Brake Controls

One of the most important "extras" you can purchase along with your trailer hitch, ball mount and hitch ball is an Electronic Brake Controller.

These small devices allow you to have electronic control over the braking action of the towed vehicle from the cabin of the towing vehicle.

They come in 3 different types...

• Proportional Brake Controls
• Inertia Brake Controls
• Timed Brake Controls

So, let's talk about these types a bit more in-depth.

• Proportional Brake Controls: This type is activated by a sensor, gives you smooth stopping action, requires less trailer brake wear and works even when there is a total brake failure or the vehicle loses traction on the road. It lets you manually apply the trailer's brakes proportionally from the towing vehicle. This is the best type of brake control to have.
• Inertia Brake Controls: These brake controls use a sensor to detect the vehicle slowing down and tries to match the trailer brake with the slowing down of the vehicle. The only problem with this type is that there has to be enough slowdown to activate the controller. In icy situations this could be a problem.
• Timed Brake Controls: This type activates with pedal pressure and ramps up with time. Until you take your foot off the brake the trailer brakes will continue to ramp up. In panic stops it takes too long to ramp up, sometimesas long as 120 seconds. By that time, the accident could have already happened. These are most economical brake controls, but not the safest.

There are over 20 of these Brake Control products made by a number of companies like Hidden Hitch, Reese, Draw-Tite, Hayes, Genesis, Valley, Hopkins and Tekonsha. You can find many of them on eBay at great prices.