How do you set the brake control box?

[marciegirl]

We have a Hopkins Agility plug-in simple brake control box on our Toyota Sequoia pulling a 24' TT that weighs 6200 max. How do I set my brake control box for maximum safety when traveling over mountains and on highways?
I will be traveling alone this weekend and my husband wanted me to ask to make sure we have it right so I don't have any mishaps traveling. Any advice I can get would be great and will also put me at ease. This is the first time I will be driving the unit. I have driven a dump truck and pulled a utility trailer loaded with a Trac Hoe before but Air brakes work differently and I didn't have to set them up.

Thanks
Marcie

[marciegirl]

We have a Hopkins Agility plug-in simple brake control box on our Toyota Sequoia pulling a 24' TT that weighs 6200 max. How do I set my brake control box for maximum safety when traveling over mountains and on highways?
I will be traveling alone this weekend and my husband wanted me to ask to make sure we have it right so I don't have any mishaps traveling. Any advice I can get would be great and will also put me at ease. This is the first time I will be driving the unit. I have driven a dump truck and pulled a utility trailer loaded with a Trac Hoe before but Air brakes work differently and I didn't have to set them up.

Thanks
Marcie

[RedGuy]

You shouldn't have to reset the controller if your husbands alreadt set it. But if it's never been set, just drive around an empty lot and slowly turn the controller up til you have it where you want it. That's what works for my Tekonsha. I have mine set up as high as it goes since my trailer is right at the max capacity for my Jeep. But then again my trailer brakes won't lock up even at full voltage either. I know some trailers will.

[marciegirl]

So I set it and stop and see if I feel the trailer stopping? If I don't then turn it up and if it jerks or locks the trailer brakes up then turn it down?

[Ray,IN]

Each brand controller has different methods of setup, but there is a basic method. There are two items to set, aggressiveness and total braking firmness. Aggressiveness is when the electric brakes activate, they should begin to slow the trailer either exactly at the same time as the tow vehicle brakes or just slightly sooner; firmness is whether you feel the trailer slowing the tow vehicle, you feel the trailer pushing the tow vehicle, or both slow at the same time.

The electric brakes should be properly adjusted before attempting controller adjustment!

I want the trailer brakes to activate at the same time as the tow vehicle and to feel both stopping as one unit, neither one exerting force on the other.
This is best done on a gravel/unpaved road (~25mph). I Adjust the controller for aggressiveness first, then firmness. I adjust the controller so that the trailer brakes don't lock-up on the unpaved surface but any more adjustment would.
I hope this is explained logically.