GMC Sierra brake controller

[gduff]

We just bought a GMC Sierra 2500 I hooked our 27FB Classic and noticed that the output signal to the trailer was dashes. In the owners manual it indicated that the controller only worked with electric breaks. Has anybody used an after market break controller on their 2012 GMC Sierra 2500?

[Midnightmoon]

I don't have a specific link for info for you, but many have added the MaxBrake electric/hydralic brake controller instead of the factory offering. I personally love it in my Dodges.

[phbarnhart]

My understanding is that if you've got disc brakes the built-in brake controller won't work. I will say that the one that came built into my 2012 Suburban 2500 (probably the same as in your truck) works just fine with my trailer with it's drum brakes.

If/when I upgrade the brakes to discs I'll be bypassing the factory unit for the Tekonsha P3 that I took out of my old Suburban. It's definitely doable but it's probably complicated for someone (like me) without the requisite technical knowledge. I plan on having the hitch/towing shop do the installation.

[AirsDream]

?? yes, since it's electric, it only works with electric brakes. Not e.g. mechanical / hydraulic "surge" brakes, etc. And as noted above, some have reported issues with Kodiak disk brakes. If you have disk brakes, there is some sort of a workaround for this; do some searching. My GMC Sierra 2500 brake controller works great with my (drum, electric) brakes. The really nice thing about it is that the controller reads brake master cylinder pressure, which translates to it reading actual brake pedal pressure, so it "knows" what you are wanting to do, rather than reading deceleration and "knowing" what you actually ARE doing.