ccm14
Louisiana
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Joined: 08/26/2006
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Hello,
I don't want to seem dumb but how can I tell if my brake controller is working? We have a 38' Jayco 5th wheel that I pull with an 08 Chevy Duramax that has a built in brake conroller. The trailer dealer set the controller to 3.5 and said that was the correct setting. When I am stopping I really can't tell if the controller is helping or not. The conroller has a slide that you can use to manually adjust the gain. It was my understanding that if you move the slide all the way it would lock your trailer wheels. Mine won't do that. That makes me wonder if the controller is working at all. I took the truck to the dealer to have it checked and they said it was working. I took the trailer to the trailer dealer and they said it was set correctly. I have zero confidence in the trailer dealer so I don't put any faith in his comment. I have set the gain all the way from 3.5 to 5.5 and I can't see any difference but maybe I don't know what I am looking for. We are new RV'ers so we need advice.
Thanks in advance for taking time to reply.
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fordsooperdootydieselsmoker
OrangeCountyCalifornia
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Joined: 08/13/2004
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What brand of controller? This is the directions for a Tekonsha Prodigy. You should be able to use the "Boost" function and feel the trailer brakes grab hold. You may not be able to lock them up completely. If you have a dc voltage tester you can use it to find out the voltage to the brakes, as explained in the Tekonsha owners manual.
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benbovac
KY
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Joined: 03/13/2005
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i set my boost at 7.0 on my 08 GMC with the same factory brake controller. If you slide the lever to the right you should feel your trailer brakes slowing you down. Pushing the slide on my controller will slow me down quite a bit, however my TT is much lighter than your 5er. Good luck.
BenBovAC
2008 GMC 2500HD SLT Z71 Duramax  What Trailer?
TC 30 QBSS 06
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have" Thomas Jefferson
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Rollincool
Always Rollin
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Joined: 08/10/2007
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Easy way to test, Unplug the cable and take it for a ride. Hit the brakes. You'll know if it's working or not with a 38ft trailer behind you, believe me.
I think you're expecting it to "lock up" the brakes. That aint happening with that heavy of a trailer on dry roads.
2008 Chevy Silverado 4x4 3500 RC/LB 6.0
2007 Chevy GS Conquest Super C 6340DK
2007 Chevy HHR Toad 2LT 2.4
1990 Chevy G20 Cargo Van 305 
1967 Chevy Camaro Pro Street 468/650hp BBC 
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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Joined: 02/15/2006
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On a straight where it is clear, get the speed up to 10mph or so and keep your foot off the truck brake and only use the manual slide on the controller. The trailer brakes should come on and stop you. The gain setting should be enough to roll- stop the trailer and truck, but not quite lock up the trailer brakes. The instructions for setting up the brake controller and doing a test should be in your driver's manual (they are with Fords)
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dvdriz
Fenton, MI
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Joined: 05/15/2008
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I agree with BFL13, if I slide the override button on my controller it will stop the fifth wheel and truck. My controller ramps up the brake voltage at a programmable rate and you can feel the brakes on the fifth wheel grab more and more as they ramp up.
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luvlabs
Frederick, MD
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Joined: 10/31/2002
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First off, don"t believe anything your dealer told you on what the proper setting is on the GM IBC. The only way to set it correctly (and read you manual on this) is to take it out of the road and do a series of test stops. I'd get it up to about 25 mph and use push the manual lever all the way to its stop and see how the whole rig stops. Start at 3.5 and keep going up until the trailer can stop the whole rig without locking up the trailer brakes (probably won't be able to do that no matter how high you go with a heavy trailer). The slider does not control the voltage - you have to hit the + / - buttons to do that.
My best guess is you are going to end up around 7 or 7.5 as your setting but each trailer varies so much that it is hard to make a general rule. BTW, once you have it where you want it, take up to speed and then do a quick stop (not a panic stop). The whole rig should stop as a unit.
Carriage Cameo 33CKQ | 08 GMC 3500HD CC LB Duramax Dually | Sam the Cat and the Labs | Best wife going
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ALBE
Kelowna B.C.
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Joined: 08/30/2006
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Are your fiver brakes set right up?MY fiver is 14600 loaded,the prodigy needs between 7-8 volts and it will haul the fiver down in a big hurry.
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malibooty
san angelo
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Joined: 08/18/2007
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I have been reading that the integrated controller doesn't come with 12volt from the factory and you must hook it up. Is anyone else having this problem or are you plugging and going without issue?
2008
31' Skyline Malibu
Chevy 2500HD CC 4X4 6.0
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DavesWife
Homer Glen, Illinois
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Joined: 01/07/2008
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We plugged ours in and were on our way.
The TT dealer set it at 2.5 and gave it a test in the parking lot and said that was good, and for the most part it seems fine, but on 2 occassions the engine as revved past 5,000 rpms when we are trying to stop and being noobs ourselves we assume this is the break controller and is normal?
Keystone Sprinter 311BHS
2007 Silverado 2500HD 4x4 4.10
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