Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Trailer Brake Controller

I have this TBC that was in my truck when I bought it, but I've never had a trailer with electric brakes until now. I bought a 20' 10K car hauler w/ dual axles and EBs. I searched online for Brake Master TBC manual, but I didn't find much. Anyone have a manual for this or know how to set it up and use it. It's already installed, but the brakes on the trailer are maxing out when I brake softly. Thanks!

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I don't know anything about that one, but there should be a button or dial to adjust output.

If all else fails, get a Tekonsha Prodigy.

This. If you can't find the control or the manual, replace it.

This on both counts. If you have a time based controller they tend to lock the brakes when you drag the pedal while slowly slowing down. You can turn the gain down, which slows the initial aggressiveness of the brakes, but they still ramp up over time. The Prodigy is inertia based. It has a small accelerometer/pendulum that controls the brakes. The harder you brake, the harder the trailer brakes. If you lightly drag the brakes of the truck, the trailer does the same without lock-in up. I have had both and prefer the prodigy.

I have not seen one of those for years. You should be able to adjust the brakes with that little sliding rheostat on top of the controller. Push to the right for less braking action and left for more.

What happens if your backing it up a hill?

I already adjusted it all the way to the right for 'less' braking force, but the sudden jerking when even minimally applying the brakes is annoying. I did find the 'time' adjustment on the side, and I'll try to lower that as well to see if it helps.

After looking at new TBCs they don't seem to be expensive, so start listing good models that ya'll have used before. I might install a new one just so I can have a modern model with comprehensive instructions. My next topic here might be air bags, to help with carrying weight in the bed while pulling...

Thanks again guys.

Tekonsha Prodigy is what I have in my Ford Super Duty and use it with a 7000# 14ft utility trailer. It works great.

Nothing unless you apply the truck brakes. It isn’t activated until the controller sees the service brakes on.

Both of my 3/4 tons have the integrated controller and they work fine. Before those trucks I bought a time based controller (in a hurry and didn’t do much research) and hated it. Shortly thereafter I ditched it for a prodigy and was much, much happier.

Is there a gain knob?
From what I recall you crank the gain up until the light changes then back off a bit.
Then test on a flat strait section of road at 15mph to see where they lock up, adjust
Then go on to a 35mph version of same.