Brake Controller Considerations

If you're like me, and have spent some time hauling trailers around, you know how important it is to have a responsive brake system. And when there is a trailer involved, you can't just rely on the brakes of the towing vehicle alone. It's safer and easier to drive when you have brake controllers installed on your vehicles when they're towing any type of trailer. These handy controllers help to evenly distribute the stopping power of your braking system and keep trailers from going into the dreaded jack knife while you're on the road.

Food for Thought

Here's a few of the things you need to consider when buying brake controllers:

-    Should you go wireless? You don't necessarily have to hard wire a brake controller. These days there are some very reliable wireless models available. I like to keep things simple, so I am really impressed with how easy it is to install a wireless system. However, if you don't mind doing a little wiring or hiring someone who does, you can still get a hard-wired unit for your truck & trailer.
-    Axle count. Most controllers are designed for a specific number of axles. This is very basic, but important to mention. Don't buy a brake controller, unless it is designed for the exact amount of axles that you'll be hauling.
-    Price. Like anything else, we know that the bottom line matters. Luckily, there are quite a few controllers to choose from these days, so it's not too hard to find one that will suit just about any budget.

There you have it – our top tips for buying the right brake controllers - for safe driving when you're pulling a trailer.

Related articles

• Stopping Quickly and Safely (unitedroadjobs.com)
• Who invented the first braking system (wiki.answers.com)