Brake control unit

A method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle, said method comprising:

• receiving a first signal relating to at least one of an operating condition of a towing vehicle, a manual input, and an operating condition of a towed vehicle, said first signal being received via a communication bus of said towing vehicle;
• sending a second signal to brakes of said towed vehicle, said second signal based on said first signal;
• sending a third signal to said towing vehicle via said communication bus, said third signal relating to said operating condition of at least one of said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle;
• and
• storing said third signal in a memory.

A brake control unit comprising:

• a processor;
• a first signal relating to at least one of an operating condition of a towing vehicle, a manual input, and an operating condition of a towed vehicle, said first signal sent to said processor via a communication bus of said towing vehicle;
• and
• a second signal sent by said processor to brakes of said towed vehicle, said second signal based on said first signal.

A brake control unit comprising:

• a first signal sent from a towing vehicle's communication bus, said first signal relating to at least one operating condition of said towing vehicle and said towed vehicle;
• a processor capable of receiving said first signal;
• a second signal sent from said processor to brakes of a towed vehicle, said second signal based on said first signal;
• a third signal sent to said towing vehicle from said processor, said third signal based on a failure of at least one of said towing vehicle, said towed vehicle, and said brake control unit;
• and
• memory operably coupled to said processor to store said third signal.

A method for controlling braking of a towed vehicle, said method comprising:

• receiving a first signal via a communication bus of a towing vehicle, said first signal relating to anti-lock brakes of said towing vehicle;
• sending a second signal to brakes of said towed vehicle, said second signal based on said first signal;
• releasing said brakes to prevent wheels of said towed vehicle from locking;
• and
• reapplying said brakes of said towed vehicle based on said first signal.