Exhaust Brake and Brake Controller in Motorhome?

[Born2RV]

We usually pull our Jeep Wrangler behind our 40' Diesel Motorhome, but on this trip to Florida from Michigan, we will be pulling our brand new 7' X 14' dual axle enclosed utility trailer. It has electric brakes, and our motorhome came installed with a Reese Brakeman Compact brake controller.

We rely on the exhaust brake in the motorhome much of the time, of course, to save on our brakes. Does this also activate the brakes on the utility trailer? Or do we have to actually apply our brakes in the motorhome to activate the electric brakes on the trailer? How should we set the brake controller? We used to use controllers in our truck back in the days when we towed a travel trailer, but have never used it in the motorhome.

[CD]

I don't have a MH so can't answer your question specifically, but would expect it to work like mine does. It doesn't activate the trailer brakes, in fact it doesn't activate the brakelights. What I do is use the E brake like you would use a gas engine for braking. When you need more braking use the service brakes which will activate the trailer brakes. The exception is don't use the E brake on slick roads. That can get you in lots of trouble (with or without the trailer).

[Dadeaux]

My exhaust brake activates the break lights but there is no hook up for it to help with the trailer brakes.

[JohnRR]

Link to original discussion.