Trailer Brake Controller Help.

N80 · Dec 13, 2009

My F-150 has a basic 4 wire flat trailer wiring connector. I need to pull a two horse trailer that has electronic brakes. I've pulled larger loads (my tractor on a flatbed trailer with no brakes) and it does just fine but I would like take advantage of the trailer brakes on the horse trailer.

I know nothing about electronic brakes and less about wiring but it looks like most everything is already in place on the truck. There is a plug under the dash for the trailer brake controller. If the controller does not come with a "Ford" plug adapter, one came with the truck. All I'd have to do is splice the color coded wires from the Ford plug to the back of the controller.

On the back of the truck all I'd need to do is buy and install a 7 wire plug and plug it in to the existing wiring. I'll bite the bullet and buy it from Ford since it will be wired to plug right in. The Ford wiring diagram shows it and I've looked underneath and it is there.

You have to plug some sort of 'relays' into the fuse box, but these also came with the truck.

So, my questions are this:

1) How much do I need to spend on a trailer brake controller and what to look for when I buy one? It will be used infrequently and will not be pulling anything more than the two horse trailer or my tractor (well below 7000 pounds total load).

2) If I need to splice the wires from the trailer brake controller to the truck adapter harness, what type of connections do I need to use. I'd rather not spend the money on specialized crimping tools if I don't have to.

Thanks for any advice you guys can give.

P.S.: The trailer I borrow to tow my tractor (very very rarely) is old and does not have brakes of any sort. Do modern consumer level flat bed trailers have electronic brakes?

kennyd · Dec 13, 2009

Average price will be about $100 for the controller, Tekonsha is a good name to look for.

You can buy the wiring kit for a plug-n-play install if you don't wan to splice wires.

Most states require brakes if the load is greater than 3000lbs., sound like you are illegal and dangerous when you tow your tractor.

Reg · Dec 13, 2009

N80 said:
My F-150 has a basic 4 wire flat trailer wiring connector. I need to pull a two horse trailer that has electronic brakes. I've pulled larger loads (my tractor on a flatbed trailer with no brakes) and it does just fine but I would like take advantage of the trailer brakes on the horse trailer.

I know nothing about electronic brakes and less about wiring but it looks like most everything is already in place on the truck. There is a plug under the dash for the trailer brake controller. If the controller does not come with a "Ford" plug adapter, one came with the truck. All I'd have to do is splice the color coded wires from the Ford plug to the back of the controller.

On the back of the truck all I'd need to do is buy and install a 7 wire plug and plug it in to the existing wiring. I'll bite the bullet and buy it from Ford since it will be wired to plug right in. The Ford wiring diagram shows it and I've looked underneath and it is there.

You have to plug some sort of 'relays' into the fuse box, but these also came with the truck.

So, my questions are this:

1) How much do I need to spend on a trailer brake controller and what to look for when I buy one? It will be used infrequently and will not be pulling anything more than the two horse trailer or my tractor (well below 7000 pounds total load).

2) If I need to splice the wires from the trailer brake controller to the truck adapter harness, what type of connections do I need to use. I'd rather not spend the money on specialized crimping tools if I don't have to.

Thanks for any advice you guys can give.

P.S.: The trailer I borrow to tow my tractor (very very rarely) is old and does not have brakes of any sort. Do modern consumer level flat bed trailers have electronic brakes?

I suggest you visit e-trailer.com and see if there is a plug and play wiring connector to get you to a 7 pin outlet.
These generally just plug into the rear light wiring by unplugging a connector and plugging the bit you buy between the plug and socket you just disconnected.
There might be a factory part available too, that requires chat with the parts counter guy, ask what wiring there is for the truck WITH the trailer tow package.
Gee, I don't know what year your truck is, or I could do all this for you.

Then the brake controller itself; Tekonsha is a very popular brand and I would guess they are up around $130 now.
You will need a wiring pigtail to connect it to the panel that is either by your left foot or somewhere under the dash, usually on the left of the steering column.

BTW, electric brakes SUCK !
Sorry, but they just DO !
Better than nothing and for ANY horse trailer you NEED them.

mrennie · Dec 13, 2009

Hi George:

First thing, the brakes are electric, not electronic, although the brake controller is electronic

You should be able to get a decent controller for around $100-125. I bought a new Tekonsha Voyageur controller new on eBay about 4 years ago for $50 and they were worth $120 at the time so deals are out there.

Controllers are rated for 1, 2, or more axles, so you need to consider how many axles on your trailer have brakes and buy a controller that can handle that many brakes.

If you have a factory harness that connects to the brake controller and just plugs into the truck's wiring, the best way to connect this harness to the brake controller would be to solder the wires and cover with heat shrink tubing. I suppose blue crimp connectors would work OK (and I am sure thousands of people do it this way) but considering the importance of trailer brakes I prefer to solder the wires.

Michael

Steve C · Dec 13, 2009

N80 said:
My F-150 has a basic 4 wire flat trailer wiring connector. I need to pull a two horse trailer that has electronic brakes. I've pulled larger loads (my tractor on a flatbed trailer with no brakes) and it does just fine but I would like take advantage of the trailer brakes on the horse trailer.

I know nothing about electronic brakes and less about wiring but it looks like most everything is already in place on the truck. There is a plug under the dash for the trailer brake controller. If the controller does not come with a "Ford" plug adapter, one came with the truck. All I'd have to do is splice the color coded wires from the Ford plug to the back of the controller.

On the back of the truck all I'd need to do is buy and install a 7 wire plug and plug it in to the existing wiring. I'll bite the bullet and buy it from Ford since it will be wired to plug right in. The Ford wiring diagram shows it and I've looked underneath and it is there.

You have to plug some sort of 'relays' into the fuse box, but these also came with the truck.

So, my questions are this:

1) How much do I need to spend on a trailer brake controller and what to look for when I buy one? It will be used infrequently and will not be pulling anything more than the two horse trailer or my tractor (well below 7000 pounds total load).

2) If I need to splice the wires from the trailer brake controller to the truck adapter harness, what type of connections do I need to use. I'd rather not spend the money on specialized crimping tools if I don't have to.

Thanks for any advice you guys can give.

P.S.: The trailer I borrow to tow my tractor (very very rarely) is old and does not have brakes of any sort. Do modern consumer level flat bed trailers have electronic brakes?

Any RV service department can help you. Ask them for a price for a complete installed controler and rear plug and with the 7 to 4 pin adapter plug for when you want to tow a trailer with the flat 4 connectors.

I think the last controler I bought was about $60. I installed it myself in about an hour. I have had 4 or five of them over the years and they all worked pretty good. Wal-Mart even sells them.

N80 · Dec 13, 2009

Thanks guys.

As for illegal and dangerous. I don't know. Pretty sure it isn't illegal. You don't even have to have tags here. As for dangerous, maybe, but if so, there's a lot of dangerous going on around here. Not saying its okay, just common.

Anyway, you guys are right, most of the brands I looked at make an adapter harness from the controller to the truck for around $15. For me, its worth buying the harness and avoiding my own wiring job.

Electric vs electronic? Now you know how much I know about electramaticity.

I don't know why electric brakes stink, but I'm assuming they're better than nothing. All of the bumper pull two horse trailers I have access to have them. What is better? The inertial types? I've pulled those too, but they were flat beds not horse trailers. I don't own this horse trailer. If I were to buy one is there an alternative to electric brakes?

One of the things I noticed in the units around $100 is that they are self leveling, which sounds like it would be worth it compared to cheaper ones and me trying to get one level under the dash.

The other thing I'm not sure about is that some say 'proportional' and some say 'timed'. Not sure what that means.

Thanks again for all the help guys!

tommu56 · Dec 13, 2009

Wire nuts will work to connect the larger wires make sure you put them on tight and tape them so if they loosen they will not come off, and a scotch lock for the brake switch tap.

I do prefer crimps but wire nuts will work.

go to this page it has a good sketch.

Trailer Brake Controller Information

and truck wiring

tom

JoelD · Dec 13, 2009

I have a timed controller.

I press on the brake and then after a brief delay the brakes are applied until they hit the setting I have set. I can set from little brake to a lot of brake.

I would not recommend the timed for someone who's not proficient at driving with a trailer and familiar with adjusting or manually applying more brake when needed.

I works for me as I rarely tow and when I do I'm in no rush to get to where I'm going.

Proportional would mean to me, the more brake you apply at the truck the more brake is applied to the trailer.

I'm not sure if there is a mercury switch or what to detect braking force from the truck end, not sure if there is some sort of pendulum or what, maybe a gyro of some type, I know it must have something to do with the self leveling thing.

In the old days, my dad's van had a controller that attached to the brake pedal it's self, the harder you pressed the brake pedal the more brake to the trailer. I remember the handle moving as he'd hit the brakes.

I can see the advantage to the hydraulic brakes with the actuator on the tongue of the trailer, fully self contained, proportional to your truck's braking etc.

One thing I do remember about my dad's set up was he could use just trailer brakes and no truck brakes. I can do the same with my timed controller and I bet the new proportional also let you do it. He got cut off my a woman one day and she hooked our bumper and was pulling us off the road, he hit the trailer brakes and stopped the entire train from the back with no chance of jacknife.

You'd not be able to apply just the trailer brakes with the hydraulic tongue actuator type, at least I don't think you can.

Joel

Diamondpilot · Dec 13, 2009

I buy and sell boats for a side job and take care of the issues you mentioned on a monthly basis. You have the wiring part figured out. As for the controller for as little as you tow just get a $50 unit at WalMart. They all do the same thing but more $$$$ equals more features and the only one I have used and installed that is greatly better than a entry level one is going to cost you $400. Yes the Prodigy is good but for a guy who will tow just a few times a year the $50 unit does everything you need an will handle upto 3 axle trailers.

Here is a great company to buy from. Best prices around, good people, and the help section has step by step for most trucks with photo's

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

Here is also a guide I use for my customers. It has all the states laws.

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/laws.asp

Here is another but harder to read but printable.

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

In your state of SC any trailer over 3000# GVWR must have trailer brakes. Many think this means on all axles but I have spoken to many manufactures and most states do not state. So you can have a tandem with just brakes on one axle.

Chris

N80 · Dec 13, 2009

Thanks guys. Excellent help. I pull my tractor only very rarely. Once every couple of years. But, there is the possibility that I'll be pulling the horse trailer once a month and the Prodigy comes with the Ford adapter harness for $113. The Hopkins is about $115 with the adapter. I'll go to TSC or Walmart and see what they have too.

You guys are great.

Good to know the state law too.