[Jim_in_PA]

You absolutely need to get to know how to use your brake controller...your life could depend upon it. The brake controller senses when you are slowing the tow vehicle and applies the trailer brakes proportionally so both tow vehicle and trailer slow at an even and compatible rate, regardless of whether you are braking gently or severely. The controller needs to be adjusted/calibrated so that it's set up to work property with your specific trailer's characteristics, including weight, number of axils/brakes, etc. There is a process to this, often executed in a parking lot somewhere, etc. If your trailer isn't braking properly, the bumping you're being annoyed about will be nothing compared to a severe condition of "tail wagging the dog" if you have to stop suddenly from speed which can result in an accident with great potential for injury or death.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I’m a bit surprised neither Subaru nor the RV Dealer mentioned a brake controller to us when they put on the towing package (hitch mount & electrical wiring) on the Ascent & the RV Dealer set up the trailer for us!

IMHO, the trailer dealer is the one you need to look into the eye. They should have told you the trailer required a brake controller. With very few exceptions, tow vehicles do not come with a brake controller from the manufacturer and those few exceptions tend to be some specific pick-em-up trucks. They should know that if they are a reputable trailer dealer and if they set it up for you, they should have noticed the lack of a brake controller during that process since they couldn't actually test the brakes properly without it.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

Lots of good advice here, but, with respect to all, it is from people who are just speculating.

The majority of comments are coming from folks who tow; some of them quite regularly.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

You will very likely notice a major difference when you have actual, working trailer brakes which you have not experienced so far. No controller. No electric trailer brakes. So your Ascent was doing ALL the work and the trailer was just pushing you hard each time you applied them.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I have a P3 for the same reasons that Robert mentions. Not familiar with any newer offerings. The company makes great controllers, however.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I'm an engineer, and I need to know what the hitch mount does to reduce the tongue weight, if I'm going to scrap the beefy, noisy Subaru hitch ball and get something else ??

The hitch receiver does nothing on any vehicle to reduce tongue weight. There are only two ways to do that...re-balance the trailer to move weight back (limited capability there for both practical and safety reasons) or to use weight distribution which is not permitted by Subaru for the Ascent.

If you want to use a different ball mount, choose what you like of the quality you want to pay for. I prefer heavier duty products for this, personally, but I"m perfectly happy with the OEM 6" drop ball mount that came with my MY19 Ascent. It's well made and is the correct drop for my particular trailer. It no longer makes any noise, compliments of a little black Gorilla tape. Most hitch noise comes from the difference in size between the receiver and the stem of the ball mount that slides into it. Most ball mounts are undersized enough to make noise, but that makes them easier to install and take off.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

That's true, Robert...I wasn't taking the question as having to do with available cargo capacity which does include tongue weight.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

The best thing you can do is to head to a large parking lot with the trailer hooked up and use that space to work through those steps. You actually can "feel" when things happen. If you lock things up...there will be clear indication of that on the pavement, too.