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Old 01-29-2018, 09:09 PM   #1
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Trailer brake education, Excursion 360 diesel towing aluminum car trailer

My latest purchase to upgrade from our older gas Winnebago Brave, is a 2008 Fleetwood Excursion. I plan to tow an aluminum car trailer with my old Toyota Land Cruiser strapped on.

The question is all about the breaking and the way it works with the diesel on the rv and what to do for trailer brake control. I plan to take trips to Colorado and any other mountain I can find. But want some advice on how to make the trailer set up as safe and as smart as possible. I don't wish to flat tow. Bad experiences with that so not going that route.

Can anyone offer up the best way I can tow the trailer and have great break control?

Thanks for any help and or direction to threads previously written.

Goebs
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Old 01-29-2018, 09:37 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goebs View Post
My latest purchase to upgrade from our older gas Winnebago Brave, is a 2008 Fleetwood Excursion. I plan to tow an aluminum car trailer with my old Toyota Land Cruiser strapped on.

The question is all about the breaking and the way it works with the diesel on the rv and what to do for trailer brake control. I plan to take trips to Colorado and any other mountain I can find. But want some advice on how to make the trailer set up as safe and as smart as possible. I don't wish to flat tow. Bad experiences with that so not going that route.

Can anyone offer up the best way I can tow the trailer and have great break control?

Thanks for any help and or direction to threads previously written.

Goebs
Have you considered ordering the trailer with a surge brake? After having electric brakes on my previous trailers I went with surge brakes on my current trailer. Admittedly I'm not towing the load you are looking at (14' trailer with SXS and a Dirt bike = 3000#) but I've been really happy with it. Eliminates all the brake controller headaches and it works no matter what you are towing with. I have not had any issues backing up but there are options for backup brake lockout if you need it. Something to consider.
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Old 01-29-2018, 10:25 PM   #3
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I own the trailer. Purchased new a few months back. I use it behind a couple different tow rigs besides the rv. I am not a fan of surge breaks when towing with my trucks.

Hoping someone knows how to set it up to work well behind the rv. Hoping a break controller will work somehow. doing all sorts of google searches but my lack of terms is not helping..
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Old 01-30-2018, 05:33 AM   #4
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Goebs-

Here is a link to a Google search of iRV2 posts with the terms "Excursion" and "brake controller" in them.

Although I can't give a definite answer, it is very likely your coach is pre-wired under the dash and at the hitch connector for a plug-and-play electric brake controller. Find the connector under the dash (the most difficult task), purchase the correct pigtail for the controller, and install. Very easy, no wire-splicing required.

etrailer sells controllers and pigtails. The Tekonsha P3 is a popular choice.

If you can't find a pigtail to match the connector under the dash, come back and ask about that. It's better than cutting into the wiring.
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Old 01-30-2018, 11:42 AM   #5
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You coach is definitely pre-wired according to Freightliner documentation.

There was just a post a few days ago with a link to Freighliner about this very subject.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f107/pre-...9v-376225.html

Here's my take on your trailer breaking concerns. I have towed flatbed and dump trailers with electric brakes for about 15 years along with boat trailers with surge breaks, so I have a little bit of knowledge on this subject.

With your trailer setup with electric brakes unless you use the manual override switch on the break controller itself to engage the brakes, you must hit the coach breaks to engage the the trailer breaks. The good thing about diesel's is the engine breaking it provides so the only way to use the engine breaking and also the trailer breaks at the same time is to use the manual override switch on the break controller. There's really no other way around it.

Like others have mentioned the only other option, which really isn't an option for you, would be to have a trailer with surge breaks.

saying all that, I only tow a boat with surge breaks behind my coach so I dont have your issues, but I would think the engine breaking on your coach with be enough to keep you going slowly down a hill without much input from you on the break pedal.
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Old 01-31-2018, 11:14 AM   #6
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Trailer towing

I agree with the previous two posts. I have a 2007 Fleetwood and the brake controller harness was under the dash to the left of the steering wheel. I now tow a car on a dolly with electric brakes. A couple of other thoughts about safe trailer towing which you may or may not have thought about. I towed a 30 foot bumper pull trailer before we bought our MH and one important action to take after installing the controller is to follow carefully the instructions on adjusting the brake force applied by the controller and when it starts to apply the brakes. At least my controller has those adjustments. The force needed depends on the weight of your trailer and cargo. Also unless your trailer is new, I would pull the wheels, repack the bearings, and adjust the brakes. Even if it is new, I would check to see if the brakes are adjusted properly and that the wheel lug nuts have been installed with the proper torque.
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Old 01-31-2018, 10:55 PM   #7
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Great feedback from everyone. I will look for the harness as soon as I get the rv home. Guessing that will be mid April.
The trailer is brand new. Checked everything when brought home. Love starting fresh on the trailer part.
Have to investigate the Tekonsa braked controller. I believe thats what I have in my truck presently.

Thanks to all and any other tips you have, please toss them my way!
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Old 02-02-2018, 06:53 PM   #8
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Do the "my trucks" you mentioned have electric brake controllers too? Controllers on a pusher work the same way on a diesel coach, or for that matter the same as on your previous Brave.

The only possible wrinkle with a DP is an exhaust or engine brake. On many coaches the coach brake lights are wired to come on when the exhaust brake engages. If your electric brake controller is one that uses the brake lights as a trigger (most do), then the controller may engage the trailer brakes when the coach is slowing via exhaust or engine braking, even though you are not using the service brake pedal. That's fine - the coach is still "braking" so the trailer should also brake proportionally. Some people don't expect it, though, or feel it is somehow wrong to do that. It isn't, so don't worry.
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Old 02-03-2018, 09:23 AM   #9
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Gary,
Thats precisely what I was hoping would be the case. My goal is for the trailer brakes to get triggered by the brake lights as you described. Not real sure how to solve that but thats my goal. My understanding is the brake lights of go on when you let off the accelerator pedal on the 2008 Excursion.

So if I can find the right brake controller and figure out how to wire it in, I will have my dream set up and feel super safe when towing.

So thankful for the comments. I will continue searching for the right brake controller system.
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Old 02-03-2018, 12:01 PM   #10
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you'll have to find the brake light wires and swap the connection for the brake switch wire on the controller.

Another thing you might have to do is put in a diode block to combine the separated brake/turn/tail on the coach into the combined lights common on trailers.
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Old 02-03-2018, 12:28 PM   #11
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Goebs-

I'm not sure you need "... to continue searching for the right brake controller system." Your coach and trailer are not unique.

It would help you to call Freightliner, tell them what you plan to do, and ask for guidance and the applicable wiring diagrams for your coach. Have your VIN ready when you call them.

On the issue of brake light-exhaust brake interaction, I believe the Freightliner folks have you covered on that one. You should find that the connector and signals they provide will work as you expect with the Tekonsha P3 controller I mentioned earlier- or any other similar controller.
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Old 02-04-2018, 08:32 AM   #12
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Sounds like I will be calling them next week.

Thanks!
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