Brake controller wiring

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Are the Dodge trucks prewired for brake controller like Chevy is or do I have to run all new wires? Fixin to start pulling a travel trailer and gotta have one.

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1994 Ram 2500 Laramie SLT, 12 valve, 2WD, Auto. Ranch Hand steel brush guard, Westin Step bars. sprayed in liner. K&N RE-0880 filter, silencer ring removed, Flowmaster muffler, chrome turn down pipe out the side, Velvet ride shackles. www.gitchesumatfreeweb.com

 

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My '98. 5 quad cab diesel 4wd came pre-wired, however it was trailer tow equipped except for the hitch, which was put on at the dealer. The trailer shop put my controller on and said that the connection was under the truck. I believe they had to route the conttroller wires out of the cab then hook them up, but I am not positive. I would imangine that if you do not get a truck with a trailer tow pkg, then the wires would not be there.

 

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If it has the tow package it is. Your service manual will have the diagram for the trailer connector. On my '95 the brake wire from the controller was just a clipped off blue wire near the steering column. It took a little rooting around to find. No connector so you have to wire it to the controller. I used a four wire trailer connector under the dash to connect this wire and others to the controller so I could remove the controller easily if I needed to. I think later models had a connector in the wiring.

 

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My 95 had a light blue wire tucked into the harness near and on the right side of the steering column bracket, close to the firewall. It had a label saying something about trailer brakes. The other wires were also present, going to the 7 blade connector at the rear. If you don't have trailer tow package, I don't know what you have. However, the factory used rather wimpy wires back then, like 14 ga. for the brakes. I would use 10 gauge for brakes, 8 gauge for hot (to charge the trailer battery etc. ), and an 8 gauge ground to the battery. Run the hot lead to the 120 amp fuse in the power distribution center on the left inner fender. My 97 did not come with the trailer pkg but had some of the harness--the part back to the connector behind the left front wheel.
Hope this helps.

 

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On my 2001, there is a plug under the dash to the left of the steering column. A plug with pigtail for hooking to the controller was in the glove box. Cool setup. Just splice the wires and plug it in.

[This message has been edited by TVKilgore (edited 07-20-2000). ]

 

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I have a 2001 ETH with trailer tow package. There is a blue 4 wire connector behind/above the parking brake. The wire leads are labeled "Trailer brake controller".

Unfortunately, there was no female half to the connector in my glove box. The dealer's parts guy can't find a corresponding part number for it, either. I have my controller wiring "temped" in, which I'm not really happy about. I've been trying to get it fixed right.

Anyone know who makes the connector? Or, is there a good aftermarket supplier for a 4 pin connector? Nothing like sleuthing for a 10 cent part!




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Adam
adam_farnham@yahoo.com

 

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I have a few of the pigtail kits that are normally left in the glovebox. Anyone interested can shoot me an email.

-Mike

 

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I think it was a 97 that I wired that the under dash connector was there but it was ordered without the trailer/tow package so these wires ran trhough the firewall and terminated at the frame next to the drivers side front wheel well.

Draw-Tite makes an after market pig tail for the newer Dodges, Fords and Chev/GMC's. pn: 18261 for 1995-1999.

 

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Adam,

Try this at the Dodge parts counter:
Electric Brake Installation Harness - part # 56020142AB.
If you want a kit that contains the harness plus a 7-pin to 4-pin adapter try part #56020143AD.

 

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My '2000 didn'thave the tow pkg. or a hitch. Had to do it all from scratch.
"And I did it... Myyyyyy Wayyyyyyyyyyyy"! #ad
#ad


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"Axekicker"
Las Vegas
'00, 2500/QC/SWB, 4X4, A/T, SLT, White/Grey,... Properly Valved.

 

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The connector pigtail for trailer brake controller that goes under the dash and plugs into the factory harness and comes with the tow package is $70. 00 from D/C if you dont have one, another D/C rip off. The brake wiring on the factory tow package is not heavy enough to make the brakes work hardly at all. I thought mine wernt working and checked voltage at the rear connector and it was 7 volts. heavy wire makes it work good.
John

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96 SLT Laramie CC 5spd, 3. 54, no muff, no cat 80gal fuel capacity.
Member NRA/USPSA

 

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Camping World sells the pigtail that plugs into the factory wiring harness if you don't have the one that comes in the trailer tow package.

I have used the factory wiring harness on both my '97 and '00 and the trailer brakes work fine on both. I have 4 wheel electric brakes on my 5er. I you have a 3 axle trailer with 6 wheel brakes you will need to get a brake controller that can handle 6 wheels.

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Y2K 3500QC, 6 Speed, 4. 10, SLT+, Camper & Tow Pkg. , Westin Chrome Nerf Bars, Mopar Flaps, Reese 20K Hitch, V-A CPC, EGT & Boost Gauges, RPM 45 Gallon Aux. Fuel Tank, Highway Products 5th Wheel Toolbox, ECM Controlled PacBrake, Painless Wiring Kit, Mag-Hytec Diff. Cover, 80% Towing Hitchhiker II 31', 2 slideouts, 19,750 GCW

 

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Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. I still find it amazing that I can get so much information in one place. Unfortunately, I've been trying several suggestions without any luck.

MikeR- if you could zap me your email address I'll get in touch.

Wasn't able to locate either the DC #56020142AB or the Draw Tite #18261 parts here in Annapolis, MD. Apparently both are not available locally or my parts guys are using the wrong books (either is possible).

For kicks I looked up the SAE recommended practice for truck and trailer wiring, J1292. It recommends a feed wire size of 12 gauge for runs longer than 50', and 14 gage for runs shorter than 50'. Ground wire is a minimum recommended size of 10 gage.

The National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 70, recommends a maximum current draw of 25 A through a 14 gage wire, 30 A through a 12 gage wire and 40 A through a 10 gage wire, for 194 F temperature rise at an 86 F ambient.

Don't know if this had been posted somewhere else, but it is interesting. Since the trailer wiring circuit is protected for 40 A in the fuse block, seems like the power wiring, aux, and brake controller circuits should be heavied up for a 40 A load. I think they're either 14 or 16 gage now, which would give them only 18 A or 25 A capacity per NEC.

Guess Axekicker's idea is a good one - use the big wires!



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-Adam
2001 ETH DEE, 3. 54, black, with lighting, snow plow, trailer tow pkgs. , SLT group

 

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Email address didn't show up on my last post. Here it is:

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-Adam
adam_farnham@yahoo.com
'01 2500 ETH DEE, 4wd, 3. 54 X-spin rear, black, with lighting, camper special, snow plow, trailer tow pkgs, SLT group, Walker Airsep and brake controller

 

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Originally posted by gitchesum:
Are the Dodge trucks prewired for brake controller like Chevy is or do I have to run all new wires? Fixin to start pulling a travel trailer and gotta have one.

It would help to know the year of your truck
and weather it has the tow package.