Hey all...

Been a while since I've been on here. I used to have a 68' F series single cab, long bed, Ranger. I sold that a few years back (2007 IIRC). I was without a truck for a while and back in April, I purchased a 1 owner 79' F-250 Super Cab Ranger. Walnut Glow brown, 460, auto. The old guy I bought it from was a Rancher near Paso Robles, CA. The truck was purchased in Santa Maria and spent its whole life in the same area. The old man hauled horse trailers and hay...thats about it. I got it with 97,000 original miles on it, for $1300.

I've since replaced the shocks, brakes, bearings, cap/rotor, plugs/wires, coil, flushed all the fluids etc. I drove it from Monterey, CA to Tacoma, WA back in May and Ive used it off and on as a daily driver since then. I just turned 100,000 a few weeks back

Now the Beast is making the move with me from Tacoma to Boise, ID. I need to install a brake controller. This is something I've never done. I'm sure someone here has, and I've tried to search, but I guess I'm having trouble finding anything worth a darn. If anyone has any info on how to wire one of these things up I'd be very appreciative. The trailer I will be towing is a 72' Traveleze 25 footer, tandem axle.

I know I'm probably crazy for traveling over the passes in the dead of winter, and would like to do it as safely as possible...soooo, this is a must do

Here are some pics of the Beast and its burden:

 

First step is getting the truck wired up for the controller. On my '78, I used a kit from Etrailer which worked well with supplied instructions. I used some additional 10 gauge wire from the AP store to get the wire routing in the engine compartment the way I wanted it plus a 30A relay for the trailer accessory power circuit (optional).

Then pick the brake controller you want. The controller will plug into the new harness and mount under the steering column (usually). I don't use mine enough to advise which controller may be best... but others will.


Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires etrailer Accessories and Parts ETBC7

 

Tekonsha Prodigy controllers are some of the highest rated controllers you have a few to choose from in that line up. Pick your poison.

Here's some good info on controllers and wiring them up with a 7 way plug.

https://www.etrailer.com/faq-brakecontroller.aspx

Trailer Wiring Diagrams | etrailer.com