Finally got to tow our travel trailer with my 2022 Tahoe High Country duramax diesel. Once on the road, I realized I did not have a trailer brake. I remember when I bought the Tahoe, the dealership said that the trailering package had constraints. I guess the trailer brake was one of the constraints. I am wanting to have a trailer brake installed. Is that a big issue? I don’t want the install to change the look of the design and possibly affect or interfere with functionality on the other vehicle components.
Trailer brake missing on my 22 Tahoe
- Thread starter Sherbear
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
swathdiver
Full Access Member
You ought to speak with the dealership. Now I do remember pickup guys with your generation adding the trailer brake controller to their pickups and it being plug and play, the wiring was behind the dash already. This was for factory integrated trailer brake controller.
You also may have wiring under your dash in a taped up bundle for an aftermarket trailer brake controller.
On the older generation GMT900s, the Integrated Trailer Brake Controller cannot be added without literally taking apart the truck to add it. We all have the bundle of wires taped up for an aftermarket one as well under the dash.
If you are wanting an aftermarket one, consult your owner's manual.
You didn't realize it until on the road??? OK, a couple of questions.
1 Do you have a brake controller on the dash? On a Suburban it is to the left of steering wheel. I would think the Tahoe would be the same.
2 What kind of brakes are on your travel trailer? Surge, electric, electric over hydraulic?
Welcome to the forum.
Padraig
Yes, I didn’t even think about it until we were on the road 
it pulled fine but I worried about wearing out my brakes.
I think the trailer brakes are electric. Looked to the left and there is nothing there. However there is a blank space.
it pulled fine but I worried about wearing out my brakes.I think the trailer brakes are electric. Looked to the left and there is nothing there. However there is a blank space.
Thank you. I am going to contact the dealership and pull out my paperwork. I ordered the Tahoe through the manufacturer and I waited for a year to actually buy it because of COVID and that huge snowstorm in Arlington Texas. I was originally buying a 2021 and it switched to a 2022. I was willing to give up a few things because I wanted the vehicle so bad lol. Dumb!
swathdiver
Full Access Member
I wouldn't fret over it, that was an interesting time in the car buying world to say the least!
fondupot
Full Access Member
Get a Redarc Tow Pro Elite. I had one on my 22 Silverado. Nice unit. Set it and forget it after initial setup and calibration.
I had the same experience. I bought my 2021 Suburban High Country with a 6.2 V8,this past June. I assumed it had a trailer brake controller. I hooked up my trailer and looked on the dash, no control. I ended up putting a Tekonsha Prodigy controller on and it works great. There is a bundle with the 4 wires under the dash that you hook it up to.
StephenPT
Full Access Member
The Curt Spectrum is a nice unit and installs right in the blank space where the factory one is, if equipped.
Here’s a YouTube video of one being installed on a ‘21 Tahoe - same process on your ‘22 Tahoe.
Here’s a YouTube video of one being installed on a ‘21 Tahoe - same process on your ‘22 Tahoe.
Thank you!
Foxy
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- May 27, 2024
- Posts
- 26
- Reaction score
- 24
You are only required to have trailer brakes if pulling over a certain amount of weight on public roads. You would have to look at your DOT laws to figure out correct weight online. And if you're worrying about wearing your brakes out you would always use your transmission to save your brakes when going down hills. I never use my trailer brakes unless I need to try to keep my trailer from sliding on icy roads and I only have had to use my trailer brakes a few times in my life of pulling trailer. Save your brakes and reliably use your transmission to help you on downgrades
My High Country 2021 came with the max trailering package. It also increases the max towing to 8300lbs.
Did you look at your window sticker? It should have JL1: Integrated Trailer Brake Controller. Not to beat you up but as a professional driver the last thing anyone does is a brake check to ensure your brakes are functioning properly. I assume you had a two axle trailer. Also, "IF" you go with an aftermarket brake controller check and make sure it is NOT near the "Push to Start". There is a certain distance it must be away from it.
As a CDL holder your statement is incorrect. If the trailer is equipped with brakes they MUST be functional not only during normal trailering but during state inspection of the trailer. As for driving on ice with a trailer your information is bad. That trailer will come around on you so fast you won't know what hit you.
Foxy
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- May 27, 2024
- Posts
- 26
- Reaction score
- 24
I have had situations where someone was within my lane and had to get on the brakes which caused my trailer to start jacknifing a little. Which in turn I didn’t panic let off the brakes let my truck roll and lightly applied the trailer brakes which slowed it down enough to get behind the truck again let off the trailer brakes and lightly applied gas. No trailer coming around so fast that I didn't know what hit me lol. I'm not not talking about tractor trailer but a regular trailer for a truck that doesn't have trailer breaks that's used for recreation
Most states it's somewhere between 1,000-4,000lbs that they require trailer brakes but another way of looking at it is most trailer manufacturers don't make their trailers with brakes unless they're getting up there in weight anyway and there's no reason not to use them especially when it's not all that hard to install a controller.
Bill Barnes
Member
When I bought my 2005 Yukon XL new, the service manager went over the vehicle with me. He pointed out that underneath a tray in the rear cargo area on the left side was my rod for the jack, the fact, and the wiring harness for the factory towing package electric brake. It's still in there after 20 years, as I've only towed my utility trailer, and once a 12' U Haul trailer that had a surge brake. Never towed a travel trailer. Lift the tray out and see if the harness is in there (in a ziploc bag).
Bill Barnes
Member
"jack", not "fact". Autocorrect strikes again!
