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This unique brake controller mounts on your trailer instead of in the cab so you can tow your trailer using any truck. You'll control your settings from the handy key fob remote.
Features:
Specs:
When you have your trailer connected and you're ready to tow, the first thing to do is select a weight setting. This will ensure that the brake controller has the right amount of power output to handle the weight of your trailer.
You have 3 levels to choose from. With a buddy pressing down the brake pedal in the cab, you'll use the button marked A to decrease the setting and the button marked B to increase the setting. On the top of the module is a red LED light that will blink to signal which setting it's on.
The Autowbrake will automatically remember the weight setting and you won't need to set it again unless the weight of your trailer changes. You can always check which setting the brake controller is on by pressing the B button.
Once you have the correct weight setting for your trailer load, you'll want to select the braking output for your trailer using the key fob. This will set the amount of power the brake controller sends to your trailer to bring it to a stop; how much you'll need will depend on the weight of your trailer. You'll want to set the braking output as high as you can without locking up the brakes.
You can use the key fob to "feel out" which setting is best for your load while you're driving. Whether at a complete stop or cruising, you can change the level while lightly applying the brakes, and the brake controller will adjust accordingly.
The key fob also puts the manual override right in your hand: you just have to press all 3 buttons at once. This will activate the trailer's brakes apart from your tow vehicle, great for stopping sway or controlling your trailer's momentum in emergencies.
Thanks to the Autowbrake's Smart Start feature, the unit will always remember your settings. No matter how long it's been, hook up your trailer and it's ready to go.
The Autowbrake unit can be mounted at any angle and in any direction using the 4 included self-tapping screws. It's best to mount the Autowbrake close to your trailer junction box, which is typically located on the trailer frame. That said, you have complete freedom to install it wherever works best for you: inside a trailer compartment, under or along the side of the frame, or inside a storage cabinet or toolbox.
Using the junction box to connect the Autowbrake wiring harness is recommended. If the junction box is not accessible or if your trailer does not have one, you can pick up our Autowbrake installation kit (3430001-JBK - sold separately) to get everything you need for an easy installation, including a junction box, butt connectors, and ring terminals.
The Autowbrake harness contains 5 color-coded wires. Connect each of the wires in the Autobrake's harness to the appropriate stud in your junction box. Before beginning, be sure to confirm the wiring configuration of your trailer. Color-coding does not guarantee that the circuit you are connecting to is for the same function. A circuit tester is recommended.
Once the Autowbrake is mounted and installed, plug your trailer into your vehicle and begin the calibration process. Fortunately, calibration is only required the first time you install the brake controller. Unless you reposition or move it to another trailer, it's a one-time thing.
Calibration should be done while you're parked on a level surface so the Autowbrake can determine what the normal towing position will be. You'll need a buddy to help you out with this process.
To calibrate, turn on your vehicle ignition and press the brake pedal down. While the brake pedal is depressed, have your friend press both buttons on the Autowbrake unit simultaneously until the LED light starts blinking. When it stops blinking, the Autowbrake is calibrated and you can release the brake pedal.
Now you're ready to hit the road with your trailer!
If you don't already have a 7-way plug at the back of your vehicle, take a look at our exclusive 7-way upgrade kit (ETBC7L - sold separately).
The Autowbrake mounts completely on your trailer so it can pair with any tow vehicle. If the truck already has a brake controller installed, the Autowbrake will detect it and automatically go into sleep mode.
Proportional braking means that your trailer brakes mimic your tow vehicle's brakes. If you slam on the brakes in your vehicle, your trailer brakes hard; if you brake lightly, your trailer brakes lightly too. The trailer's braking is in proportion to your vehicle's braking. This saves wear and tear on the tires and the brakes of both your vehicle and trailer.
Using a series of accelerometers, gyrometers, and a sophisticated computer program, the Autowbrake will sense how your tow vehicle brakes. It will then send out enough power to your trailer brakes so that they are activated with an intensity that matches. The result is uniform braking across your towing setup. No push-pull action - just smooth, proportional braking every time.
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (96 Customer Reviews)
This unique brake controller mounts on your trailer instead of in the cab so you can tow your trailer using any truck. You'll control your settings from the handy key fob remote.
After installing this controller, towing my trailer has become so easy! I just plug in the electrical cable to my truck and go. If I need to adjust the braking strength, the remote on my keychain makes it simple with just a few clicks. This is much better than the Echo controller I was using. I love it!
Buggy but works.
After installation but before calibration, the unit displayed random light flashes that didn't conform to anything in the installation or troubleshooting info. I was concerned that I had miswired something and spent a frustrating hour trying to figure it out. I finally just drove it and did the calibration procedure. The lights went out and the unit functioned as designed. The next day, upon startup to leave on a trip, the trailer brakes locked up in the driveway. Not sure why. I stopped and restarted the car and all was fine. Subsequent trips were fine.
Last week, after storage for 6 months, I hooked up and went for a test drive. The control fob wouldn't cause the brakes to engage. I eventually figured out that the fob battery was dead. There is no LED indicator when a button is pushed to show that the battery is okay, or if there is, it isn't working. Then, with a new fob battery, during a test drive, the fob still would not cause the brakes to engage, which is an important function for combatting death sway. I went on the trip anyway. After the trip, I went on another test drive to recheck the brake levels. I decided to test the fob brake engagement again. On the lightest of 3 trailer weight settings, and on the second from lowest brake force setting, the fob locked up the brakes. So, good news that the fob now works, bad news that it engages the brakes somehow at the highest level.
Unfortunately, engaging the brakes with the fob is the easiest and best way to see what brake force level is being applied. My fallback is to use a thermal temperature gun to check on brake drum temperature as a crude way to adjust the braking force.
In summary, the Autowbrake does work, but there are lots of glitches that make it a challenge to get them to work right. I suspect that lots of people set it on low, think they have trailer brakes, but really don't, so never complain. I also tow the same trailer with a vehicle with a Redarc wired brake controller, which is far superior to the Autobrake in many ways. If our Subaru could be easily wired with the Redarc, I would have.
As someone who does not typically share a review, I have to say the level of customer service from autowbrake has been nothing short of exemplary. We encountered installation challenges in getting the wiring scheme to work (trailer side battery supply for the power source) but with Carlton’s support and guidance we were ultimately able to get through it. So far the product works as expected and we are grateful to have electric brakes without needing to go through the costly and frustrating process of having our new vehicle taken apart to install the necessary seven pin wiring harness otherwise.
My trailer wiring was more complex so called Autowbrake for help. Carlton spent over an hour helping me diagnose and figure out the issue with my trailer wiring. Got it fixed and working as advertised. They stand behind their product and works amazing.
I’ve had the auto break for about a year so far it’s an excellent product I have a 2019 Ford ranger and i pull a Forest river Geo pro trailer there’s not much room in the Ranger for a break controller and I did not want to drill holes in my new truck the auto break fits perfect on my Geo pro I almost forget it’s there it works great.I set it up once and never thought about it again and I’ve been on many trips.Highly recommend it if you’re limited on space.
I think it was easy to program and I am glad to have electronic trailer brakes while pulling a 1650 pound teardrop trailer with my subaru forester that has a 1500 pound tow capacity. The drive from Oregon to Michigan had no issues. The people with autobrake are very helpful in assisting if you should have any questions. I like that the brake system does not require a module inside the vehicle. Instead it is attached to my trailer and in the event this trailer has to be pulled by another vehicle with a seven pin connection the switch over should be seamless
A very convenient brake controller with proportional braking and wireless control. After 1 year and nearly 2k miles, the ATB's performance on the road was flawless. It is straightforward to install as well.
Two minor issues:
1) I would have liked a fob with more features (ability to enable/disable the controller (see #2) and to check the braking level from the tow vehicle.
2) an on/off switch on the box. The quiescent current draw is not negligible, this drained the trailer battery once when it sat idle for too long. A workaround is to remove the fuse when it's not in use, but that's definitely a problem if one forgets to replace it before a trip and is reminded of this only when on the road and suddenly in need of the ATB. So I understand why it's not an option.
Works as advertised! I appreciate the freedom to switch between vehicles that may or may not have brake controllers installed, the fob is very convenient for testing and confirming braking strength for your load. Installation was straightforward on my Timpte 718 trailer. Be sure to check your trailer wiring - not all wiring harnesses or companies follow the standard color scheme and some trailers have onboard power handled in different ways.
Was easy to install had to buy another 7 pin cable on my trailer since some got used up in the recommend junction box for the install. Trailer inspection place never saw anything like that before, but was able to prove that it works. I do recommend instead on a brake controller under your dash.
Anyone can borrow the trailer and have brakes
Never used it , can’t find it
David
11/15/2024
Still can’t find it. Haven’t used it.
We tow our 1500 lb. Aliner Ranger with a 2013 Toyota RAV4. This vehicle does not come with any tow package provision from Toyota. The Autowbrake made using the electric brakes dirt simple. Install a 7 way plug, run power to the black power wire on the 7 way, wire the Autowbrake into the trailer wiring, calibrate, and go.
Why the Autowbrake instead of the Curt or Tekonsha wireless controllers? Operating it is as simple as plugging in the trailer. Let the black box work its magic. No apps to crash, phones running out of battery, no fighting over 12v accessory ports, and no pieces to leave in a different vehicle.
***Do not run power to the blue brake wire on the 7 way, or the Autowbrake will not function. I discovered this the hard way. My photo showing that blue wire from the vehicle hooked up is what NOT to do! The brake post should be only the Autowbrake blue wire and the blue wire going to the trailer brakes.
Instead, wire the blue wire on the Autowbrake to the blue brake wire (or whatever color wire powers your trailer's brakes) on the trailer. I used a junction box to accomplish this. You will also need lots of 10 gauge and 14 gauge ring terminals and a good crimper to install. There is an install kit I purchased that had almost all the terminals I needed.
Calibration is simple. The instructions were spot on for this. Then, drive around to fine tune the braking force for your specific vehicle and trailer. This is easy to do with the remote.
The Autowbrake fades into the background when driving. The camper stopped without drama, even during some hard stops. One quirk is the Autowbrake takes half a second to release the brakes from a dead stop. This came in handy going uphill, when I had enough time to get my foot from the brake to the accelerator. The brakes also work in reverse, which I understand is not always the case.
In summary: expensive, and worth it. It's seamless once installed. It controls the brakes wonderfully. And, it only needs a power supply from the tow vehicle to operate.
Easy installation, works perfectly. A once in a lifetime investment that will last forever.
It's an bit confusing setting it up. But once I called them and got an install tech he walked me through it. This was even on Saturday morning. He's was patient, courteous, and patient. Even called back to check on it. Once setup it works perfectly and I don't have to install a controller on the dash. Only reason I gave it four stars is because of the confusing setup. Otherwise, excellent!!
Hi,
I purchased this controller to go with a retrofit brake install on my single axle cargo trailer. I tow with an Audi Q7 and the dealer cost of installing a standard trailer brake controller was very expensive and would have required a service visit. I ordered the unit online and had had it installed by my local trailer dealer at the same time as they installed a new axle and brake assembly. The thing works perfectly. I also like the manual controller which I can actuate manually in the car while driving (stop and start) about town to reduce wear on my Audi Brakes. I am happy with the functionality, the ease of operation and the price of this product.
George W.
11/23/2021
Still working fine . I use it a lot.
We initially had trouble with the brake controller and got outstanding service. The company re-programmed it to better suit the weight of our trailer (very light for one with a brake controller). They were great! Courteous and efficient. Since we got it back we have had no problems. This is a much better solution for us than drilling through the plastic inside the vehicle and having an ugly controller inside. It brakes smoothly and is easy to adjust (although we haven't had to since the reprogramming). Would definitely buy again and recommend.
Lynn
7/2/2021
Great! Had to perform a VERY fast stop to avoid being the fourth car in what turned out to be a three car car accident. No trailer sway, perfect control, which was important, because I had to steer through flying debris. Would definitely recommend!
I've had this for about a year and it seems to be a good product. it definitely works, however the fine tune adjustments done with the fob don't seem to really do anything which is the reason I didn't give it 5 stars. I mounted it on a trailer that we use to tow a Miata or a side by side that total about 3500-4000 GTW with a 2020 Blazer. The Blazer has a tow package but doesn't have a brake controller. I didn't want to mount an aftermarket controller in the Blazer, so this is a perfect solution.
Bill B.
7/22/2022
Still quite happy with the controller. I now also pull this trailer behind my 5th wheel camper, and the autobrake is awesome for this too.
The Autowbrake Electric Brake Controller works great. After setup you can fell the braking from the trailer every time you stop.
It works well with my Landcrusier
A little thinking was required to install on my travel trailer, which is designed with a single 12V bus connected to the house battery, tow vehicle battery, and break-away braking system. If I had powered the Autobrake directly from that bus, then it would have remained powered (by the house battery) when the trailer is disconnected from the tow vehicle. So, I split this common 12V bus into two parts---with the Autobrake powered by the tow vehicle and the break-away braking system powered by the house battery. If there was some better way to install on my trailer, I did not see it on the instructions or website.
I would prefer a design where the Autobrake remote control has two-way communication with the Autobrake, displays status information, and has a hard-wire power source (e.g. to a USB port in the tow vehicle), even if the cost was higher. With the current design (button battery inside the remote, one-way communication) I am always worried that the remote will fail in sway crisis, when I will want to apply the trailer brakes manually.
Still, this is a good product and I'm very glad to not have a traditional brake controller mounted in the tow vehicle.
Very easy to install very easy to use
This product makes super sense. Put the controller on the trailer, it does not affect any of the cars computers or electronics... Anyone can borrow your trailer and they are safe!
The install was super easy. (I have a Porsche Cayenne which required the dealer to activate the power to the plug...gave us some fun during install, not autobrakes issue).
Once installed the calibration is the key...get the trailer on a flat surface...It makes a difference. Once you are calibrated it works great. The key fob tweaks the settings nicely.. My fob was not labeled but I understand the new ones are... So you adjust in the correct direction.
I did call support a few times as the Porsche gave us a bit of a headache with its power source. Support was great. They took me into super detail so I could test the wiring to make certain everything was correct and working properly..
Going forward, this is the only controller I will us on my trailers.
If I had one wish, some feature that talks back to the key fob so you know its working and what setting you are currently on. It works so well, your trailer never tugs or hits the toe vehicle....
After a year I don't know what I think of this product. I installed the Autowbrake in a 20ft enclosed trailer that I pull behind a 32ft Class A diesel pusher that has enough power that in the drivers seat I can't tell if all the brakes on the trailer are locked up or engaging when they are supposed to. To confuse the issue the trailer brake wiring was a broken mess that had to be fixed before the AutowBrake could be installed. I have only done one long distance drive pulling the trailer since installation. I need to try using the trailer with a regular truck. I will say that the website and the installation instructions could use a lot more information on error codes and what to look for when things go wrong. I am basing the rating on the fact that I can't tell if it is working if standing still and have no way to know if it is working when moving so it is really a review of my inability to test it.
I bought the Autowbrake controller last year (July 2019) when I bought my used teardrop camper. I chose the Autobrake because I knew I would be purchasing a new tow vehicle in a year or so. In June 2020, I replaced the 2009 Subaru Forester with a 2020 Subaru Outback. After getting the Outback set up with a 7-pin connector, it was so easy to hook up the teardrop & recalibrate the Autowbrake with the Outback. I've only had to use the fob once & it worked well.
Received three days after ordering. Operates flawlessly, easily installed on dump trailer.
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John
5/15/2022
Works as good as the day I put it on no problems would highly recommend. Haven’t had any issues and I’ve been on many trips. Would buy again.