7 pin trailer plug question

[OCarney]

I am seeing a lot of horse trailers we move with electric over hydraulic brakes. I was told the center pin on the 7 pin plug on the truck has to be hot. Is there an adapter to do this with or does it need to be wired? Also heard the prodigy controller wont work with the elec/hyd brakes. Any one have experience with this that can comment? Thanks.

 

[GerryDrake]

I am certainly up for corrections, but in the 7 pin scheme, the center pin is back up lights... . some trailers do and some don't have them, of course.



In the February issue of Trailer Life magazine, there is an article about converting trailer brakes to electric/hydraulic disc brakes, including using the Prodigy. Well worth the read. . The article is available online, but I think only to subscribers... at www.trailerlife.com

 

[OCarney]

Thanks. I could not access it online. I will try to get a copy today at Books A Million. Looks like some good reading.

 

[klenger]

You can find info on the trailer brake plug wiring at http://www.klenger.net/dodge/7-pin-connector-installation/index.html.



There are also links to the factory wiring diagrams for the towing harness.

 

[GerryDrake]

I just looked at the end of the article, and that particular manufacturer's site is www.towbrake.com



Some interesting info there... Gerry

 

[jacqnbill]

I am seeing a lot of horse trailers we move with electric over hydraulic brakes. I was told the center pin on the 7 pin plug on the truck has to be hot. Is there an adapter to do this with or does it need to be wired? Also heard the prodigy controller wont work with the elec/hyd brakes. Any one have experience with this that can comment? Thanks.

I just picked up my fifth wheel last week from Teton with elect over hydraulic disk brakes and they gave me a Prodogy controller and said that is what Dexter recommends with their El/Hyd Disk Brakes. I had a BrakeSmart so I didn't use it.



Bill Davis

 

[TX Gooseneck]

That's bassackwards from what dexter told us. On the Predator elec/hydra controller, the Prodigy will NOT work. It sends a trace pulse that activates the system and locks the brakes up approx. every 10 seconds. Dexter recommended we tell our customers to use an analog controller or to talk to http://www.masterbrake.com/ about their controllers. Initially we were told to use the prodigy (several years ago). When we reported the problems we were having to Dexter they told us not to use a digital controller.



And the 7th prong is an aux. line mostly used for back up lights or something along those lines.

 

[OCarney]

I drove 70 miles the other day to get a horse trailer, & when I hooked it up my controller said not connected. After checking my connections, pulling forward to check if I had trailer brakes, checking fuses and using test light to check plug on the truck, I asked if the trailer had elec/hyd brakes. When the guys looked it did. So after all that, I made 140 mile round trip for no pay :{ . The last travel trailer I hooked up, after the horse trailer, everything was fine. I will be in Indiana Monday & will find out exactly what I need to do, if anyone at Horizon can tell me. They are who said center plug needs to be hot for elec/hyd brake setup . I will post what I find when I get back.

 

[jacqnbill]

That's bassackwards from what dexter told us. On the Predator elec/hydra controller, the Prodigy will NOT work. It sends a trace pulse that activates the system and locks the brakes up approx. every 10 seconds. Dexter recommended we tell our customers to use an analog controller or to talk to http://www.masterbrake.com/ about their controllers. Initially we were told to use the prodigy (several years ago). When we reported the problems we were having to Dexter they told us not to use a digital controller.



And the 7th prong is an aux. line mostly used for back up lights or something along those lines.

Sorry I was wrong about the Prodigy controller. They gave me a "Predator DX2" controller made by or for Dextor. It has Dextor's name on it. It states for two axles but Teton said it works on a three axle system. Forgive my sometimers CRS memory.



Bill Davis

 

[TX Gooseneck]

Bill,



That makes sense. I bought prodigy's for all of my trucks, hooked up to a customer's trailer with elecdraulic brakes and it felt like someone grabbed me by the collar and yanked - every 10 seconds I've still got them in my two older trucks, but I'll be replacing them fairly quick.