Help, inadequate tow package wiring

[Lazy-Boy]

I just purchased a new brake controller and the documentation it came with stated:

“For all Dodge tow vehicles equipped with the Factory Tow Package Brake Connector, the 15 amp fused power line will not be sufficient for 3 and 4 axle applications. For 3 and 4 axle applications, a separate power wire directly connected to the battery with a 30 amp automatic reset circuit breaker inline is required…”



I bought this unit because I’m pulling a very large, heavy loaded gooseneck this weekend. It only has two axles ( 8 wheels) but it’s a very large trailer.



I suppose it will be OK and don’t need to worry about this - this time around anyway. But have any of you heard about this on our trucks - or made adjustments for this?



The unit is a bran new Tekonsha Prodigy but it has nothing to do with controller. It’s about the factory wiring.



TIA

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I seriously suspect that any trailer large enough to require 3 or more axles would greatly exceed the legal GCWR for the truck anyway - DC probably doesn't intend to provide much more than what falls within the design limits of their product.

 

[Casey Balvert]

I think you will find that there is a 40 amp fuse for the brake controller on your truck. My 97 did.



Casey

 

[HBarlow]

Lazy-Boy,



From the text of your post you are apparently more interested in pulling goose neck cargo trailers than RV or travel trailers so this might not be of any interest to you. Triple axle travel trailers such as 34' Avions and 34' Airstreams have GVWRs or total loaded weights of approximately 9k to 9. 5k pounds. If your Ram is equipped with a manual five or six speed transmission, either of those trailers should be within the gross combined weight rating of your Ram but their brakes would exceed the 15 amp limitation. A triple axle fifth wheel or goose neck cargo trailer would be much heavier and would probably exceed your GCWR as well as the current limit of the 15 amp fuse.



A typical electric trailer brake installation draws a maximum of three amps per brake. A tandem axle trailer with four brakes will draw 12 amps, a triple axle with six brakes will draw 18 amps of current.



You should be okay pulling a tandem axle trailer.



Harvey

 

[klenger]

It only has two axles ( 8 wheels) but it’s a very large trailer.

Please explain?

 

[SRadke]

Sounds like it has duals.



-Scott

 

[Casey Balvert]

Well, I have tandem axles with duals (8 wheels) on my fiver and my draw is around 12 amps cold. Magnets pretty well draw around 3 amps each no matter what size brakes. I don't think you will have a problem.

 

[Lazy-Boy]

Thanks for all the responses.

I agree that I should be fine. I was really interested in you folks that are currently pulling triple axle campers like HBarlow referred to. It either works fine, or you never noticed.



I'll be getting a camper in the next few years once this truck is paid for. Just wondering if I need to avoid triple axles altogether or make some adjustment.



Casey, I'll try and see what fuse and gauge are used on my 01. It may indeed be a mistake in Tekonsha's documentation.



HBarlow, thanks for the details.



klenger, yes it's like what SRadke said - it has duals.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Good luck. Check the shop manual. I think you will find a 40 amp fuse that covers the controller and 12 volt circuits to the trailer. I read that in the Tekonsha material as well and figured they were referring to older models, not the 2nd and 3rd gen.



Casey

 

[HBarlow]

Lazy-Boy:



I think Casey is correct. I don't own the triple axle Airstream any longer but I towed a friend and fellow TDR member's triple axle Avion with my 2nd Gen truck before he had his brake controller installed. I towed his trailer about 20 miles to a tire retailer on a mix of rural roads and city traffic. I didn't trip any breakers or blow any fuses and I had normal trailer braking. I think Tekonsha is using outdated information.



Harvey

 

[Firewalker]

Looking in the 2003 shop manual, the trailer tow power feed is a 40 amp braker. The wire is red with orange tracer and it is a 14 guage wire.

 

[Lazy-Boy]

Hey thanks for looking that up guys!



If they call for a 30 amp minimum, and we're providing a 40, then I ain't gonna worry about any of it.



Casey said his 97 had a 40 amp. So Tekonsha just needs to update their documentation (really bad).