hubs. Instead you apply brakes until the coach slows below a certain speed, release them and allow speed to build slowly with the speed control coming to a great extent from a gear reduction and use of the Jake or retarder. That means most of the time the trailer will be pushing the coach downhill. It might mean the controller will have to be located within reach so you can use the controller to manually apply trailer brakes as required.
How do others with heavy trailers control the braking?
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There are some brake controllers out there that are electric over hydraulic that work that way , the P-3 is made for that.
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Dick,
The one you want is shown above. I ran the lesser Voyager for 3 years and the P3 for the last 2.
It gives you boost, voltage, its progressive and reliable and 1 to 4 axles. My trl is 14k.
Later
bv
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I used the P-3 for 800,000 miles it’s the best for that kind of use
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Thanks!
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Dick, been towing the race car trailer(19,000#) for quite a few yrs now and use an adjustable electric controller that I can also use manually. Works like a charm even in the mountains.
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