Towing a trailer safely is about more than power—it’s about control. An electric brake controller is a small device installed in your tow vehicle. Its job is to send the right amount of force to your trailer’s brakes when you hit the brake pedal in your car. This way, your trailer helps with braking instead of pushing or pulling against your vehicle. Without a brake controller, your trailer relies entirely on your vehicle’s brakes. This makes stopping harder, less stable, and more dangerous, especially in emergencies.
REDARC’s range of Tow-Pro Electric Brake Controllers feature two different modes of braking, and we’re here to break them down for you.
PROPORTIONAL MODE
Proportional mode, also known as Everyday Mode, is designed for most on-road towing conditions. Indicated by a blue LED on the remote head, the Tow-Pro will apply the trailer brakes at a level proportional to the vehicle deceleration.
This means that while you can set the braking force from light to heavy by adjusting the remote, the Tow-Pro will brake your trailer smoothly as you apply the brakes.
USER-CONTROLLED MODE
User-Controlled or Off-Road Mode is designed to apply the trailer brakes to the level set on the remote head, regardless of how hard the vehicle brakes are applied. This mode is used when more control is required by the driver, like towing on beach sand or up 4WD tracks. Off-Road mode is indicated by a green LED on the Tow-Pro’s remote head.
WHEN WOULD I CHOOSE OFF-ROAD MODE?
When driving on soft sand, if you brake hard the vehicle is likely to bite into the sand. If the trailer does the same, you could end up stuck quickly. By having the ability to dial back the braking force using Off-Road Mode, you can ensure your vehicle and trailer will glide to a stop on top of the sand.
Similarly, if you’re towing down a steep, rocky descent, using low range first gear in your vehicle will have the engine doing most of the braking so you don’t want to have to brake hard to control the trailer behind you. Dialing up the Tow-Pro’s Off-Grid mode means that a light touch on the vehicle brakes will engage the trailer brakes and apply more braking force on the trailer.
HOW DO I SWITCH BETWEEN MODES?
To change between braking modes on the Tow-Pro, first ensure the vehicle has come to a complete stop then follow the steps below.
- Set the Remote Head knob to zero.
- Apply the vehicle brakes.
- Double press the knob on the remote head.
It’s important to note that Tow-Pro modes can only be changed when a trailer is attached. Each time the trailer is disconnected and reconnected, the Tow-Pro will start in the mode that it was last set in.
Choosing the right brake controller means safer, smoother and more controlled towing wherever the road takes you. For ultimate flexibility, performance and peace of mind, REDARC’s Tow-Pro range lead the way.
Learn more about the different Tow-Pro models available here.
