Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes that Lock Up w Manual Override of Controller But Not w Brake Pedal

Updated 11/03/2015 | Published 11/02/2015

Question:

I just bought a 26foot enclosed trailer. When I hook it up to my truck and press the brakes i get a reading on my controller in the truck, but it wont lock up the trailer brakes. But when I push the manual lever on the controller in the truck it will lock the brakes. I thought it might be my controller on my truck. So I hooked up the trailer to another truck and same thing the trailer brakes grab but not very hard no matter how hard I push the brake lever

asked by: Brock

Expert Reply:

The fact that the trailer brakes will lock up with the first trailer when you apply the manual override lever indicates that the trailer brakes are probably just fine and that the issue is in the settings of the brake controller.

Since I do not know what kind of brake controller you have you might try adjusting the sensitivity of the controller up if it's a proportional controller or the ramp up speed if it's a time delayed. That should allow the brakes to lock up sooner when you apply the brakes.

The ideal max amount of braking power is as much as the brake will apply before they lock up. I attached a help article on brake controllers for you to check out as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C