Trailer Brake Controller necessary for me?

[xycrazy]

Hey guys,

I'm about to buy a Yukon Denali / Tahoe (not finally decided yet but most likely it's going to be the Denali) and I'm wondering if I should look for one with the Trailer Brake Controller. I will be using the truck regular highways 95% of the time but we're thinking of buying an RV soon.
We're not sure yet if we will end up with an RV but that's something that we have in mind right now. A small boat might also be on the bucket list down the road. However, I would say that we will drive the truck 90-95% of the time without a trailer.

I spotted a really nice Denali 6.2 without the brake controller and I'm wondering if I should better keep looking for one that has it. We're not in a rush actually... it's just that it would be nice to get a new truck and this particular Denali is priced fairly well, and I'm not sure if it's worth waiting for another one.

So what's your thoughts? Is it a must have or will we be fine when occasionally towing?

 

[Cliff-Yukon]

You don't want to rear end someone 5-10% of the time, do you?!? Just kidding! Totally depends on the what you are towing. First for the controller to work what you are towing must be equipped with functional brakes (you'd be surprised with how many trailer brakes don't work.) If the RV will be heavy I'd suggest it. It's not that you are bad driver - it's the folks that pull out in front of you or jam on their brakes at the last moment.... Having the assist and controlling the assist of the trailer brakes is nice. You can adjust it for a heavy/light load etc....

 

[Fless]

Your State has trailer brake requirements for weight, so do some research. Trailer brakes will likely be required with any trailer over 3K lbs or so. Again, that can vary by State. If you go aftermarket, look into the Tekonsha P3 for an excellent electric brake controller.

 

[xycrazy]

Ok, that's news to me. Glad, that I created this thread. Well, I'm totally new towing. No experience whatsoever so please forgive me if I come up with some newbie questions.
I understood I need trailer brakes given the fact that I'm in IL. How does it collaborate with the brake controller? If I have trailer brakes and I don't have the brake controller what happens? It should brake anyway, or no? Do I need the brake controller to engage the trailer brakes?! Would that I mean I can't tow (legally, not technically) a large RV without the brake controller?

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

So, the trailer brake controller comes w/ the Max Trailer Package, which also includes enhanced cooling...my view, even if you are NOT towing, extra cooling for the engine and transmission is NEVER a bad thing. I have actually never understood why anyone would buy one of these rigs and not add the max towing package...you bought the truck, give it its max capability.

 

[altona]

You must have a controllervto activate your trailer brakes.

Look at Curt Echo for the easiest setup by far.

 

[Fless]

Ok, that's news to me. Glad, that I created this thread. Well, I'm totally new towing. No experience whatsoever so please forgive me if I come up with some newbie questions.
I understood I need trailer brakes given the fact that I'm in IL. How does it collaborate with the brake controller? If I have trailer brakes and I don't have the brake controller what happens? It should brake anyway, or no? Do I need the brake controller to engage the trailer brakes?! Would that I mean I can't tow (legally, not technically) a large RV without the brake controller?

You need a brake controller to activate the brakes on the trailer; otherwise the trailer is going to push your Tahoe around, increase the stopping distance, and the Tahoe's brakes will wear out prematurely. A controller sends voltage back to active the magnets that are on the hubs, and those magnets engage the brake shoes. A good proportional brake controller will vary the voltage to vary the braking power, depending on how much the truck brake is applied.

There's a video on this site that might help: https://www.rvtalk.net/how-do-electric-trailer-brakes-work/

Also, etrailer.com would probably have a general video about trailer brakes.

 

[Keg0brew]

One point of clarification here…

On boat trailers, many of them have surge brakes, not electric brakes, and you don’t need a controller for those. The extra cooling however is important depending on boat weight. For my boat (~6,500lbs) I got the max trailering package for the cooling components, the brake controller is just an added, un-needed, bonus.

So, as others have said, knowing what you are going to be towing is of utmost importance.

 

[xycrazy]

Now I get it. So I could buy the Denali without the brake controller but I must have one if I tow and so I would need to buy an aftermarket one like the curt echo.
So better to just buy a new truck with the built in to avoid the hazzle and get better cooling on top of that. Since I plan to pull >5.000 I will look for another truck. Thanks guys

 

[Stbentoak]

So, the trailer brake controller comes w/ the Max Trailer Package, which also includes enhanced cooling...my view, even if you are NOT towing, extra cooling for the engine and transmission is NEVER a bad thing. I have actually never understood why anyone would buy one of these rigs and not add the max towing package...you bought the truck, give it its max capability.

Because that package has been on constraint so often that getting it or not getting it was the difference in whether you got a vehicle at all.
I’d rather have a vehicle without it and add a controller than wait 6 months or never to get it….

 

[altona]

Now I get it. So I could buy the Denali without the brake controller but I must have one if I tow and so I would need to buy an aftermarket one like the curt echo.
So better to just buy a new truck with the built in to avoid the hazzle and get better cooling on top of that. Since I plan to pull >5.000 I will look for another truck. Thanks guys

Ordering a new one with max tow is a very tall order. Been on constraint for months with very low availability. May not see it this model year at the least.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

I think if you order a High Country Suburban or a Denali, you will get it...constraints tend to hit the lower trims harder...

 

[xycrazy]

I'm looking for a used one to get it

 

[R32driver]

Well, I'm totally new towing. No experience whatsoever

You might just find yourself on one of those entertaining youtube videos where the guy in the fancy new rig with the fancy boat behind it tries to back down the boat ramp for 20 minutes while the crowds grow to watch the spectacle...

 

[DenaliCountry]

As others have mentioned, if your trailer has electric brakes you will need a brake controller for the trailer brakes to function (all RV Trailers over a certain weight should have them). My boat trailer and enclosed snowmobile trailer both have electric brakes and having had the built in controller on my previous tahoe it was a requirement (even though I tow the boat 2x per year to the lake and to storage). Also as others have mentioned the max trailer packaging if towing a lot is worth the $500 add due to the added cooling, etc. Having it integrated into the dash and the added trailer features that come with the truck with this package are a no brainer if you're doing any towing.

All that said, the max trailer package has been a constraint when ordering so unless you're ordering or buying a top trim package (High country or Denali) you are likely not able to get it at this stage. A lot of the early builds had max trailering package and then they started to get sparse. If you happen to find a truck without it the GM accessories catalogue has the controller linked below that can be added to the dash, giving it a more built in feel VS the other brands that mount under the dash by your feet. Even with this considered I still felt like it was worth waiting/finding the right truck with the max trailer package given the additional features that come with it.

Site Maintenance

 

[altona]

Just a quick install note on that GM accessory. GM no longer puts the connector plug on the 4 wires up under the dash. They are taped to the backside of the harness with a white wiring diagram tag. Can't see it. So feel for it. Real cheap move by GM thar cost many members a lot of hours figuring it out.

 

[Keg0brew]

I think if you order a High Country Suburban or a Denali, you will get it...constraints tend to hit the lower trims harder...

I've got a Denali with Max Tow being built next week. They are building them, maybe just not quickly.

If there is any chance whatsoever the OP plans to tow over 5,000lbs as they mentioned, I would consider the max tow package a must have. And not for the controller, but for the enhanced cooling components. I personally would not be towing over 5k pounds without them. Too much potential for tranny and engine issues without them.

 

[KOTAHOE]

Just a quick install note on that GM accessory. GM no longer puts the connector plug on the 4 wires up under the dash. They are taped to the backside of the harness with a white wiring diagram tag. Can't see it. So feel for it. Real cheap move by GM thar cost many members a lot of hours figuring it out.

Yes you are so right about that, that is wrong on all levels. I've had to do so much research on how to add tis brake controller to my 2007 tahoe. I ordered everything and waiting for it to arrive on the 17th of this month. I'm looking forward to installing it myself instead of paying about $400 for someone else to do it.

 

[wjburken]

Just a quick install note on that GM accessory. GM no longer puts the connector plug on the 4 wires up under the dash. They are taped to the backside of the harness with a white wiring diagram tag. Can't see it. So feel for it. Real cheap move by GM thar cost many members a lot of hours figuring it out.

Not sure why this is made so hard. On my 2016 F-150, I was able to buy an OEM controller, pop off the dash cover, remove the little cubby that had the harness clicked to the back of it, put the controller where the cubby was, plug in the harness and give the dealer $50 to flash the vehicle to tell it it had a brake controller and viola, I had factory brake control. I was also able to buy the upgraded harness and plug that in where the 4-pin was at and was good to go. Very modular.

 

[LonIowa]

Hey guys,

I'm about to buy a Yukon Denali / Tahoe (not finally decided yet but most likely it's going to be the Denali) and I'm wondering if I should look for one with the Trailer Brake Controller. I will be using the truck regular highways 95% of the time but we're thinking of buying an RV soon.
We're not sure yet if we will end up with an RV but that's something that we have in mind right now. A small boat might also be on the bucket list down the road. However, I would say that we will drive the truck 90-95% of the time without a trailer.

I spotted a really nice Denali 6.2 without the brake controller and I'm wondering if I should better keep looking for one that has it. We're not in a rush actually... it's just that it would be nice to get a new truck and this particular Denali is priced fairly well, and I'm not sure if it's worth waiting for another one.

So what's your thoughts? Is it a must have or will we be fine when occasionally towing?

I recommend you look and find the Yukon that you like, but don't make it a deal breaker if it isn't equipped with a trailer brake controller. Installing a after market trailer brake controller is very easy. My experience over the years is that I prefer the after market controller. I too have been using the Tekonsha P3. No matter what. I recommend towing with a brake controller!