No Brake Controller

[Soundguy]

Forgo to add.. you can get a chep hoppy controller for 50$, and then get the adapter plug for your truck if your truck is from 98+.. usually then just needs a circuit breaker or maxi fuse.. and then you are good to go.

takes like 10 minutes to install.. and only 2 of that is the wireing if your truck is already tow-package capable and has a 7 pin plug. rest of it is physically mounting the box.. etc to yor dash..

soundguy

 

[Diamondpilot]

On the 7 pin connector, ther eis a wire that needs to be swapped sometimes .

I have a gmc ykon, and when i used a 7to6 adapter on my 6pin trailer.. the brakes lock immediatly as aux power hits brake pin... hoppy, the co. that makes the adapter evidentally knows about this non standad wire issue and mak sit so that 7 pin to 6 and 5 pin adapters can be taken apart and swap 2 wires internally to correct this.

gotta love 'standards'.. especially when there are sooo many of them.

soundguy

Yea, that is what we ran into. That's why I just tell everyone to go to 7 pin round and get rid of all the adapters and while you are at it go ahead and get a brake controller. They are getting cheaper every day. See them on Ebay for around $40 for a basic time delay unit.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

and get rid of all the adapters and Chris

You will need the adapter plug to mount the hoppy controller I spoke ok. The controller just comes with a pig tail harness that goes to bare wire. You then need to look on the shelf for the quick connect plug that matches yor tow vehicle, and then but connector the 2 harness' together so that you can plug the brake controller into your truck under the dash.

I would NOT want to try to hardwire one without the correct plug adapter.

soundguy

 

[Diamondpilot]

You will need the adapter plug to mount the hoppy controller I spoke ok. The controller just comes with a pig tail harness that goes to bare wire. You then need to look on the shelf for the quick connect plug that matches yor tow vehicle, and then but connector the 2 harness' together so that you can plug the brake controller into your truck under the dash.

I would NOT want to try to hardwire one without the correct plug adapter.

soundguy

I mean all the adapters back at the hitch/trailer plug. You know the 6 round to 7 round and the 4 flat to 7 round. They usually are the cause of problems for me. I just buy the male 7 round at WalMart for $6 and wire it up to the trailer.

Chris

 

[buckle97]

Here is the company I buy all my stuff from. Its a husband and wife team, and she knows here stuff also, and they are always eager to help. Good people and nice site. I can usually get stuff cheaper even with shipping from them than I can anywhere else.

R and P Carriages Trailer Sales, Service, Parts and Rentals

They have a good how to section with pictures on the help tab. They also sell a ton of stuff through EBAY so look them up.

Chris

Thanks for the link Chris! I just bought a Tekonsha Prodigy controller and adapter for my truck from them and it has already shipped.

 

[BigE_]

That Prodigy controller is a nice controller. I have one on my Blazer, and it works well, especially the self adjusting feature.

Yep, I said Blazer -- 99 TrailBlazer to be exact with a little 4.3L engine. It has no problems pulling 6500 lbs, but stopping was/is an issue with that much weight, so when I had my tractor trailer custom built, I had them add an extra pair of brakes, so now all four tires have brakes. I can stop faster with the trailer on and loaded than I can with no trailer.

Just make sure you adjust your boost when you load your trailer. I went out and got just over 2 cords of very wet birch, along with a new wood stove. I think I was pretty close to the 7500lb limit on the trailer.

I forgot to adjust the boost up from b1 (unloaded) to b3 (loaded). Came up to my first stop sign, hit the brakes, and blew right through it. Woke me up in a hurry. Nope, I didn't even think to hit the emergency lever, happened so fast. You can bet that's one of the things I also double and triple check now whenever I hook up.

-Steve

Oh - final thing - make sure the brake battery is good on that trailer, or the brakes aren't going to work very well.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Thanks for the link Chris! I just bought a Tekonsha Prodigy controller and adapter for my truck from them and it has already shipped.

They are good honest hard working people. The have good prices and will do what ever it takes to get your trailer or truck set up right at a fair price with quick shipping.

Chris

 

[buckle97]

Oh - final thing - make sure the brake battery is good on that trailer, or the brakes aren't going to work very well.

I don't think my trailer has a battery. Is this necessary for the brakes to work?

 

[Soundguy]

The trailer battery is only for the brake-away action to work.. IE.. if your trailer become sdisconnected, there is a pull cable which trips a switch that powers the brakes from a small onboard battery that charges off your tow vehicle.

IF your wiring is correct, and the battery is not shorted out, the e-brakes will work FINE with no battery / breakaway kit on the trailer.

soundguy

 

[buckle97]

The trailer battery is only for the brake-away action to work.. IE.. if your trailer become sdisconnected, there is a pull cable which trips a switch that powers the brakes from a small onboard battery that charges off your tow vehicle.

IF your wiring is correct, and the battery is not shorted out, the e-brakes will work FINE with no battery / breakaway kit on the trailer.

soundguy

Thanks.