Thread: Towing a trailer

Gain refers to how quickly your trailer brakes come on when you step on the brake pedal. A low amount of gain means they will activate gradually over several seconds. A high amount of gain means they will activate quicker over a shorter amount of time. You can tailor this to your driving style and traffic conditions. If you stop quickly such as in heavy traffic you might want more gain. If you tend to drive more cautiously and come to stops gradually then you might not need as much gain.

I think most people prefer a higher gain because it feels safer when you come to a stop due to the trailer brakes activating pretty quickly. A low gain setting can cause the driver to feel a delay in the trailer brakes activating which makes it seem like the whole vehicle-trailer combo isn't going to come to a stop. Consequently people step on the brake harder to stop the vehicle which can also wear out the tow vehicle's brakes more quickly.

Most brake controllers also have a level adjustment meaning how much voltage is applied to the brakes. Some trailer brakes are sensitive to a lower amount of voltage to activate fully, others need more voltage to activate fully... Hence the level adjustment.

Both gain and level settings will also depend on whether your trailer is loaded or empty. If your locking up the tires on the trailer when you stop you have to much gain or level. Obviously with less weight in the trailer it's easier to do, hence the need to change the settings.

The "two bars" and brackets on your trailer are what is known as a weight distribution hitch. Basically, when the two bars are placed up on those brackets on your trailer frame it transfers weight to the front tires of your truck, thereby reducing the weight the rear axle is carrying and transferring some of it to the front axle. This also has the effect of making your truck level while driving (not weighed down in the back with the front tires barely on the ground). Picture it like the two arms of a wheelbarrow. when you pick up the wheel barrow all the weight is spread between your arms (the rear drive axle of your truck) and the front tire of the wheelbarrow (the front axle of your truck).

Also the friction of those bars on the brackets offers some stabilization from trailer sway while driving. You probably won't have sway, which is often a result of improper loading of the trailer, because it is hard to do in the case of horses since they pretty much can only stand in one place, one way and they are evenly spread over the axles of the trailer.

Let me know if you have other questions.

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Originally Posted by 408Stang

Gain refers to how quickly your trailer brakes come on when you step on the brake pedal. A low amount of gain means they will activate gradually over several seconds. A high amount of gain means they will activate quicker over a shorter amount of time. You can tailor this to your driving style and traffic conditions. If you stop quickly such as in heavy traffic you might want more gain. If you tend to drive more cautiously and come to stops gradually then you might not need as much gain.

I think most people prefer a higher gain because it feels safer when you come to a stop due to the trailer brakes activating pretty quickly. A low gain setting can cause the driver to feel a delay in the trailer brakes activating which makes it seem like the whole vehicle-trailer combo isn't going to come to a stop. Consequently people step on the brake harder to stop the vehicle which can also wear out the tow vehicle's brakes more quickly.

Most brake controllers also have a level adjustment meaning how much voltage is applied to the brakes. Some trailer brakes are sensitive to a lower amount of voltage to activate fully, others need more voltage to activate fully... Hence the level adjustment.

Both gain and level settings will also depend on whether your trailer is loaded or empty. If your locking up the tires on the trailer when you stop you have to much gain or level. Obviously with less weight in the trailer it's easier to do, hence the need to change the settings.

The "two bars" and brackets on your trailer are what is known as a weight distribution hitch. Basically, when the two bars are placed up on those brackets on your trailer frame it transfers weight to the front tires of your truck, thereby reducing the weight the rear axle is carrying and transferring some of it to the front axle. This also has the effect of making your truck level while driving (not weighed down in the back with the front tires barely on the ground). Picture it like the two arms of a wheelbarrow. when you pick up the wheel barrow all the weight is spread between your arms (the rear drive axle of your truck) and the front tire of the wheelbarrow (the front axle of your truck).

Also the friction of those bars on the brackets offers some stabilization from trailer sway while driving. You probably won't have sway, which is often a result of improper loading of the trailer, because it is hard to do in the case of horses since they pretty much can only stand in one place, one way and they are evenly spread over the axles of the trailer.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

*on my knees bowing* thank you so very much. Thank you for taking the time to explain it and doing so in terms that I can understand.


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