Trailer brake controller 04 w/o trailer tow pack

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M

MoCruiser

10 Year
Joined
Nov 7, 2011
Threads
2
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15
Location
Fly over zone
I know this has been asked and answered, but I've searched and cannot find the answer..
I have a 04 100.. It does not have the towing package installed. It has a drawtite hitch that looks good. The previous owner installed it, and the 7 pin harness etc for pulling a boat. Everything works fine..
I want to pull a 5,000 lb airstream, and I don't want to do it without a trailer brake.
FYI, I'm also going to add the airbags..

If you don't have the trailer towing package, is the 04 100 still presided for a trailer brake? If not, has anyone done a "how to" thread on installing a trailer brake on a 100 without being prewired for a controller?

Also, what is a good source for the airbags?

Maybe I'm just not a good searcher.. I couldn't find it. I tried.. :bang:

Thanks,
Jeff
 
I intended to say above.. Is the 04 without the trailer towing package still "pre-wired" for a trailer brake?

Couldn't find a way to edit the original post.. Auto spell correct got me.
 
MoCruiser said:
I know this has been asked and answered, but I've searched and cannot find the answer..
I have a 04 100.. It does not have the towing package installed. It has a drawtite hitch that looks good. The previous owner installed it, and the 7 pin harness etc for pulling a boat. Everything works fine..
I want to pull a 5,000 lb airstream, and I don't want to do it without a trailer brake.
FYI, I'm also going to add the airbags..

If you don't have the trailer towing package, is the 04 100 still presided for a trailer brake? If not, has anyone done a "how to" thread on installing a trailer brake on a 100 without being prewired for a controller?

Also, what is a good source for the airbags?

Maybe I'm just not a good searcher.. I couldn't find it. I tried.. :bang:

Thanks,
Jeff
Click to expand...
If you can't contact the PO to double-check his installation, a pre-wired car will have a rectangular 4-pin connector somewhere up under the dash...Wires should be white, black, blue, and red. If it's not pre-wired, you'll need to hook into a good chassis ground point, +12v from the battery with a fuse or breaker, trigger wire from the brake pedal switch, and brake-to-trailer wire.

You can grab left turn, right turn, and tail lights at the back end, you should be able to t-into a connector on the rear passenger's side.

The Prodigy is a great controller...I move it from the LX to swmbo's :princess:
big-*** Dodge with a Cummins pulling a loaded 3-horse trailer. I doubt you can do better.

hth

Steve
 
Another long-time Prodigy user, towing a race car rig with my LC.
My 99 was not pre-wired, so had to do it from scratch:
- Wire +12 straight from the battery through a 20Amp self-resetting thermal fuse that will be available from most places that sell electric brake controllers.
- Take that +12 to the Tekonsha, along with a good ground and a tap from the stop light switch on the brake pedal.
- You will need to run a 10 gauge wire from the Tekonsha all the way back to your 7 pin trailer plug.
- Based on what you said above, you should be able to terminate that 10G line from the Tekonsha right into the current 7 pin plug. Given all other trailer lights are working now, adding the Tekonsha will be straightforward.
- Don't forget you'll need a break-away switch and battery on the trailer in addition to electric brake hubs!
 
I've decided to go with the wireless system. I ended up finding it for $280 on line.
I have power to the 7 pin plug now, all the lights, signals, brakes work. I was just stuck on trying to find a way to wire a trailer brake controller. I couldn't find anything beneath the dash. I just assumed it's not there, unless you have the factory trailer towing option.. I don't..
This Prodigy RF system has pretty good reviews. It apparently senses when the tow vehicle is slowing and applies the trailer brakes. There is a communicator in the truck, plugged into a cigarette outlet, but that just controls gain. The unit bolted on the trailer does all the work..
Might be a bit puckering the first time I come down a pass out in Colorado with the trailer loaded to 6,000 lbs. Just depending on the box mounted on the trailer to apply the brakes properly, and not overheat them..
 
MoCruiser said:
Might be a bit puckering the first time I come down a pass out in Colorado with the trailer loaded to 6,000 lbs. Just depending on the box mounted on the trailer to apply the brakes properly, and not overheat them..
Click to expand...

Use your gears on the descent, and adjust the gain to less than normal drive to teh trailer brakes. You want just enough to feel them pulling a bit when you need 'em. If the trailer starts to sway, the emergency 'full brake' is handy to pull everything straight.
 
APKhaos said:
If the trailer starts to sway, the emergency 'full brake' is handy to pull everything straight.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify... slide the brake lever on the trailer brake controller to engage the trailer brakes. Do not pull the truck's emergency brake.
 
I should clarify. I've pulled trailers through the mountains for the last 20 years, almost every summer. And almost always with a Cruiser. I've always just had a normal elec trailer brake.
With the 04 I couldn't get a elec trailer brake installed. I couldn't find any place to hook it up under the dash.
I'm going with this new "no wires needed" controller. It's different that's for sure.. It sure solves the problem of trying to hook up a elec trailer brake controller though.
I will post in the next few weeks how it works. If it works as advertised, it's going to be the way I go in the future. It means any vehicle can be converted to a tow vehicle in minutes..
 
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