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08-05-2021, 09:51 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Posts: 118
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Electric Trailer Brake Controller on New Aire ‘21 3545?
I’m embarrassed to ask this. On a trip in the mountains and electric trailer brakes (aluminum ramp trailer w/ vehicle on it) do not seem to be working. I assumed there’s be a controller in the RV. Apparently not. If there is, I don’t see any controls.
Trip is 400 miles total. One mountain range (Monteagle, TN) and otherwise basically flat. Assuming there is NO controller, I’m assuming I’ll be okay by taking it really easy, using engine braking, etc. RV is lightly loaded and trailer/vehicle total weight is 6,000 lbs.
Please be kind. I fly airplanes and helicopters and taught motorcycling, but RVing still has a learning curve for me.
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David C. Baker (Nashville): author | speaker | advisor | airplanes | helicopters | motorcycles | photography | woodworking | rving
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08-05-2021, 10:18 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Savannah GA/Port Ludlow WA
Posts: 259
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Others may disagree but with your two stage brake set on high you should be fine. Monteagle isn’t too bad going toward Chattanooga since you have three lanes on the downhill so some zealous truckers can use the middle lane to get around you. In Chattanooga you can stop at Camping World and pick up a Prodigy, you probably have a pigtail under the dash but others can chime in. You’ll be illegal without a brake controller but just go nice and easy, stopped traffic can be surprise at several spots between Monteagle and Chattanooga.
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Jim and Melinda
2016 Aspire 44B (sold)
2019 LTV Serenity
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08-05-2021, 10:37 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: On the continental divide
Posts: 2,605
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Dave,
A trailer brake controller is not that difficult to wire up yourself.
Tekonsha is the one I have and it works quite well, as it is proportional based on the brake pedal pressure.
Mine is mounted under the dash, left of the steering column.
You do need a 7 pin plug for the trailer.
Mike in Colorado
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2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37c, 8.1 gasser, (Jezebel) Ultra RV ECM / TCM, plugs wires, and rear track bar, PPE deep Tx pan w/ temp gage, Bilstein's, Sailun's & Sumo's all round, pushed by a 2002 Grand Caravan, on a Master Tow Dolly OR a WR-250 on a rail.
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08-05-2021, 10:46 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Florida
Posts: 557
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Electric trailer brake controllers do not come as standard equipment, that I know of.
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2021 Newmar Bay Star 3626
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08-05-2021, 11:16 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Posts: 118
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Thanks to each of you for the help. I’ve stopped at Camping World in ‘Nooga and I’ll see if they have one. Really appreciate it.
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David C. Baker (Nashville): author | speaker | advisor | airplanes | helicopters | motorcycles | photography | woodworking | rving
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08-05-2021, 11:53 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 812
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A 6000 llbs trailer for your Newair is ok. However, it will impact your braking distance, specially in a downhill.
In all newer Newmars (at least 14 and later), newmar has complete wiring harness for the trailer already wired. Under the steering column, there is a harness (see attached). It is likeyl labeled as' aeA'. The wires are also labeled accordingly. All you need is a typical trailer brake controller from any trailer shop. your harness already has a male/female connector. Disconnect the open wire end connector. Then you can wire that to your trailer controller. Then simply connect the connectors back. You don't even have to mount the controller. I have mine on the floor. **IF NEED BE** I can even apply the 'manual' trailer brakes by my left foot.
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17LADP/FCCC
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08-05-2021, 12:15 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Posts: 118
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Update. I'm at the Camping World in 'Nooga, as suggested above, and they are setting me up.
Thank you again!
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David C. Baker (Nashville): author | speaker | advisor | airplanes | helicopters | motorcycles | photography | woodworking | rving
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08-05-2021, 12:19 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 37
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I bought a REDARC tow pro elite from E-Trailer. The control is completely hidden and the control knob mounts neatly in the dash. Super clean looking on my Dutch Star
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08-06-2021, 01:26 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,498
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Something overlooked.
There is something in all the replies that was not even mentioned. That is that it is illegal in most states, if not all, to tow that much weight without functioning trailer brakes. Now it's highly unlikely that anyone would know but still illegal. As a side note, the brake controller is an option, a Curt Spectrum Integrated Brake Control, and only on the Spartan chassis.
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08-07-2021, 01:55 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: sARTELL, mn
Posts: 48
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Newmar does not put in a brake controller but is wired for one. I use Curt Wireless Controller for my trailer since I sometimes tow it with the Jeep and it did not come with a controller either. https://www.curtmfg.com/dm/echo-mobile-brake-controller
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2021 Dutch Star 4369
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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08-07-2021, 02:01 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Newmar Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner Freightliner Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Rosemary Farm, Northern Ca
Posts: 5,444
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmcarter
Others may disagree but with your two stage brake set on high you should be fine. Monteagle isn’t too bad going toward Chattanooga since you have three lanes on the downhill so some zealous truckers can use the middle lane to get around you. In Chattanooga you can stop at Camping World and pick up a Prodigy, you probably have a pigtail under the dash but others can chime in. You’ll be illegal without a brake controller but just go nice and easy, stopped traffic can be surprise at several spots between Monteagle and Chattanooga.
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If it’s in a FL chassis it just has a single stage VGT brake. Probably pretty good on an ISL, but not as good as a jake. I doubt it would be very helpful with an extra 6K lbs behind you. Not sure what the Spartan chassis has for an engine brake.
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