Brakes are the most critical component for fifth wheel safety. It is very good that Janice has stated that our units have manual adjusting brakes. They must be adjusted so that the brake shoes are very close to the drums but not rubbing when not applied. Brake application causes a magnet to energize a cam action lever that spreads the tops of the shoes and causes them to contact the drums, more voltage from the controller means more spreading of the shoes relative to the drum=more stopping power. But as others have said much more clearly than I, the brakes on the tow vehicle and fifth wheel must be in a harmonious relationship, meaning the fifth wheel is neither pushing forward or pulling back on the tow vehicle upon brake application. The mechanical parts (shoes and drums) must first be properly adjusted before the electrical parts (controller output) can be properly set. Many have said that the self-adjusting brakes that we can retrofit are a lot better than standard. But from my years in auto/light truck repair, a vast majority of vehicles with front disc/rear drum brake setups with self adjusting rear brakes go through four or five sets of front pads and the rear brake shoes still have lining left. Why?? I'm afraid the answer is- drivers do not know how to make the rear self adjusters WORK and the rear brakes are not even working during light to moderate braking. The vehicle needs to be backed up with some speed (not crawling) and the brake pedal must be pushed pretty hard. Unfortunately, according to the information I am reading on etrailer.com, their Nev-E-Adjust brakes work the same way. Some of you may be able to do otherwise, but all the situations I get in requiring backing are pretty much crawling, so I question how well the self-adjusting would work!