Brake Controller Recommendation for Towing Multiple Trailers that Has Presets

Updated 09/17/2024 | Published 09/18/2024

Question:

Have a similar situation regarding doubles but the issue I'm having is, my fifth wheel requires higher brake gain 7.5 - 8.5 and my second trailer requires 3.5 when towed alone. When the second trailer is hooked behind my fifth wheel and trailer brake gain set to the fifth wheel settings it causes the trailer brakes to lock up on the second trailer. Is there a resistor or something I can install on the second trailer to adjust the brake gain down?

asked by: Dave J

Expert Reply:

Hey Dave, in a situation like this your best option would be a brake controller that has multiple trailer presets so you can pick quickly switch between the two settings your two trailers require. For that you would want the Prodigy P3 part # 90195 which is also widely considered to be the best and most reliable controller available.

There isn't any type of resistor you could wire in to your brake output circuit that would allow you to be able to run the same settings on both.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Dave J.

9/17/2024

Thanks Jameson but I don't believe this would solve my issue as the prodigy unit recommend would still send the same brake gain to both trailers while pulling doubles. This would cause the same issues as I currently have that one trailer requires significantly more brake gain than the other thus locking up one trailer while properly braking the other only while pulling both trailers at the same time(doubles). I need a way to change the brake gain on the second trailer, turning the brake gain down while pulling doubles.

Jameson C.

9/17/2024

@DaveJ Ohh gosh I am sorry I totally missed what you were saying. Now what I would do is check the wiring on both trailers that runs to the brake assemblies. If the trailer with weak braking has lighter gauge wiring that would be what I would try changing. I'd go to 10 gauge wire like # 10-1-1 which we offer for by the foot. Other thing to check is the adjustment of the brake assemblies. I would see if you could tighten the weaker assembly brakes to get them to activate stronger.