Hey all, just got a new 2013 F-150 with max tow package and have a question about the brake controller. When I towed my camper for the first time I could not get the trailer brakes to lock up unless I used the controller. In the past I would increase the braking with the controller until the trailer brakes locked up, then back off a tad and be set. Even with the controller set at 10 the trailer brakes do not lock up when braking. I guess my question is do these controllers need to be calibrated or am I doing something wrong??

 

Had same problem, but after adjusting the trailer brakes it worked fine.

Also I had to move the lever rather quickly to the right to get them to lock.

 

I experience this on both my 2011 and my 2014 F150's. I've never been able to get my brakes to lock up.

I have adjusted all 4 tires to the point where they drag, under a somewhat forceful turn by hand the tires will rotate about 1.5 - 2 times. I'm wondering if I should tighten the brakes a little more, but wouldn't this add extra heat and drag?

I wonder if these rules of brake setup are based on an empty cargo trailers or should they apply to my XXXX# Jayco as well?

 

That's sounds similar to what I do. Tighten them up until I can't move the wheel (think this part is important), then back off a bit until they rotate by themselves maybe 1 - 2 turns.

Think there will always be noise from the magnets scraping.

And they'll only lock when I ram the lever over as fast as I can. Then I can actually see a puff of rubber smoke from one of the wheels. Don't think they all lock though ...

Also you want the drums to be warm but not too hot, as this adjustment is for emergency stopping under normal driving conditions.

When going down long down-hill grades, the drums heat up and expand, so I up the setting all the way to 10 and just apply the brakes gradually.