Systems, vehicles, and methods for vehicle stability control and trailer brake control collaboration

A vehicle for controlling a trailer brake output circuit, the vehicle comprising:

• the trailer brake output circuit configured to output a trailer brake output signal;
• and
• an electronic control unit configured to:
• receive a signal from a vehicle stability control system, the signal indicating that a vehicle stability control flag is set;
• generate the trailer brake output signal in response to the vehicle stability control flag being set such that the trailer brake output signal ramps up to a target value over a predefined period of time;
• maintain the trailer brake output signal at the target value while the vehicle stability control flag is set;
• and
• output the trailer brake output signal such that the trailer brake output signal ramps down from the target value when the vehicle stability control flag changes from set to not set.

A method of controlling a trailer brake output circuit of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal from a vehicle stability control system, the signal indicating that a vehicle stability control flag is set;
• generating, by an electronic control unit of the vehicle, a trailer brake output signal in response to the vehicle stability control flag being set such that the trailer brake output signal ramps up to a target value over a predefined period of time;
• maintaining, by the electronic control unit of the vehicle, the trailer brake output signal at the target value while the vehicle stability control flag is set;
• and
• outputting, by the electronic control unit of the vehicle, the trailer brake output signal such that the trailer brake output signal ramps down from the target value when the vehicle stability control flag changes from set to not set.