Hey all. I've been searching this whole forum for maybe 2 hours to no avail, so here's my questions.

I have a 2002 Ranger supercab. 3.0, Auto. Installed a Class 3 Drawtite today. By Friday, I need to install a brake controller. I was perusing the instructions today, and from what I gather, the red wire is the signal wire from the brake light switch. Just one problem.

Which wire do I tap into for this red wire? There's 5 wires coming from the brake light switch, so if any of you know the exact colour wire I can use would be very helpful.

Also, I'm prepared to hardwire this thing, but is it possible Ford prewired my truck for a controller, and if so, what's this connector look like? I probably won't be able to find a connector, but I can snip it off and hardwire to that. Well, maybe not. I remember something about using 10 guage wire, and everything under my dash looks to be smaller than 22. Hmm.

The whole reason for this is my wife and I bought (spur of the moment) a 13' travel trailer with electric brakes. I'm told it only weighs 1500 lbs, but since it has brakes, I would like to use them. Especially since the thing is 3 1/2 hours away, up and down hills. We bought it yesterday. We did see the thing, everything looks ok. But I have to go back up there on Saturday and drag it home. I need this thing wired up by then.

Please help. Thanks in advance.

 

bump. Please? Anyone?

 

I am not real familiar with Rangers, but on an F150, the plug is clipped to the dash just below the ash tray. It is a grey four or five pin conector.

I just read that red goes to the light green stop light wire on 99 and newer fords.

Here is the basics, i think they are pretty similar with most brake controller manufacturers:

Red = non-powered stoplight lead with 20 amp inline fuse
white = ground
Blue = trailer brake lead
black = positive with 25 amp circuit breaker

The only other lead you may want to the trailer is a +12v lead to charge the trailer batteries and run the lights. Make sure you fuse this one and you may want to add a battery isolator so if the trailer runs low, it wont draw from your tow vehicle and kill the vehicle. Hope this helps a little.

 

Tekonsha Brake Controller installation instructions list Ranger, Explorer and Aerostar but all it says is: "The brake control's RED (stoplight wire) splices into the cold side of the stoplight switch." Not much help, huh? For the F and E Series trucks it says to splice the RED wire into the LIGHT GREEN wire for F Series or LIGHT GREEN WITH RED TRACER wire for E Series.

If you're running out of time, I would suggest making your best guess about the wire Then stick a pin through it and test it with a voltage meter while applying the brake. That way if you get the wrong one just pull the pin and try another. You won't have to worry about cutting the wrong wire and splicing it back together.

1-2 axle applications use 14 GA wire.
3-4 axle applications use 12 GA wire.

Good luck. When you get it figured out, please post back with your results and maybe it'll help the next guy.

 

Thanks guys. When I'm done, and everything works properly, I'll write a step by step install. What do you call them? Tech articles I believe.