Short answer: it depends on which trailer you rent. If it has electric brakes, you need some way to control them — but that doesn’t necessarily mean a box wired into your dash. Here’s how it works in Texas, what our fleet needs, and the option most renters don’t know exists.
Why some trailers need a brake controller and some don’t
Texas requires brakes on any trailer with a gross weight over 4,500 lbs (Texas Transportation Code §547.401(b)). A trailer that has brakes needs something in the tow vehicle to tell those brakes when to apply and how hard. That something is a brake controller.
In our fleet, that line splits the trailers cleanly:
- No brake controller needed: the 16′ utility trailers and the 20′ enclosed cargo trailer. They’re under the threshold and tow like any small trailer — hitch, chains, lights, go.
- Brake controller needed: the 14′ hydraulic dump, the 20′ car & equipment hauler, the 24′ full-tilt deckover, and the 30′ deckover. All four have electric brakes, and all four are the trailers people use for the heavy stuff.
So if you’re hauling mulch in a utility trailer, stop reading — you’re fine. If you’re picking up a skid steer, a dead car, or a load of caliche, keep going.
Option 1: the controller already in your truck
Most trucks built since about 2007 with a factory tow package have an integrated brake controller. Look near your knee on the dash for a small screen or slider labeled “Trailer” — Ford, Ram, GM, and Toyota all put it there. If you have one, you’re set. Plug in the trailer’s 7-pin, set the gain, and go.
Option 2: no controller in the truck? Use your phone
This is the part most renters don’t know. Our braked trailers are equipped with the Elecbrakes wireless system: a Bluetooth brake controller mounted on the trailer itself. It pairs to a free app on your phone and does the job a dash-mounted controller would do — no wiring, no install, nothing added to your truck.
The setup takes about a minute in our yard:
- Plug the trailer’s 7-pin into your truck like normal.
- Download the Elecbrakes app (free, iOS or Android).
- Open the app in the cab. The unit pairs automatically and shows that it has power.
- Set your gain, do a quick brake test at 20–25 mph in an empty lot, and drive.
If your truck is a half-ton without a tow package, or you’re towing with an SUV that has the hitch rating but no controller, this is what makes the heavy trailers rentable for you.
Option 3: install an aftermarket controller
If you tow regularly, a plug-and-play aftermarket controller runs roughly $80–$200 and installs in about an hour on most modern pickups. It’s a fine long-term answer, but nobody should feel like they need to buy one to rent a trailer for a weekend.
What “gain” means and why it matters
Gain is how hard the trailer brakes apply for a given press of your pedal. Too low and the trailer isn’t helping you stop; too high and the trailer tires lock and skid, which is how sway starts. The right setting changes with the load — an empty dump trailer needs less gain than one with three yards of gravel in it. Our Electric Brakes Guide walks through setting it in two minutes.
What you should never do
- Tow a braked trailer with no controller and no Elecbrakes connection. Above 4,500 lbs it’s illegal, and a loaded trailer roughly doubles your stopping distance without its own brakes.
- Skip the brake test before leaving. Slide the manual control (or tap it in the app) and feel the trailer pull back. No pull, no brakes, don’t leave.
- Forget the breakaway cable. Every braked trailer in our fleet has a breakaway switch that slams the brakes on if the trailer ever separates from the truck — it only works if the cable is clipped to your hitch receiver.
The bottom line
You need a way to control the brakes on our dump, car hauler, tilt, and deckover trailers. If your truck has a built-in controller, use it. If it doesn’t, the Elecbrakes app on your phone covers you, at no extra cost, with nothing installed. Either way, you can book online and pick up any hour of the day at our South Austin yard.
See the fleet and book · Electric Brakes Guide · Texas Towing Regulations · Safety FAQs
