[AT] Brake controllers revisited

[Alan Nadeau]

Something to keep in mind, probably more of a consideration where there is 
salt used on winter roads, is that the brake & ground contacts, in the 
trailer connector are next to each other at the bottom of the plug.

When the brine from deicing chemicals gets in there, and it will as the 
plugs are not waterproof, it creates a current path and leads to rapid 
corrosion of the contacts.  It is not unheard of to find the plug needing 
replacement after one winter here in VT.  There is always current in the 
brake wire as the new controllers "see" when a trailer is connected.

My cure for that was to put a switch on the power lead to the controller. 
Shut it off when not actually towing.   At one point my son & I had four 
pickups used for snow removal.  All four had electric brake controllers and 
it was a little enlightening, when current was passing through salt water, 
to see the controller telling me there was a trailer attached and the brakes 
being actuated when the trailers were all at home, buried in snow.

Secondary benefit of the switch was that if we had to tow in nasty 
conditions it was pretty easy to lock up the trailer brakes if the trailer 
was empty.  Lock the trailer wheels on a little bit of snow and it turns 
into a sled which goes anywhere but straight ahead.  Such fun,,, NOT! 
Turning the brakes off prevented that.  Granted the same thing could be 
accomplished by dial the controller way down but then there was a fuss to 
get it set right again.  Our SOP for winter towing was the leave the 
controller turned off until the trailer was loaded the flip the switch on 
and go.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Thomas O Mehrkam" <tmehrkam at sbcglobal.net>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2016 7:58 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] Brake controllers revisited


> As said you will need new backing plates and drums.
>
> It does not have all that expensive but is probably worth the upgrade.
>
> Tekonsha is a good controller as is several others.   In newer trucks
> 1995 or so the cabling is there for the brake controller. There should
> be a cable under the dash.  You need access to the brake lights, power
> and have to run a wire to the back of the truck.  On my last two ford
> tricks that wire was already there also.  You can either splice into the
> wires at the connector or there is a connector kit what will plug right
> in and give you access to all.
>
> On my older F150 I had to add a fuse.  There was a wire tabled for Brake
> power in the firewall drier side.  On my 2001 F250 the wire ran into the
> fuse box in the engine department.  I seem to remember having to add the
> relay and fuse.  Available at the auto store.  Look and your owners
> manual it should have some information about it.
>
> On newer trucks th2 7 way connector is already installed and all you
> have to do is ad the controller.  On brand new trucks with towing
> package The controller is included from the factory.
>
> I think Walmart has all that is needed.  Most any auto parts will have
> the cables and controller. Or the place where you purchase the backing
> plates and drubs can be of service.
>
>
>
> On 6/3/2016 3:32 AM, Alan Nadeau wrote:
>> In the past I have used Tekonsha brake controllers with complete
>> satisfaction.
>>
>> To upgrade to second axle brakes will require more than the backing 
>> plates.
>>
>> The non-brake axles usually have the flange, for attaching the backing
>> plates, already welded to the axle tube.  If not, there will be the 
>> expense
>> of acquiring and attaching those flanges(I'm not sure I have ever seen 
>> those
>> flanges being available as a separate part).  The axle probably also has
>> "idler hubs" now which have no provision for brake drums.  The brake 
>> drums
>> are machined as part of the hub so upgrading to "brake hubs" requires the
>> purchase of new hubs as well as the backing plates.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Richard Walker" <richardwalker at pobox.com>
>> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
>> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>> Sent: Friday, June 03, 2016 1:24 AM
>> Subject: [AT] Brake controllers revisited
>>
>>
>>> A year or two ago there was an informative thread about electronic brake
>>> controllers.  Not sure how to search for it.
>>>
>>> Am moving from California to Oregon soon, hauling a lot of stuff, and
>>> need to fit my F-250 with a controller for my twin-axle trailer having
>>> existing electric brakes on one of its two axles. My last experience
>>> with a controller was thirty years ago with the mechanical kind that
>>> plumbed into the brake lines.  So I'm kind of clueless about today's
>>> electronic controllers.
>>>
>>> Any recommendations for brands and models?
>>>
>>> Also would it be advisable to add electric brakes to the axle without?
>>> So I'd have two axles with brakes?  Cost seems to be around $100 for two
>>> new backing plate kits, so I'm thinking that might be cheap insurance.
>>> There are some steep grades between Southern CA and Northern OR.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>>
>>> Richard
>>>
>>>
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>>>
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