Brake Controller Necessary?

[Jbpouns]

Is it necessary to have a separate brake controller when towing? I have a Subaru Ascent and on some forums, they Subaru says they recommend it for any towing over 1,000 lbs. I haven’t been using one.

[bborzell]

Are you asking whether it makes sense to actually utilize the electric brakes on an Escape trailer?

If you want to use them, you need a controller. I cannot imagine having trailer brakes and not using them.

[John in Santa Cruz]

escapes weigh as much as 5000 lbs, and nearly every state requires braking on any trailer over some very minimal weight, so yes, you need a brake controller as without one, the electric brakes on the trailer are just dead weight.

if you have, say, a 3500 lb trailer (an older smaller Escape with single axles probably is around 3500 lb GWR), and no trailer brakes, and your tow vehicle has to brake hard ... maybe someone cut you off, maybe you come around a blind turn on a mountain road, and there';s a rock in the middle of your lane... the trailer can swing around and flip your tow vehicle over ('jack knife').

I had a hitch fail once, where the 4500 lb trailer came unhitched from my 8800 lb F250, and was wildly wagging back and forth on the safety chains. using the manual brake override on the brake controller, brought the trailer back under control, so I could then brake the vehicle down to a crawl and pull onto the narrow gravel shoulder. without that manual braking capability, it would have been a disaster, and easily could have totalled both the trailer and truck.

[HABBERDABBER]

One is NECESSARY, and required by state laws.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Jbpouns

Is it necessary to have a separate brake controller when towing? I have a Subaru Ascent and on some forums, they Subaru says they recommend it for any towing over 1,000 lbs. I haven’t been using one.

Hi: Jbpouns... It sure is when the "Tail starts wagging the dog". To counteract trailer sway you need to let off the gas and pinch the trailer brake control. That's a lot to remember in a panic!!! Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Bobbie54]

I had a small trailer under 1000 lbs and didn't need or use one. My first Escape (15a) was about 2000 lbs and when the wiring in the vehicle gave me a problem so I had no brakes on the trailer, I'd feel it bump the tow ball every time I stopped (on a trip with minimal hills). Luckily I never had to do a panic stop. At the very least you are making your car brakes work very hard and they'll wear a lot faster.

[oldwave]

My good friend tows a 27 foot airstream , he was out west in the mountains and didn’t notice that his brake controller cable was not fully seated. The brakes got very very hot in his truck and he was lucky to stop. I believe he had to replace warped rotors and a complete fluid change as the brake fluid boiled. I always check mine twice now.

[UncleTim]

If you do not have trailer brakes, the trailer will push the car on long downhill runs.

That is extremely dangerous. And you basically have no way to stop it. Your car brakes will wear out sooner too.