Electric trailer brakes

[1971ford]

Thanks guys! Looks like i'll be installing this bad boy
http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/sho ... ey-phantom

[basketcase0302]

Ryan,
That is a nice one, and I think having to not be leveled was on my priorities list for one.

[champdog]

My Dad had a break controller that was hooked to the one of the break lines. That what thats what told the controller how much voltage to apply. So what makes the new ones work with no electronics and no beak pressure. Just inertia. Im kinda skeptical. Am I correct on how that works. Or am I missing something. Champdog

[Thunderfoot]

My Dad had a break controller that was hooked to the one of the break lines. That what thats what told the controller how much voltage to apply. So what makes the new ones work with no electronics and no beak pressure. Just inertia. Im kinda skeptical. Am I correct on how that works. Or am I missing something. Champdog

Yep, just inertia... The old ones use a pendulum and you have to set them to level to work right, this is a problem as your truck is never the same level (up / down hills) so you end up having to much break or not enough and I always had problems with them surging too... The new ones with the electronic inertia sensors (new technology) work great and don't have any of the problems the old pendulum ones had, they work as good as the old hydraulic ones that tied into the brake lines like you were talking about.

[ToughOldFord]

Champdog's referring to the old controllers pre-electronic. You put a 'T' in your brake line in front of the master cylinder and hooked a line to it and ran it up to the controller. The controller applied electrical current to the brakes in relation to the amount of pressure being applied to the brake, so the more hydraulic brake pressure @ the controller meant more electrical feed to the trailer brakes. Personally I see these as being more accurate, but the new electronic ones are just so much easier to install and adjust.

[champdog]

Cool I guess it is like hooking up your Wii controller to the car. I am amassed on how accurate they are when I play. I can see how that tech would work great for other things. I have been wanting to put a break controller on the Truck again. That sounds like it makes It a lot easier. Champdog

[72Highboy]

Are Tekonsha VOYAGER trailer brake controller a good, decent, or bad controller.

[Thunderfoot]

Are Tekonsha VOYAGER trailer brake controller a good, decent, or bad controller.

Good!

[ttyR2]

There are a lot of good controllers out there but the defacto standard is the Tekonsha Prodigy. I sprung for the P3 which has a full display on it, but know a lot of people with the Prodigy and love it.

I'd say the current gen of accelerometer-based controllers are much safer as it's a lot harder to overdo the trailer brakes in sketchy conditions (snow, ice). Just because you jam on the brakes doesn't mean the controller will lock up the trailer brakes. It feeds just enough brake voltage to match the real deaccel rate, not based on how hard you're mashing the brake pedal.

[Tiger81269]

I'd like to add another question to this thread.... I just bought a 1970 F100 Long Bed Ranger Camper Special with 390. I plan on bringing the old girl up to date a little (since I have parts from my recently given up 2007 F150).
Question: I would like to add the trailer plug of any late model Ford F150 to this truck AND the brake control plug under the dash to plug my brake controller into (to use with my existing trailers). Any thoughts or has anyone attempted this yet? One of the things on my to do list is replace the wiring/fuse box with new unit and blade type fuses. The original has been hacked on so much it's a lost cause!

Thanks

[fordman]

newer fuse boxes can be had from the parts stores. putting a Tee in the brake line for the trailer brake can be done. the rest is hooking up the wiring for the lights.

[Tiger81269]

Thanks but I shouldn't have to splice into a brake line. I just need to attach a wiring harness into the new fuse box right? Actually I don't have a wiring diagram for the trailer wiring/brake control from a 2007 F150 (or any late model) to see where it goes. I'd much rather wire it like factory as much as possible.

[fordman]

some trailer brakes did use a brake line to the controller unit under the dash. i doubt the trailer brake hooks into the fuse box directly. what it will need basically is power ground and then the wires running back to the trailer light plug. to actuate the brakes on the trailer.

[cep62]

What the controller company wants is a power(fused) and ground directly from the battery.
then a wire to the cold side of the brake light switch .
The a 12-10 ga wire to the back. to connect to the trailer.

That way the trailer brakes have a good power source ,
and it activates when the brakes are applied.