Ford TBC & Carlisle HBA-CAM?

[golf_bears]

I have a 2008 MS 36TK3 (17,200#) with electric over hydraulic brakes and a 2008 Ford F450 (10,200#) TV. I just installed the Carlisle HBA-CAM so that the Ford TBC would function properly. I now have the TBC working just fine. The questions I have for those of you with the same/similar setup are what gain have you set on the Ford TBC and do you adjust it in heavy traffic (city) vs. open highway traffic? If you adjust what settings do you use?

[USA in a Chevrolet]

I don't have a Ford but have used the HBA cam controller for almost a year with my Chevy. I set the gain for 7.5 & have never had to change the setting for City versus Highway driving. The controller works very smoothly in all situations.

[Carny Bill]

Do u have problems with pluging in the trailer and the controler not reconizing it. Mine gives me fits and I have to plug and unplug several times with and without the motor running. I never know what proceduce will activiate it, it is a pain. thanks...Bill

[USA in a Chevrolet]

Do u have problems with pluging in the trailer and the controler not reconizing it. Mine gives me fits and I have to plug and unplug several times with and without the motor running. I never know what proceduce will activiate it, it is a pain. thanks...Bill

It seems to me that the problem is that you don't have a CAM module on your trailer. The IBC controller in your truck looks for a resistance load when you plug in the trailer. The CAM module tricks the truck's IBC into thinking that you have electric drum bakes, which have magnets that create reistance. The CAM module is a rectangular metal case about 2 inches high & 4 inches wide & about 6 inches long. It has 4 wire leads going into it. check to see if you hav ethis module. It may not have been installed on your truck if DRV did not know that you had an IBC on your truck.

[golf_bears]

I haven’t been on the road yet with the HBA-CAM active. I have been using my Hensley break controller which has been working fine. Last spring, in Las Vegas, the Hensley BC gave me a few problems so was traveling short distances without any trailer breaks until my Hensley controller problem was resolved. That is when I decided I would install the HBA-CAM module and get the Ford TBC working properly. Now I have breaks working off of both break controllers. Not sure which one I will use as a back up but I have no intentions of being on the road with no trailer breaks again, too scary.

So those of you using the HBA-CAM, what are your settings?

USA in a Chevrolet, thanks for giving me your settings. Will probably be the same for the Ford? I think your assessment of Carney Bill’s problem may be correct.

[Carny Bill]

I installed the HBA myself 3 years ago. It has always been flaky.

[USA in a Chevrolet]

I installed the HBA myself 3 years ago. It has always been flaky.

Is it possible that you may have reversed the in wires with the out wires? I'm not trying to be critical, I'm just trying to think of causes for the problems you are having.

[Carny Bill]

I will double check that, anything is possible. I seem to recall quite some time back that a resistor needed to be installed inline, but I do not remember where or how I heard this and I do not know what size resistor.
I do thank you for your input and assistance.

[The View 5046]

I have pulled my 2010 Mobile Suites with the 2011 Chevy 3500HD and now have pulled the MS with the 2012 Chevy 3500HD. My setting on both Trucks is 7.5 but when pulling my Car hauler or the Big Tex equipment trailer I have to set the setting at 4.5 but they both are electric brakes. The 2009 Mobile Suites I had the IBC wouldn't work. However when we ordered the 2010 Mobile Suites, I ordered the HBA. The system works great.. Happy Trails...

[RGordon]

We went through the same issues before the old Actibrake melted down leaving us with no brakes. The HBA-CAM module did the trick for us and was great to have the IBC working and feeling the trailer braking. I run our Ford IBC on 8.5 setting while pulling our 38RL3, which is loaded pretty heavy going to Florida

[wanderingwingers]

We have a 2010 MS and a 2010 Ford F450. I have my TBC on the truck set all the way to 10. It has worked okay for the last year. My ford manual stated that I may have to go to the max setting. I wish I had some more room to play with but it seems to be working as is.

[terry and jo]

Jo and I have the 2008 Ford F450 and a 2010 MS 38TKSB3. I've been hauling it with the IBC set at 8.5, but this trip I had the feeling that the truck was doing most of the work. We are at the SOITC Central Region rally at Grove, OK right now. On our way home, I plan to bump up the setting 1/2 point at a time and do some testing.

It just might take setting it at 10 to get what feels comfortable for me. The HBA-CAM has worked for us in that I no longer get the "trailer disconnected" error on the truck computer display.

Terry

[golf_bears]

Appreciate everyone's input, thanks gang.

Terry, could you keep us posted on your test results, thanks.

[terry and jo]

It won't be too much of a test, but I'll let you know what I feel the changes do. We are only 185 miles from home and Jo may want to drive the rig back to get more experience. However, I'm sure I'll get in enough miles to test each 1/2 point setting before getting to our home base in the mobile home park.

I'll gladly let everyone know how I feel it does. If I can help others, it is the least I can do for the help I've received over the last few years.

Oh, and as a side note, I've had the opportunity to meet Mike, the owner and administrator of this site. He is here at the SOITC rally in Grove this week.

Terry

[terry and jo]

Well, I now have to correct myself. I had the IBC setting at 7.5 not 8.5, as I had stated earlier. As it was, Jo didn't feel like driving the rig back, so I got to do all the driving.

I checked each stage between my beginning point of 8 all the way up to 10 on the IBC While things got to feeling better at 9 as to the balance of which rigs were braking, it was all the way to 10 before it really seemed to be a match.

Keep in mind that this test was entirely a seat-of-the-pants test, with only my "comfort-level" as a gauge as to the effectiveness of each setting. Others may find a different setting comfortable.

Terry

[golf_bears]

Thanks Terry, appreciate your help and info. Travel save.

[wingnut60]

Terry,
I run my 450 at "9" and am satisfied with the results. Had it on '10' for a long time, also. Either seems to work fine for me, but I have the drum brakes only. Using either setting will bring the truck to a halt with trailer brakes only, particularly at low speeds.
At 77000 miles on the truck, still have plenty of front brake pads left, and rotors are ok, so combo seems to work well.
Joe