Brake controller overview
Why electric-brake trailers need a controller in the tow vehicle.
Watch on YouTubeTrailer Brakes & Breakaway Kit Guide (Canada)
Trailer wiring
Braked trailers need more than a hitch and a ball. Electric brakes want a controller in the tow vehicle and a charged breakaway kit on the trailer. Surge brakes handle stopping at the coupler without a controller. Match the system you actually have before the first loaded trip.
We stock CURT brake controllers and breakaway kits, with free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Controller question?
Do I need a brake controller.
Wiring?
Wiring guide.
Hub:
towing guides.
Electric versus surge
Electric brakes use magnets at the trailer drums or discs, powered and modulated by a brake controller in the tow vehicle through a seven-way plug. Surge brakes use a hydraulic coupler that applies trailer brakes when the tow vehicle decelerates. Surge setups do not need a brake controller, but they still need regular inspection of the actuator and fluid.
Canadian provincial rules set when trailer brakes are required by weight. Stay inside those rules and inside the trailer maker guidance. If the trailer already has electric brakes, plan the controller and breakaway kit as a pair.
Breakaway kit habits
A breakaway kit applies the trailer brakes if the trailer separates from the tow vehicle. Keep the battery charged, mount the switch where the cable can pull cleanly, and test the switch before a long trip. Winter storage kills breakaway batteries. Charge before the first spring tow. More cable detail: breakaway cable guide.
Controllers and kits we commonly sell
CURT part 52028Breakaway kit with chargerBreakaway kit with charger for electric-brake trailers. Keep the battery charged.$88.52 CAD
CURT part 52026Soft-Trac 2 breakaway kitSoft-Trac 2 breakaway kit. Confirm style on the product page.$89.41 CAD
CURT part 51180Echo wireless brake controllerWireless Echo brake controller for electric-brake towing.$405.93 CAD
CURT part 51170Spectrum brake controllerSpectrum dash brake controller for everyday modulation.$377.93 CAD
CURT part 51436Brake control harness · late FordQuick-plug harness for listed late F-150, Super Duty, and Bronco years.$26.79 CAD
CURT part 51323Brake control harness · Ford familyHarness for listed Ford, Land Rover, Lincoln, and Mercury applications.$34.37 CAD
