electric brake question

[Piersol]

I usually tow boats with the surge type brakes. I know how they work but what is up with electric brakes. I have a 1996 2500 with the cummins engine and tow package. If I hook that up to a trailer with electric brakes am I good to go or is there something more. As a kid I seem to remember a little box mounted under the dash that had a little lever on it. What is that all about.

 

[SRehberg]

You could go, but the after the first stop, you would realize you're in trouble! The controller you remember from years ago, was hydraulically actuated, i. e. they had a brake line tapped into the vehicles hydraulic system, usually at the master cylinder. As you pushed on the pedal, the pressure increased, moving a rheostat of sorts, increasing the electrical signal to the trailer brakes. Worked pretty well, but I think due to liability problems and ABS systems, they went strictly electronic.



Now the controllers are all electronic, no lines to tap into, and the wiring is available to connect to. If you look through some of the older posts, you will see discussions regarding the different controllers, as well as a favorite, the Prodigy.



Definetly get a brake controller, and the type you use is personal preference, type of use etc. You can install it yourself, as the directions are pretty easy. Good luck.

 

[Motorhead]

If you have the tow package, you should already be wired to under the dash to hook up the controller.