Arrives before Christmas 
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Use your Gen 6 or later Hydrastar electric-over-hydraulic brake actuator with your factory Ford (model years 2007 - 2008) or Chevy (model years 2007 - current) electric trailer brake controller by installing this adapter.
Features:
Specs:
Brake Controller Compatibility
Not all electric trailer brake controllers will work with the Hydrastar electric-over-hydraulic brake actuator. Some factory brake controllers are only compatible if used with this adapter module. See the following table to determine compatibility with common models of brake controllers.
| Vehicles | Vehicle Years/Controller Models | Compatible | Compatible if Used with HBA-CAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford | 2005-2006 | Yes | - |
| Ford | 2007-2008 | No | Yes |
| Ford | 2009-Current | Yes | - |
| Dodge/RAM | 2010-Current | Yes | - |
| GMC/Chevy | 2007-2016 | No | Yes |
| GMC/Chevy | 2017-Current | Yes | - |
| Toyota | 2016-Current | Yes | - |
Product worked as advertised to provide interface between factory GM brake controller and Hydrastar actuator.
Good instructions and easy to install.
Connected new module to my nj oat trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes.
Still have same issue with my 2025 gmc Duramax 2500 with electric brake controller being disabled sometimes it happens as fast as a few miles and other times it will disable 30 miles into trip. If I put truck in park it will reset and I may go a few miles to 30 miles before problem occurs again. What I read this module was supposed to stop issue.
Nick S.
9/15/2025
Hey Charles, did you verify that the serial number on your actuator is one that is listed as compatible? There are certain serial numbers this works with and does not. Based off your vehicle this is the right adapter for that, but there may be an issue with the model actuator you have.
The brakes worked very well.
Electric over hydraulic brakes on my Eby cattle trailer would not work when hooked to my 2011 3500 Silverado pickup equipped with factory brake controller. I installed the Hydro Star HBA-CAM that I purchased from etrailer. Problem solved. Took 15 min. to install.
I recently purchased the Hydrastar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuator Adapter Module for Ford and Chevy Brake Controllers from etrailer.com. The adapter module was straightforward to install, and I am very pleased with my purchase.
Just like advertised. Quick connection of 2 wires and GM controller sees the Disc brake actuator. This is in a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD and 2008 DRV Mobile Suites 5th wheel.
Great packaging and quick delivery - all over the Labor Day weekend too
Great job Guys
I own a 2022 Montana that had terrible drum brakes that I upgraded to disc. The installer told me to install this component and said that my braking would be much improved. However, this part had almost no effect. I know I wired it right, for it's too simple to screw up. My disc brakes do work, but they would not be very helpful in a panic stop. Braking was almost no existant with drum brakes and only a little better with disc. I wish I knew why. If you have ideas I would love to hear it.
Thank you
Fast delivery, installation instructions were easy to follow, nice wiring diagram. I would recommend and have found eTrailer easy to work with.
Ed
9/5/2020
Still working perfectly.
We have a cab and chassis 1 ton This part made our hydrastar basically plug and play. Super easy to install! Our truck came with a built in electric brake system and it would not “talk” to the trailer brake system. This prevents having to put a different brake controller in the brand new truck!!!
John
6/25/2019
Bought a new Dodge and it still works great!
The integrated brake controller did not recognize the trailer until I installed the Hydrastar adapter. It was a very easy installation and now the built in controller works as it should
Jesse H.
9/3/2018
Perfect
I haven't opened the package yet, but I wanted to comment on the outstanding customer service provided by etrailer. Pat C. assisted me via telephone with some questions that I had about the product and its description. Pat was very knowledgeable about the product and was able to respond to all of my questions. Pat then kept me informed of my order progress from that day to delivery. It was just a great purchasing experience. Thank you Pat C.!
Steve
1/12/2019
We installed the CAM into our 2018 Ram 5500 Laramie. Normally we have seen these devices installed in the trailer near the hydraulic brake actuator. We decided that installing it in our truck, we could tow other trailers that had disc brakes too. We just put a small toggle switch inline to be able to add or remove the CAM to the 5500 brake circuit. We just turn the CAM off when we are not hooked up. This arrangement and part works perfectly. The design of the CAM allowed for a very neat and easy installation. Excellent product one year in use.
Resolved my issue with the GMC factory installed trailer brake controller not recognizing electric over hydraulic brakes.
Jeff
9/11/2013
This fixed our problems with our 2013 dodge and horse trailer. Acuator was trying to run all the time before we installed it
What a difference disc brakes make compared to drums. Highly recommend the upgrade. Works great.
Very good quality and easy to install, a good solution for letting you use your factory brake controller on 2016 Chevy Colorado.
Albert
4/6/2020
Been a year now, no glitches and is so transparent dont even think or worry about it
This is the missing link the secret to make your truck and trailer work together. I recently purchased a 2006 6 horse trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes. I pull with a 2017 Ram 3500 the day I picked it up from the dealership they went through all the typical check list. Everything worked except for the brakes so after 2 days of dealing with the trailer dealership telling me that there was nothing wrong with the trailer and that it was all my brand new truck I decided to do my own research and thats how I came across this necessary missing link. Wired in very easy install now the brakes work great.
I have a 2017 GMC Dually that has integrated trailer brakes so I added this to my 2011 DRV and it worked great, its been a year and I forgot I even had it. Set my integrated break controller to 9 and I don't have issues even going down passes. This is cheaper than a good external brake controller and no box at your knees.
Very easy to install and get set up compared to other systems I’ve installed. The unit works very well and brakes nice and smooth. It is on a boat trailer and has been under water several times. No issues with it at all.
As a personal preference thing, the brakes take very slightly longer to start actuating compared to the other system I installed. At this point I’ve adjusted to the difference, but it bothered me at first. If I had not used the other system, I wouldn’t have noticed.
Delivery time was quick, ordering was smooth installation was simple, as of 6/1/2022 device is in staled on a 2022 Gatomade 40' gooseneck ( with electric over hydraulic brakes ), pulled with a 2007 ford f550 ( with an electric only factory controller ). it seems that this device has corrected the trailer disconnect and tbc fault warnings on the dash. I am using the original TBC. I have not many miles on since install but did test in parking lot and a short test drive. and as of now my previous statement stands. If this changes I will post a new review.
I received the HBA-CAM very quickly, however when I installed it, it didn't help with the GM Integrated Controller talking to the Hydrastar actuator. I called Cargo Towing, spoke to Wendall, who was very patient in talking me through numerous testing sequences. At the end of the testing, he sent another HBA-CAM without me having to return it to etrailer. His rationale is he stands behind his product and wants customers to be happy. I received the new HBA-CAM and had the same problem, spoke to Wendell again, had me create a test pigtail and completely bypass my trailer wiring and if the Hydrastar didn't work, he was going to send me a new one of these also. Bottom line was the Hydrastar did work with the test pigtail and my issue was a bad ground in the trailer wiring. Wendell stood by is products and more importantly, he went way above what is expected in today climate by providing suburb customer service. I will continue to use their products and purchasing through etrailer...two great customer service companies!!!
I have taken a trip from Mich
to the black hills and back. Put around 3000 mi. On the fifth wheel since I converted it to hydraulic brakes. The hydrastar actuator worked great as well as th he kodiak brakes. I wish I would have converted it long before now.
Hydrastar and Kodiak is the only way to go
Have put the Hydrastar Elect. over Hydr. on my last 2 boat trailers. This set up is better than anything else I have ever towed. Needed this part to make it work correctly with factory brake controllers on my truck.
Did not resolve the problem of the system disconnecting.
Gwendolyn Y.
7/29/2025
I'm sorry to hear you're still having trouble, Paul. Could you let me know the year, make, and model of your truck? Also, please share the model and serial number of your actuator when you get a chance. This adapter is compatible with Gen 6 and newer Hydrastar systems, so that info will help us narrow things down.
Fixed the problem with the brake controller. Now the trailer brakes work as they should. Not having good working hydraulic disc brakes on a three axle trailer gets exciting. Now they are ok.
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Clyde M.
5/2/2013
My Carlyle hydraulic system was installed on my 2008 Silverado HD 3500 dually by MOR-RYDE. The brake system would not connect to the truck when the truck was started. We discovered that if we turned the key ON, without starting the truck, that the TRAILER CONNECTED message came on the DIC. Then, the truck could be started and the brakes operational.Recently, we can no longer connect the brake system using the above method and I have no trailer brakes. When the key is turned ON, the HBA-CAM Actuator unit makes a click sound, but does not activate the brake system.