braking controller inside caravan.

There are some brake controllers that have the main guts of the controller buried in the trailer and a small radio linked remote control in the cab of the tug. Tekonsha have this sort of set-up but it is not available in Oz (probably something to do with the radio frequency not compatible with our bands.) The other one I know of is the Redarc unit. For preference I would not use this one as it is nao a proportional type.

They may have fitted one of those Redarc units in the van and will give you a remote to carry with you. You may need power fed to pin 2 of your trailer socket for it to work. If not and they are taking the power for it from an internal battery then if the battery gets a little flat then you will not have brakes. Not a good situation.

If you have a good proportional controller in your tug I suggest you get them to revert the van to standard brake wiring whilst you have the van. You will have much better van brakes if you get this done.

Before you alter anything check exactly what it is.
The unit might be a Emergency Breakaway controller, but is being said to you as "THE" brake controller. Big difference in the function of both systems which can operate together and are fitted to many vans.
One you use and the other the van switches on when it goes walkies by itself.

Check before diving in.

Agree with ross m, see what there talking about. doesn't sound common. brake controller ( electronic) normally installed in car near driver so you can manually adjust amount of braking (slider on controller) and manually override as well. Also Check if van has electric controllable brakes and weight of van to see if needed .
MG

It is all to common to see trailers fitted with the controller in the trailer or on the drawbar.

to put it frankly...this is piss @#%$ poor

The other issue with these controllers fitted in or on the trailers is that are almost without exception cheap non enertia operated controllers that provide only a fixed amount of braking effort.

If the trailer you are hiring is a relativly small unit and you don't expect much of the braking system...it will probably be fine......it would not be for me.

It should be a relatively straight forward matter to bypass the controler in or on the trailer, the problem iis the trailer probably will not be wired properly for electric brakes, they will almost certainly be running off the brake light circuit in the trailer plug.

if all this sounds rough.....damn straight....but there are thousands of trailers on the roads like this.

Seriously, I'd be looking for a trailer that will work with a proper controler

cheers