Integrated Brake Controller, Hydraulic Brakes and Trailer Wiring for Boat Trailer

Question

Question:

I have a 2008 Ford F-250 with an integrated brake controller. I also have a boat trailer with hydraulic brakes. I know the brake controller does not work with hydraulic brakes and I know that I do not really need a brake controller with hydraulic brakes. My question is whether it is a problem having the trailer plugged into the 7 pin socket so the lights will work using a 5 pin to 7 pin adapter when the brake controller is not compatible with the trailer brakes or do I need to do something to disable to integrated electric brake controller.

asked by: Doug C

0

Expert Reply:

If your boat trailer has a mechanical surge actuator coupler like # DM72VR then no trailer brake controller is required. The inertia of the trailer moving forward provides the compression to push hydraulic fluid to the brakes.

If on the other hand you have an EOH system, electric-over-hydraulic, such as with an actuator like # HBA-12 for drum brakes or # HBA16 for disc brakes, then you DO still need a trailer brake controller to deliver the electrical signals to the actuator, which then converts those signals to hydraulic pressure for the brakes.

Some OEM brake controllers are not compatible with EOH systems. Better aftermarket units like the Prodigy P2 # 90885 and P3 # 90195, as well as some others, DO include an operating mode specifically for EOH actuators. This special operating mode is required since standard electric brakes and EOH actuators present very different electrical loads to brake controllers. Some do not play well with each other.

In terms of the trailer lights all of your trailer lighting signals will still reach the trailer connector on the vehicle. If you have a surge coupler such as # T43397007K you can add a reverse lockout # T4748800 then this will require a reverse light signal from the truck to activate the reverse lockout solenoid that prevents the brakes from engaging when you back up the trailer. In the standard wiring configuration (see photo please) the reverse light signal is carried on the center contact of the 7-way. You can use adapter # HM47570 in the truck's 7-way to give you a 5-pole flat connector option.

If you want to avoid using adapters you can install a 7-way plug and junction box on the trailer, such as # HS381-9000. This includes a 7-way plug that can directly join the truck socket and the junction box allows you to easily connect the trailer wiring.

expert reply by: Adam R

0

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Answer 1

Aluminum trailer frames or bodies can cause grounding issues so I suggest using a separate ground wire that runs from the rear of the trailer up to the main ground post in the junction box like #38656. You can join the ground wires for the…

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Answer 2

Wiring connections for the Electric Over Hydraulic Brake Actuator are as follows. Yellow - Cold side of breakaway switch, The wire that goes hot when a breakaway occurs. Black - Positive connection on breakaway switch, The wire that charges the…

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Answer 3

Hey Jeremy, Typically with boat trailers the manufacturer will install hydraulic surge brakes because you don't have to worry about the water damaging wires like you would with electric brakes. That being said, if you use a heat shrink butt…

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Answer 4

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 5

Traditionally, trailer manufacturers did not use electric brakes on boat trailers because the brake magnet wiring and trailer wiring did not always have the best insulation or water protection. These days, more and more manufacturers are using…

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Answer 6

The first thing I would do is check for power. Using a circuit tester like #PTW2993 check to see if 12V power is running to the #HS381-8066 when you use your manual override on the brake controller. If you have power here and no brakes it is likely…

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Answer 7

There really isn't a particular maximum trailer weight that is used to determine when brakes need to be added to both axles of a tandem axle setup. While I do still recommend checking your local laws, I am also not aware of any general laws…

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Answer 8

The only difference in the Demco Channel Tongue Trailer Couplers #DM16080-95 and #DM15931-95 is going to be the bolt pattern. One will have the 5-Bolt hole pattern and the other is going to have 4-Bolt holes. I have included images below showing…

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Integrated Brake Controller, Hydraulic Brakes and Trailer Wiring for Boat Trailer

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