Wire your own Brake Controller?
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From: Boise Idaho
Wire your own Brake Controller?
Howdy,
I have a 1993 F250 4x4 extended cab, 7.3L Navistar diesel, non turbo. It has a heavy duty rear bumper & hitch, but no brake controller. I am in the process of buying a 24' travel trailer, and want to know if anyone has 2 cents worth of advice on wiring a brake controller. Probably a Prodigy or Voyager (intertia for sure, anyhow) brake controller.
Is it hard to do? I can take it to the shop but they want like $250... the parts are only $100 from what I see... anyone have advice? Thanks in Advance, it is cold in Idaho tonight... snow too.
I have a 1993 F250 4x4 extended cab, 7.3L Navistar diesel, non turbo. It has a heavy duty rear bumper & hitch, but no brake controller. I am in the process of buying a 24' travel trailer, and want to know if anyone has 2 cents worth of advice on wiring a brake controller. Probably a Prodigy or Voyager (intertia for sure, anyhow) brake controller.
Is it hard to do? I can take it to the shop but they want like $250... the parts are only $100 from what I see... anyone have advice? Thanks in Advance, it is cold in Idaho tonight... snow too.
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From: Florida Hill Country
If you have any experience wiring and follow the instructions its not hard. I suspect that your f250 is already set up for a break controller. You will have one, one way or another though. Your rig will handle that trailer with no probs at all.
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From: Boise Idaho
Thanks guys
for the advice. Sounds like I can do it easily enough. I also have to change the plug on the back from a 6-round to the new-style 6 round with the flat flanges... dunno what you call it. I guess if I can accomplish those two feats, I should be in business....??
Happy New Year, all..
Happy New Year, all..
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I don't know when Ford started doing it, but nowadays you can buy a wiring harness to plug into the existing connectors by the spare tire which will have the plug on it. It also has a flat 4 prong plug for smaller trailers. Check with parts dept. I used to call the plug a Bargman plug when I was in the travel trailer business. The other was the Pollak. Course those were the only companies making them back then.
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From: Boise Idaho
Does anyone know if the '93 model had a harness available from the Prodigy maker? Or if you have to wire it 'from scratch'...???
in what little research I have done so far, it seems that the newer rigs have a plug under the dash and you simply plug the Prodigy controller into that- nothing to it. But what about older rigs?
in what little research I have done so far, it seems that the newer rigs have a plug under the dash and you simply plug the Prodigy controller into that- nothing to it. But what about older rigs?
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Paraglider, you'll have to wire it from scratch.
The instructions for my Prodigy says for '92-'93: There is a four pin connector at the bottom of the instrument panel directly below the radio for F series and near the brake pedal support for E series.
The 6-pin pigtail connection did not come available until 1999 model year.
Splice the brake control's RED (stoplight) wire into the 4-pin connector's LIGHT GREEN wire for F series or LIGHT GREEN WITH RED TRACER for E series.
BLACK Wire: Positive connection to battery. Place a 15 amp circuit breaker inline for up to 2 braking axles, 30 amp for 4 braking axles.
WHITE Wire: Negative ground. Do not ground to dashboard. It's best to run ground wire to negative post on battery.
BLUE Wire: Brake output to trailer.
The instructions for my Prodigy says for '92-'93: There is a four pin connector at the bottom of the instrument panel directly below the radio for F series and near the brake pedal support for E series.
The 6-pin pigtail connection did not come available until 1999 model year.
Splice the brake control's RED (stoplight) wire into the 4-pin connector's LIGHT GREEN wire for F series or LIGHT GREEN WITH RED TRACER for E series.
BLACK Wire: Positive connection to battery. Place a 15 amp circuit breaker inline for up to 2 braking axles, 30 amp for 4 braking axles.
WHITE Wire: Negative ground. Do not ground to dashboard. It's best to run ground wire to negative post on battery.
BLUE Wire: Brake output to trailer.
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From: Boise Idaho
Many Thanks. That will save me a whole lot of hair pulling when I get to that stage. I will order up a Prodigy, and with this help, should be able to install it myself and save a pile of $$. And that friends, is what its all about! Thanks to all who posted...
John in Boise
John in Boise
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From: Florida Hill Country
Powerglider- look under the hood on the driver's side for a power distribution box. There may also be a trailer harness with relays near it. The distribution box is a heavy duty fuse box with some big fuses in it. You owner's manual will have a diagram and list for what they are. There will be fuses for trailer lights, turn signals etc and electric brakes if preWired.
I would have to see the truck and look under the dash to find the wires that would go to the brake controller. If you have the fuses, it would be worth consulting with a "Good" Ford tech. If you wire the trailer brakes from scratch its not that difficult but will take about $35 of wire on 1 or 2 automatic circuit breakers.
There is a very good chance that your truck is preWired especially if you already have a factory trailer plug and make it easier once you find the ends under the dash.
As far as asking them on the phone . . . depends on who and how much experience they have. Ford has been pretty good compared to most about prewiring trucks, but there is some variability from year to year.
I would have to see the truck and look under the dash to find the wires that would go to the brake controller. If you have the fuses, it would be worth consulting with a "Good" Ford tech. If you wire the trailer brakes from scratch its not that difficult but will take about $35 of wire on 1 or 2 automatic circuit breakers.
There is a very good chance that your truck is preWired especially if you already have a factory trailer plug and make it easier once you find the ends under the dash.
As far as asking them on the phone . . . depends on who and how much experience they have. Ford has been pretty good compared to most about prewiring trucks, but there is some variability from year to year.
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