A method for determining an optimal trailer brake calibration for a trailer brake includes a user coasting a vehicle with a trailer attached that includes the trailer brake to a recommended speed, determining a coasting deceleration, pulsing the trailer brake, and then measuring a pulsing deceleration of the vehicle. When the pulsing deceleration is less than or equal to the coasting deceleration, a commanded activation energy of the trailer brake is increased, the pulsing deceleration of the vehicle is remeasured, and the pulsing deceleration is again compared to the coasting deceleration. When the pulsing deceleration is greater than the coasting deceleration, a minimum activation energy of the trailer brake is determined based on the commanded activation energy, the type of the trailer brake is identified, and the optimal trailer brake calibration is determined based on inputting the minimum activation energy into an algorithm.
