Towing questions

[Landonz]

I’m going to be towing with my 2013 chevy tahoe z71 4x4 for the first time this weekend. I believe i have a factory brake controller already installed (to the left of the steering wheel)...anyways, how does it work? I believe the camper is around 2,000 lbs. Should i get the pop up camper attached, start at 0.5 and slowly bump up the brake controller until i dont feel the camper push me when i stop?

Also, i have a receiver for the hitch in the back, does that mean i have a factory tow package?

Does the factory brake controller need to be programmed or anything before i use it?

Anything else i need to look out for?

Sorry for all the newbie questions. Thank you!

 

[avalonandl]

It depends what type of brakes are on your camper. The factory brake controller ONLY WORKS WITH ELECTRIC BRAKES. If your pop up has surge brakes the controller does NOTHING....

The controller is already set up, YOU HAVE TO ADJUST IT FOR THE ELECRIC BRAKES.

 

[shock]

It has a round-ish 7-pin harness that plugs into the back of the truck? If so, that’s electric brakes.

Find the setting that’s obviously too much then back off that setting by a couple or maybe three clicks.

From there just play with a bit til it feels right. That’s really not a lot of weight for your truck to handle with no trailer brakes so I wouldn’t over think it.

The slider is like a brake pedal for the trailer brakes to engage them manually, so to speak. If the trailer ever starts swaying you can apply the slider a little to straighten it back out.

 

[Geotrash]

I’m going to be towing with my 2013 chevy tahoe z71 4x4 for the first time this weekend. I believe i have a factory brake controller already installed (to the left of the steering wheel)...anyways, how does it work? I believe the camper is around 2,000 lbs. Should i get the pop up camper attached, start at 0.5 and slowly bump up the brake controller until i dont feel the camper push me when i stop?

Also, i have a receiver for the hitch in the back, does that mean i have a factory tow package?

Does the factory brake controller need to be programmed or anything before i use it?

Anything else i need to look out for?

Sorry for all the newbie questions. Thank you!

For the 2013 model year the Z82 package includes trailering hitch platform, 7-wire harness with independent fused trailering circuits mated to a 7-way sealed connector and a 2" trailering receiver. The heavy duty towing package is the K5L which includes an auxiliary external transmission oil cooler and engine oil cooler, which provides increased trailering capabilities. Check the placard in your glovebox for these codes and it will tell you what you have.

I have the factory controller in my 2012 and use the following procedure to set the brake controller:

• Find an empty, straight residential road and set the controller to 5.0 gain with the trailer attached.
• Drive at 25 mph and drag the slider on the brake controller all the way over. You should feel some braking power from the trailer.
• If the trailer wheels lock up, reduce the gain in .5 increments until they no longer lock up, and then add .5 back. If they don't lock up, increase the gain in .5 increments until they just barely start to lock up. That's the sweet spot.

One more thing to know: Some RV forum "gurus" will tell you to disable stability control when towing. That's fine for pre-2012 trucks. For 2012, GM added logic to the system to help you overcome trailer sway if it happens by reducing engine torque and applying the trailer's brakes automatically until it's under control again. It's a great safety feature but requires the factory brake controller.