Hi everyone,

I spent a couple of hours searching for an answer, but I can't seem to find one.

I have a 2020 F150 with a factory installed brake controller. I just picked up a 2020 Wolf Pup Travel trailer. I cannot get the brakes to lock up on the travel trailer. I have tried a different, older utility trailer, and I can lock those up no problem while setting the gain.

I have tried the following:

1. Adjusted gain and sensitivity
2. Brought trailer to dealer to verify they work. When attached to another vehicle, they lock up instantly.

When the trailer is connected and I apply the brakes or the Brake Controller, there is an ~7 second delay until the brakes are applied. I can hear the unit buzzing until the magnets engage.

Does anyone have any insight? Is this normal? Am I missing something?

Thank you.

 

I have a '19 with factory controller. It will lock up trailer brakes manually or automatically when the trailer is empty.

 

The delay is not normal. When on my blacktop driveway I can skid the tires using the manual control and it applies instantly. At speed and the trailer loaded they don't lock-up but I'm only at a 9 setting. But the brakes apply instantly.

 

If you're hearing the magnets buzz, they are getting power. You may need new mags, or a good cleaning. Check the wiring between the breakout box and the brakes. What many shops consider good working order for trailer wiring is questionable. Exposed connections corrode, and this increases resistance in the circuit. Sealed connectors are best, but replacing the connectors every few years also works well. The wiring should be replaced by ten years; most mfg's use cheap wiring that lets the copper oxidize, again increasing resistance.

FYI: The truck doesn't provide full power to the brakes at lower speeds, hence the instruction to obtain 25mph to set the brake bias. Just in case you didn't know.

Do you know the weight of the trailer? Most TT brakes are just barely strong enough for the designed weight limit. While they will lock up at UVW, many will not as you approach GVWR. If you've loaded for bear, or have replaced the oem tires with better ones, you may not be able to get the brakes to lock up.

 

Thanks for the good info.

The trailer is brand new so the brakes “should” be in good working order. I did test the trailer in a different vehicle and brake controller, and they locked up immediately. I took the TT (~3400 lbs) for a run up the road today at about 45 MPH, and still couldn’t lock or or significantly slow the truck.

I think they are working as I don’t feel the TT pushing me. I just want a definitive answer. As it is now, I can’t really set it properly.

 

Have you explored the gain settings in the truck's menu? The 2020 has different settings that a few years before.

Are you understanding, described in numerous threads, that the controller is proportional and what that means?

 

I’m pretty sure I have a firm understanding on the settings...At least I think so. I’ve tried all the settings including setting the game to 10 and the sensitivity to high. I understand the proportional aspect of it, but my understanding when I apply the brakes using the controller, that’s like slamming on the brakes. It gets full power right away.

 

When you squeeze the manual control it gets all the power between 1-10 depending on your setting immediately. I did find documentation that below 25 mph Ford lessens power to the brakes but that's only when the controller is applying them in "auto". Using the squeeze tabs speed doesn't matter.

 

The dealer can’t find a problem.

 

Can't be the trailer you said the trailer brakes work fine with a different tow vehicle.