Please share your Trailer Brake Gain Settings

[SYC2Vette]

I found many posts on Brake Gain and how to set properly (with several different methods) Method aside, I thought it might be useful if folks could share their settings for specific TV and Trailer so that if someone was way off with the same or similar combo they might look into why, and/or give them a starting point.

My Combination: 2018 GMC Canyon with optional tow package (includes brake controller) using WD hitch, towing a 2017 20FC.

Dry conditions level road 3.5
Heavy Rain 3.0
Long slow descent where I want more "help" from the trailer 4.0

[smithcreek]

What brake controller? Toyota Tacoma, FC20, Tekonsha P3, gain set at 9.5.

[jaybauman]

2015 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali pulling 2019 FC 30 Bunkhouse. OEM brake controller set at 4.0 when trailer is empty, and 4.5-5.0 when trailer is fully loaded.

[wulfraat]

Similar setup - 2017 GMC 2500 and 2017 30' international. Wet with full fresh water my trailer is 8,500lbs. I used to run 6.5-7.5 on the OEM break controller with my equalizer hitch, but now run 8.0 with my ProPride to create a little more drag by the trailer when breaking.

[StuartsDad]

2014 Ford F250 PS, Blue Ox SP hitch, 2018 Flying Cloud 28RB. OEM controller setting 4.5.

[Daquenzer]

F150 crew cab with 28' AS is at 8. No "hensley bump" at 8.

[AlanMcD]

2017 F250 gasser towing a 26U. Set to 3.5

[Dan and Liz]

I adjust the gain at the beginning of each trip until it “feels right.” Fairly low in town so there’s no jerk, then much higher on the highway. Modulate it down if the road is wet. I really don’t know what the numbers are ...

[rmkrum]

Ditto. It seems to require a slight adjustment on gain every day.

I do run my Tacoma Tekonsa P3 on boost setting #1 to avoid the ‘Hensley Bump” with my ProPride system. Last 8,000 mile trip required very little tweaking.

[waninae39]

Each TV, AS and brake controller has different setting

any response are totally individual

you need to test our own setup and find what works.

Also go to someone you trust the help you

Andy at CANRV in London, ON did mine and showed me what he did, how it works and why.

now i feel confident in setting it up myself

[jaybauman]

Originally Posted by wulfraat

I used to run 6.5-7.5 on the OEM break controller with my equalizer hitch, but now run 8.0 with my ProPride to create a little more drag by the trailer when breaking.

Originally Posted by Daquenzer

F150 crew cab with 28' AS is at 8. No "hensley bump" at 8.

I set my brake controller by doing the "20mph test". I've never heard nor felt the "Hensley bump" with my rig, regardless of gain setting.

[majorairhead]

2017 F250 4x4 Crew Cab Short Bed Camper Package Leer Topper pullin' a 2019 International Serenity 30 foot rear twins.....5.5 most of the time, 4.5 to 6.5 range.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

F250 and 30' Classic. Stock controller at 4. Used to run it higher per the "normal recommendations" on the forum. Dropped it back after destroying all 4 wheels worth of brakes in < 2 years.

Bob

[Al U. Minium]

2015 Chevrolet 2500HD with stock controller and 30 ft Serenity 2017 set at 4.5. Very similar to JayBauman a few posts above. Started at 3.5 but wanted a little more grab...

[AirMiles]

I ran my 2017 FC25FB at 6.0 for over 40,000 miles with both a 2019 Ford F250 and 2017 Nissan Titan XD Diesel with the same set of Michelins. That trailer had coaster brakes and never locked up the tires. Tires had very even wear and looked like they could go another 40,000 miles.

After purchasing my new 2018 Globetrotter 27', I used the same 6.0 setting with the F250 and ruined a brand new Michelin on the 1,000 mile return trip home from Ohio because of brake lockup. I guess my new Globetrotter doesn't have coaster brakes like my FC25FB. I will now change to 4.0 with the Globetrotter after a 20mph gravel lockup test. So it isn't truck specific, its trailer specific based on my experience. Here is a picture of what too high of setting did to my Michelin tire in 1,000 miles. There are three spots around the tire that look just like this making the tire very lumpy. A replacement tire is on order.

[GCinSC2]

Airmiles,

The brake signal from controller should be the same on all brakes unless you have a bad connection etc.

I think instead of saying controller setting X caused one wheel to lock up you should pull that drum and complete inspection of that brake. Or you have one brake working correctly and the other three are not.

Gary

[AirMiles]

Originally Posted by GCinSC2

Airmiles,

The brake signal from controller should be the same on all brakes unless you have a bad connection etc.

I think instead of saying controller setting X caused one wheel to lock up you should pull that drum and complete inspection of that brake. Or you have one brake working correctly and the other three are not.

Gary

Yes, I found that the brake wires on the opposite side of the new Globetrotter had slipped out of their crimp connections (one of many new trailer issues I fixed). I was therefore operating on street-side brakes only. Obviously, there's less weight on the rear tire on that side which caused only that wheel to lock up. I didn't have access to any gravel areas until I got to my storage yard near Tampa. At the storage yard, the new globetrotter locks the brakes at 20mph at any setting over 4. I could never get my FC25FB to lock the brakes on any setting on gravel. Like I said, the FC25FB had coaster brakes even though akk four did work. At setting 6, the FC25FB brakes could barely keep the rig from rolling at a stoplight. At setting 6, my new trailer can lock the brakes on blacktop even with all four now working.

[GCinSC2]

OK that's a lot more info about a pre-existing connection problem on your rig's wiring.

But for the gen-pop care to explain what a Coaster Brake is on an AS?

AFAIK drum brakes came on an AS in two primary flavors, manual adj or self adj.

[tbashin]

2018 F350 CC diesel XLT Premium, 4x4, pulling a 31' Excella at 7600 lbs. road ready gray and black empty, fresh water full. I normally set it on 6 when dry and 4.5 when wet.
I do check every day before I start out to see where trailer wheel lock up is and adjust as needed.

[Gulliver72]

Ford F-150 EcoBoost V6, 25’ FC. Ran at 4.5-6 range last two trips (22k mi). Had to replace truck brakes @ 52k. I now run controller @ 9. I don’t even think about it anymore😀. Never locked trailer brakes.