Trailer wiring,anyone know

[redharley]

Hey guy's I got a new trailer a 16 footer with electric brakes.My question is this, my old 4 wire plug needs changed to a 7 wire.Is there a place I can get just brake light power to operate the brake control other than at the brake light switch.I have a 95 Chev. Tahoe. the switch looks like a real pain to get too.

 

[redharley]

Hey guy's I got a new trailer a 16 footer with electric brakes.My question is this, my old 4 wire plug needs changed to a 7 wire.Is there a place I can get just brake light power to operate the brake control other than at the brake light switch.I have a 95 Chev. Tahoe. the switch looks like a real pain to get too.

 

[63DH8]

NAPA, Shucks, Pep Boys, et al should have a simple plug-in that plugs in at the wiring harness under your rear bumper. It's a simple unplug your old connectors and plug the truck's connectors into the adaptor. You then connect the wires from the adaptor to the plug. It'll look like a factory job instead of a cut-hack job when you're finished.

 

[63DH8]

NAPA, Shucks, Pep Boys, et al should have a simple plug-in that plugs in at the wiring harness under your rear bumper. It's a simple unplug your old connectors and plug the truck's connectors into the adaptor. You then connect the wires from the adaptor to the plug. It'll look like a factory job instead of a cut-hack job when you're finished.

 

[Soundguy]

The connector that the previous poster refered to will only give you brake lamps and signals.. no brake action. To get the brakes.. you need to buy a controller. amny vehicles have the option plug under the dash where your knees are... it's a standard plug, and you can get a kit. TSC sells the plug kit, and the controllers for a decent price.. then you would need to run the extra wireing back to the trailer plug and convert to a 6 or 7 pin plug. Will also need either a CB or fuse depending on your model of truck.. many GM's use a big fuse under a cover under the hood..

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

The connector that the previous poster refered to will only give you brake lamps and signals.. no brake action. To get the brakes.. you need to buy a controller. amny vehicles have the option plug under the dash where your knees are... it's a standard plug, and you can get a kit. TSC sells the plug kit, and the controllers for a decent price.. then you would need to run the extra wireing back to the trailer plug and convert to a 6 or 7 pin plug. Will also need either a CB or fuse depending on your model of truck.. many GM's use a big fuse under a cover under the hood..

Soundguy

 

[RayH]

As stated above you will need a brake controller if you want to use the trailer brakes. A brake controller kit comes self contained with everything you need to wire the drake controller in except the round 7 plug itself.
As far as converting your flat 4 to round 7, check out auto parts stores, Tractor Supply type places or even the internet. You may be able to find an adaptor to go from flat 4 to round 7. That would save you any cutting or splicing, then all you would need to do is wire the controller in. If you cant find an adaptor thats ok, converting it from flat 4 to round 7 is simple and only takes a few minutes. No reason to go chasing wires if you have access to the rear of your flat 4 plug. as all the wires are color coded and match right up. Just buy a round 7 plug and cut and splice your existing flat 4 wires into it. You can do this and not use the trailer brakes just to get the trailer home and install the brake controller later.
When I installed my brake controller and round 7, I just cut and spliced wires from my existing flat 4 but I ran a T off of the wires so I now have both flat 4 and round 7 mounted under my bumper ready for whatever trailer Im using.

 

[RayH]

As stated above you will need a brake controller if you want to use the trailer brakes. A brake controller kit comes self contained with everything you need to wire the drake controller in except the round 7 plug itself.
As far as converting your flat 4 to round 7, check out auto parts stores, Tractor Supply type places or even the internet. You may be able to find an adaptor to go from flat 4 to round 7. That would save you any cutting or splicing, then all you would need to do is wire the controller in. If you cant find an adaptor thats ok, converting it from flat 4 to round 7 is simple and only takes a few minutes. No reason to go chasing wires if you have access to the rear of your flat 4 plug. as all the wires are color coded and match right up. Just buy a round 7 plug and cut and splice your existing flat 4 wires into it. You can do this and not use the trailer brakes just to get the trailer home and install the brake controller later.
When I installed my brake controller and round 7, I just cut and spliced wires from my existing flat 4 but I ran a T off of the wires so I now have both flat 4 and round 7 mounted under my bumper ready for whatever trailer Im using.

 

[Dmace]

Technically, you could probrably tap into the brake light power to initiate the brakes, but light switches are on/off only. Do you really want your trailer brakes full on or full off whenever you tap the brakes in the truck ?

Definitly get the brake controller, you can get them for as little as $100.

 

[Dmace]

Technically, you could probrably tap into the brake light power to initiate the brakes, but light switches are on/off only. Do you really want your trailer brakes full on or full off whenever you tap the brakes in the truck ?

Definitly get the brake controller, you can get them for as little as $100.