Troubleshooting Brake Controller Install Where Acts Like Gas is Running Out
Updated 09/10/2025 | Published 08/30/2025
Question:
The Reliacne tow brake was just installed at Bish’s camper sales to connect to my 2025 Jayce 170XQ camper. Approximately 3000 pounds. The truck is a 2005 Ford F150. The truck now chugs like it is running out of gas, but it is 3/4 full. The truck runs fine without the trailer. Is the cause in the new tow brake? Does it need to be calibrated some how ? They, Bish’s, checked the connections, but the said they had some issues finding a power lead. Eventually they said it was fixed. Suggestions?
asked by: Terry
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Expert Reply:
Hey Terry, that is a really odd problem to have that I would not anticipate the brake controller being the problem for but crazier things have happened. I would try unplugging the brake controller from the harness that plugs into the back of it and then try towing the trailer and see if the chugging problem is still there. If it goes away try plugging it back in and seeing if that brings it back.
Was the controller hardwired to the truck? If so find out where the black wire is connected as it should run to the positive battery post. It's a longshot but that could be the problem.
Terry
9/10/2025
I took the truck back to Bish’s and they said it was their mistake. The replaced the controller with another one and it seems to have solved the problem, knock on wood, but I will be traveling to Kansas City on Friday with both the truck in question and the camper we recently had purchased. I took it on a test drive over 50-miles today to see if there was any reoccurrence of the events. I am not going to take the issue as being totally fixed until after the trip.