- First Name
- Jerry
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2023
- Threads
- 10
- Messages
- 195
- Reaction score
- 179
- Location
- Bergland, MI (U.P.)
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Maverick Lariat
- Engine
- 2.0L EcoBoost
- Thread starter
- #1
Help, please, from experienced tow-ers!
My trailer is a 2,300 lb conventional travel trailer. It is a single-axle with electric brakes. I towed it well over 5,000 miles with the Mav last season, with no issues other than not-great gas mileage due to the high profile. I do have the 4K tow package.
The problem for most of last season, and now, is braking. I don't think the integrated controller is applying the force it should be. I have the gain turned up all the way and don't feel much force when applying the truck brakes, regardless of my speed, either through normal application or by using the manual lever. If I'm coasting maybe 15-20 miles an hour and apply the manual lever, I only get sort of a leisurely slow-down. I can't get anywhere near locking up the trailer wheels or even an abrupt pull-back by the trailer.
I have owned aftermarket proportional controllers on other vehicles in the past and know how they are supposed to function and feel. I know an integrated controller should feel somewhat different from the aftermarket versions, but THIS much different?
Early last season, soon after buying this trailer, I adjusted the trailer brake star wheel as far as it would go to increase braking force. In a normal world, I shouldn't have had to do that, either. Braking was better (still not great) for awhile but seemed to gradually "wear off" over the course of the season.
I was resigned to this being a trailer brake problem and was planning to bring the trailer in to get diagnosed right about now. Then I had someone else tow it out of storage to a pickup location for me. He is driving a larger Ford pickup with integrated controller. He said the brakes have no problem at all and he could easily lock them up (on gravel). I don't think the difference would be attributable to his having a larger pickup - I assume (?) brake controller output wouldn't be much different on a big wheel than on a 4K Mav? (Though his may have options for boost and such...)
So, I brought the Mav AND trailer to my local Ford dealer on Monday. It is a small-town dealer with a good reputation, not known for BS. They tried everything out and said the controller is functioning normally - this is how the integrated controller should feel, and it's different from the old ones. (Whether old ones referred to the really crude and cheap time-based controllers, or proportional controllers, or both, was not stated.) Supposedly the best service guy was put on the case, and the guy who appeared to be the head of the service dept. also looked at it himself. They were able to lock up the brakes on gravel but said it shouldn't even be possible to do so on asphalt, unless the Mav brakes are also locked up (which itself is also nearly impossible). (Note: I don't particularly WANT them to lock up on asphalt, but it seems like they should be able to get close when the gain is at 10!)
They seemed to think it was normal that the brakes are behaving this way even though the gain is turned up to 10. I asked why there's even a gain control and a manual lever if that's the case, and the guy said this is because people like to feel like they have control over it. ???
My main real-world concern in all this is the truck would not be capable of significantly slowing the trailer in the event of an emergency.
I am perplexed. Any thoughts?
My trailer is a 2,300 lb conventional travel trailer. It is a single-axle with electric brakes. I towed it well over 5,000 miles with the Mav last season, with no issues other than not-great gas mileage due to the high profile. I do have the 4K tow package.
The problem for most of last season, and now, is braking. I don't think the integrated controller is applying the force it should be. I have the gain turned up all the way and don't feel much force when applying the truck brakes, regardless of my speed, either through normal application or by using the manual lever. If I'm coasting maybe 15-20 miles an hour and apply the manual lever, I only get sort of a leisurely slow-down. I can't get anywhere near locking up the trailer wheels or even an abrupt pull-back by the trailer.
I have owned aftermarket proportional controllers on other vehicles in the past and know how they are supposed to function and feel. I know an integrated controller should feel somewhat different from the aftermarket versions, but THIS much different?
Early last season, soon after buying this trailer, I adjusted the trailer brake star wheel as far as it would go to increase braking force. In a normal world, I shouldn't have had to do that, either. Braking was better (still not great) for awhile but seemed to gradually "wear off" over the course of the season.
I was resigned to this being a trailer brake problem and was planning to bring the trailer in to get diagnosed right about now. Then I had someone else tow it out of storage to a pickup location for me. He is driving a larger Ford pickup with integrated controller. He said the brakes have no problem at all and he could easily lock them up (on gravel). I don't think the difference would be attributable to his having a larger pickup - I assume (?) brake controller output wouldn't be much different on a big wheel than on a 4K Mav? (Though his may have options for boost and such...)
So, I brought the Mav AND trailer to my local Ford dealer on Monday. It is a small-town dealer with a good reputation, not known for BS. They tried everything out and said the controller is functioning normally - this is how the integrated controller should feel, and it's different from the old ones. (Whether old ones referred to the really crude and cheap time-based controllers, or proportional controllers, or both, was not stated.) Supposedly the best service guy was put on the case, and the guy who appeared to be the head of the service dept. also looked at it himself. They were able to lock up the brakes on gravel but said it shouldn't even be possible to do so on asphalt, unless the Mav brakes are also locked up (which itself is also nearly impossible). (Note: I don't particularly WANT them to lock up on asphalt, but it seems like they should be able to get close when the gain is at 10!)
They seemed to think it was normal that the brakes are behaving this way even though the gain is turned up to 10. I asked why there's even a gain control and a manual lever if that's the case, and the guy said this is because people like to feel like they have control over it. ???
My main real-world concern in all this is the truck would not be capable of significantly slowing the trailer in the event of an emergency.
I am perplexed. Any thoughts?
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