Posted 2005-12-12 11:13 AM (#33980) Subject: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Posts: 169 Location: CA
How's Ford's new TowCommand Trailer Brake Control? Mr Truck's review of it is very favorable, but besides his test, has anyone else tried it out? Is it used in lieu of the aftermarket brake controller, or in conjunction with? In other words, with the TBC, is anything else needed for braking control?
Posted 2005-12-12 11:45 AM (#33981 - in reply to #33980) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Posts: 15
Location: ok
my understanding of this brake control is that it makes electric brakes work like anti lock brakes on your vehicle. it will not work with the carlisle hydrastar system ( electric/hydraulic ) unless paired with an hba cam. this is available through most service shops and is a very simple fix...makes the hydrastar system compatible with virtually any brake controller on the market
Posted 2005-12-13 8:16 AM (#34008 - in reply to #33980) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Posts: 15
Location: ok
feel like i need to clarify....yes the new brake control on the fords works very well....just want everybody to be aware that while it works well with some braking systems it is not compatible with all systems.... check out www.carlislebrake.com for more info on the compatibility of this braking system with elec./hydr. braking systems.
Posted 2005-12-13 11:24 AM (#34013 - in reply to #34008) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Posts: 2689
Originally written by bd1 on 2005-12-13 8:16 AM
feel like i need to clarify....yes the new brake control on the fords works very well....just want everybody to be aware that while it works well with some braking systems it is not compatible with all systems.... check out www.carlislebrake.com for more info on the compatibility of this braking system with elec./hydr. braking systems.
Thanks,
Following our private e-mail exchange I went on a browse, this link is probably most relevant to this particular question: http://www.carlislebrake.com/spec_hba-cam-controller-adapter-module...
It seems the ford ("integrated", but "optional") brake controller sends pulses.
Posted 2005-12-13 12:30 PM (#34014 - in reply to #33980) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
To answer your question. If you have electric brakes on your trailer you will not need anything beyond the Ford contoller. If you electric over hydraulic, yes you will need special add ons. The controller for Ford is designed by the same company that makes the Prodigy contoller, Tekonsha.
Posted 2005-12-13 3:06 PM (#34019 - in reply to #33980) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Posts: 169 Location: CA
Thanks for the replies. My new trailer hasn't arrived yet, but as per the spec sheet, it states "brakes--electric". If it had electric/hydraulic how would I know, once I see it? It's a 2006 3h Hart GN; haven't been able to find more info, so may call the factory.
Posted 2005-12-14 6:44 AM (#34044 - in reply to #34019) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Originally written by cinqchevaux on 2005-12-13 3:06 PM
Thanks for the replies. My new trailer hasn't arrived yet, but as per the spec sheet, it states "brakes--electric". If it had electric/hydraulic how would I know, once I see it? It's a 2006 3h Hart GN; haven't been able to find more info, so may call the factory.
You would have a noticable line item on the bill/invoice.
I wouldn't expect hydraulic brakes on a 3 horse trailer unless it has a large and heavy camper section.
Basically the Ford controller and Tekonsha Prodigy both offer a "solution" to a problem that is already removed on trailers with electric over hydraulic brakes. Technos might call this a situation of mutually interfering solutions - you're better off to not have the problem.
There are other threads on this, as I remember it at least one of them expresses the thought that the prodigy is "just too durned smart for it's own good" when hooked to a trailer with electric over hydraulic.
Posted 2005-12-14 9:52 PM (#34101 - in reply to #33980) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
As trailers progress behind the auto industry, brakes are finally catching up. In the past you had to have a brake controller made for hydraulic, if you had hydraulic brakes. The newer hydraulic actuators can be controlled by most electric brake controllers. Soon I'll have the review done of the Dexter disc brakes with 2 pistons on both sides of the disc just like a Dodge SRT-10 that I brake tested at 140 mph. In the same review will be the ActiBrake electric over hydraulic actuator and STI air ride. Alko also is just coming out with a disc brake option on their 5-sided torsion trailer axles. Glad to see Kodiac loosing the monoply on trailer disc brakes. Start saving up, driving on congested highways with a trailer is becoming the norm and we all know that cars don't give us enough room for normal stopping times. Could be time in the future were we'll have to train our horses about bracing for panic stops just like we train them for gunshots for hunting.
Posted 2005-12-15 7:49 PM (#34123 - in reply to #34101) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Originally written by MrTruck on 2005-12-14 9:52 PM
As trailers progress behind the auto industry, brakes are finally catching up. In the past you had to have a brake controller made for hydraulic, if you had hydraulic brakes. The newer hydraulic actuators can be controlled by most electric brake controllers. Soon I'll have the review done of the Dexter disc brakes with 2 pistons on both sides of the disc just like a Dodge SRT-10 that I brake tested at 140 mph. In the same review will be the ActiBrake electric over hydraulic actuator and STI air ride. Alko also is just coming out with a disc brake option on their 5-sided torsion trailer axles. Glad to see Kodiac loosing the monoply on trailer disc brakes. Start saving up, driving on congested highways with a trailer is becoming the norm and we all know that cars don't give us enough room for normal stopping times. Could be time in the future were we'll have to train our horses about bracing for panic stops just like we train them for gunshots for hunting.
I am able to set my trailer brakes to lock up at just about the point that my truck's ABS gets active.
I think the next BIG STEP would be an industry standard for an ABS interface between trucks and trailers - I think the big rigs already have it, but the dot codes/standards are inhibiting progress.
On training horses to brace for panic stops; a) For as long as possible I'll continue to stay back from the vehicles in front, I'll just keep dropping back as people cut in and try to hold my temper. b) In Plan B I would re-arrange the stalls so they all face rearwards - if anything has to slam into a wall I'd prefer it to be their butts and not their necks - chest bars are good but...
Hmmm and btw, how do horses manage panic stops in slant load trailers ?
I've never had to think about it, but getting slammed against a diagonal divider that then directs them forwards can't be good - - or is there also a chest bar ?
SOMEBODY needs to build equine crash test dummies, video tape them in action and push their trailer design in TV ads {hint/clue}.
Posted 2005-12-15 10:35 PM (#34128 - in reply to #33980) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
Reg, your BrakeSmart trailer brake controller had as an option, trailer ABS. Master Brake developed it but they are reorganizing now, and will start making controllers again when their finances are back in order. All trucks over 10,000# GVWR are required to have ABS for about 5 years now. I like ABS too, but I haven't seen any electric brakes do what hydraulic discs do for stopping power. It's like comparing BrakeSmart to Prodigy, Prodigy is good, works well, but BrakeSmart has notably more stopping power.
Posted 2005-12-16 5:06 PM (#34159 - in reply to #34128) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
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Originally written by MrTruck on 2005-12-15 10:35 PM
Reg, your BrakeSmart trailer brake controller had as an option, trailer ABS. Master Brake developed it but they are reorganizing now, and will start making controllers again when their finances are back in order. All trucks over 10,000# GVWR are required to have ABS for about 5 years now. I like ABS too, but I haven't seen any electric brakes do what hydraulic discs do for stopping power. It's like comparing BrakeSmart to Prodigy, Prodigy is good, works well, but BrakeSmart has notably more stopping power.
As it turned out MasterBrake's "reorganization" prevented me from actually buying the BrakeSmart a couple of years ago. Every so often I see they're advertising again, I contact them, they say they still don't have any units but will keep me on their list for when they do. The last time they said they would probably have to increase the price when production does start.
Anyhow, I'll see if I can find a pointer to the big rig anti-lock article that was in ooida's mag a few months ago, it might be on-line.
Obviously there's a lot of other "truck stuff", just go up the directory tree a couple of levels to find other past issues.
EDIT:
I had meant to say that I wasn't able to find the article on big rig anti-lock brakes and the development of an industry standard for the tractor/trailer ABS interface. It is possible that they don't archive every article from past issues - or that I saw it in a different publication.
Posted 2005-12-18 8:50 AM (#34182 - in reply to #33980) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
Walkin,
I had the same problem when I first started using mine. I noticed the harder you depress the pedal, the more jerking it gave on the trailer. I have mine set on 6.5 and increase to 7.0 depending on the driving conditions. It took me a little while at first to start to adjust the way I applied pressure to the pedal. The more you depress, the more braking the trailer will have. Next time you hit the brakes, pay attention to how many bars you have on the output. In most cases, I try never get 1/3 of them to light up. It is really nice, but takes a little bit to get used to.
Posted 2005-12-18 12:08 PM (#34187 - in reply to #33980) Subject: RE: Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
Elite Veteran
Posts: 602 Location: md
I thought of that way -- just easy press. It does jerk some even with a light touch and lots of notice to stop. I have a sundowner 2 horse LQ I used trailer with my 97 f350 diesel and 96 dodge 3/4 ton diesel, not jerking of the trailer. Plus I do have the trailer mainenence done each yr, packing brakes or what ever they do I have to warn any one that rides with me and they think its horrible, plus it scares you bad, all of a sudden like. Thanks
Ford's new Trailer Brake Control
