Dear Dave,
My truck does not have a brake controller. I am looking to purchase a trailer that has a GVWR of 8,000 lbs. What is the best brake controller for my truck? —Travis
Dear Travis,
I have more than 500 videos on the RV Lifestyle and Repair Club and we continue to add more every month. Last month we shot the Ultimate Towing Class and one of the chapters covered auxiliary brake controllers.
Our main towing vehicle was a 2025 Ford F150, which had a towing package and built-in brake controller, which was easy to set up. However, my 2016 Chevrolet Silverado did not have a built-in brake controller, and I had to choose the brand and how I wanted to mount it. And yes, I do need a brake controller; otherwise, there will be no activation to the trailer brakes and my truck must absorb the entire deceleration force!
Types of brake controllers available
There are two types of trailer brake controllers: proportional and time-delay models.
Proportional controllers apply the brakes gradually or “proportionally” as needed during the braking process, similar to how you apply pressure to the brake pedal. These are recommended for heavier loads to reduce locking up the trailer wheels. It uses an internal accelerator to provide a smoother braking application.
Time-delayed controllers apply a predetermined activation set by the “gain” on the controller. This is designed for lighter trailers with one or two axles. They are much less expensive and can be mounted just about anywhere.
Mounting options
The traditional brake controllers are mounted under the dash with the wiring connected to the harness. These typically require drilling into the dash for installation. That is tricky with hidden components behind the dash, and some trucks have airbags located underneath. I felt it was bulky and hard to reach under to manually activate.
Dash mounted controllers have the main module hidden underneath the dash and the control knob on the dash. Installation is a little more complex and requires drilling a hole in the dash for the knob, although there are some stick-on versions available.
Trailer-mounted controllers are just what they seem—mounted to the trailer. Some of these are hardwired to the trailer wiring system, while others are wireless and simply plug into the 7-pin connection. Some of these have a wireless remote for the controller.
Wireless brake controllers, as mentioned, are plugged into the 7-pin connection and use Bluetooth technology on a smartphone. I used the CURT Echo® controller, as CURT has been working with us on the Ford Towing Bootcamp and will be assisting with training components in our next location.
After researching the Echo, I found it had some of the highest reviews. Several companies such as etrailer.com raved about the product and about it being the easiest to install. Here is etrailer.com’s review:
The Curt Echo is perhaps the easiest brake controller on the market to install. Simply plug the unit in between your 7-way trailer connection, download the mobile app to your smartphone, and pair your devices using Bluetooth. No crimping, splicing, or other alterations necessary, provided you already have a vehicle with a 7-way plug (if you don’t, you can add one).
Installation
This is one of the easiest installs I have found, with basically a plug-and-play application. The only difficult part was getting this old brain to figure out how to download the app! Keep in mind, I still have 12:00 blinking on my VCR!
I plugged the module in and used the strap to secure it to the lift-up tab on my 7-pin connection. Then I downloaded the app, but could not get it to sync. Then I remembered the 12V Aux wire had a blown fuse which I found when picking up the trailer and the electric jack would not work! A new 30-amp fuse and—TA-DA—there it is.
After entering the truck into the app, I connected the trailer, gave it a name, and set my desired gain.
This is one of the easiest installations I have had—no wiring, drilling, or crawling under the dash. And I can add different trucks and trailers. You can find it on Amazon here.
You might also enjoy these posts from Dave
- What is the ’60/40 rule’ for towing a trailer? Should I use it? How?
- With different truck towing capacities listed online, which is correct?
- How do you determine proper truck towing capacity? Part 1
- How do you determine proper truck towing capacity, Part 2: Just the facts, Ma’am
- What is the best backup camera when towing a travel trailer?
DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,000 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
RVDT2752
The Subaru Ascent comes with the wiring harness preinstalled for the not-included brake controller. Okay, where do you mount the controller for easy access? There is a fuse access panel just below a set of function control buttons to the driver’s left (near the door). Perfect! Even better, the plastic panel securely snaps into place. A replacement was inexpensive. The controller uses a quick clip to attach to the harness. The controller mount is mounted to the fuse access panel. I pop out the smooth panel, pop in the panel with the controller. Done that fast. At the end of the trip, I swap the smooth panel back in place and store the controller in the console between the front seats.
I have the Echo controller, which works well for me with my dual axle TT and 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500. Two negatives: the rubber securing strap is somewhat fragile. I use a Velcro strap on the connection to the truck, and another strap to the TT plug for safety. The other issue is that the connector uses two “tongues” to connect to the TT plug; be sure the tongues seat firmly and correctly or you will have intermittent connection problems.
Be sure to experiment with some short trips to properly set the gain on your app (=controller). If you don’t, you may experience some jerky braking and stops.
Thank you for the discussion, Dave; interesting and informative! Will be very helpful if we have occasion to pull a trailer with the farm truck. Have a great day and safe travels!