Hitch Wiring Harness and Brake Controllers

[steppinthrax]

I just purchased a hitch for my van. I’m looking to pull a small camper. I need to get the appropriate wiring harness and/or brake controller. I’m a little confused because when towing with my car (Class I/II hitch) I’ve always seen the flat 4 pin or so plug for the brakes. However I’m seeing the controller uses a round plug.

So my question is does the round plug take a place of the regular wiring harness. In other words if I purchase just the brake controller would I also need to purchase a brake wiring harness? Or would I need to purchase both?

 

[JCH13]

Something like this should keep you covered.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Reese+Towpower/405/74607/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710722435&catargetid=1784155608&cadevice=c&&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CIy6943UtLgCFQai4AodQ3MADw

What sort of brake controller are you going to get? I am a fan of the brake controllers that tap into the brake circuit and are controlled off of the tow vehicle's brake pressure.

 

[steppinthrax]

Something like this should keep you covered.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Reese+Towpower/405/74607/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710722435&catargetid=1784155608&cadevice=c&&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CIy6943UtLgCFQai4AodQ3MADw

What sort of brake controller are you going to get? I am a fan of the brake controllers that tap into the brake circuit and are controlled off of the tow vehicle's brake pressure.

I don't have the camper yet. I just want to prepare everything so that once I get there and hook up I'm good to go. Yes, I'm looking to get a proportional brake controller.

I'm still confused, what is this round plug for? Is this only for brake controller? I'm used to the flat plug, it looks like this

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/RE...5JJL2&ef_id=UR1W8QAAAdQtSm6I:20130716184956:s

 

[JCH13]

Bro, do you even read?

"Reese Towpower#405-74607
7-Way Round To 4-Way Flat; Wiring Adapter; Blade Style;"

It will adapt your new electronic brake controller with 7-pin connector to a normal 4-pin connector when you're hooking up to a trailer without electronic brakes. Works like a charm.

 

[steppinthrax]

Bro, do you even read?

"Reese Towpower#405-74607
7-Way Round To 4-Way Flat; Wiring Adapter; Blade Style;"

It will adapt your new electronic brake controller with 7-pin connector to a normal 4-pin connector when you're hooking up to a trailer without electronic brakes. Works like a charm.

Thanks, I'm not looking for an adapter, I need some education on trailer hitch wiring. What's the purpose of the 7-way round v.s. the blade style? Is the 7 way round for brake controller and the 4-way for non-brake controller?

 

[JCH13]

Thanks, I'm not looking for an adapter, I need some education on trailer hitch wiring. What's the purpose of the 7-way round v.s. the blade style? Is the 7 way round for brake controller and the 4-way for non-brake controller?

Oh, okay, back basics!

With an electronic brake controller you'll have a 7pin connector. You'll have ground, brake, l/r turn signs just like your normal flat-four connector. You will also have charge (for a reserve emergency battery that will energize the brakes if the trailer disconnects while driving IIRC), brake (for the actual electronic brakes) and an auxiliary prong for... stuff? I've never used that one, personally. Possibly for supplying some maginal 12V power to your trailer if you want it.

7pin

4pin

You will want to remove your old trailer wiring in favor of the new brake-controller system. Redundant wiring has a habit of causing trouble in my experience. The adapter I showed you will adapt the controller-based 7pin plug to a more basic 4pin plug for light trailers or trailers with surge brakes. It blocks off the unused pins and passes the used pins through to the trailer.

Make more sense?

 

[steppinthrax]

Oh, okay, back basics!

With an electronic brake controller you'll have a 7pin connector. You'll have ground, brake, l/r turn signs just like your normal flat-four connector. You will also have charge (for a reserve emergency battery that will energize the brakes if the trailer disconnects while driving IIRC), brake (for the actual electronic brakes) and an auxiliary prong for... stuff? I've never used that one, personally. Possibly for supplying some maginal 12V power to your trailer if you want it.

7pin

4pin

You will want to remove your old trailer wiring in favor of the new brake-controller system. Redundant wiring has a habit of causing trouble in my experience. The adapter I showed you will adapt the controller-based 7pin plug to a more basic 4pin plug for light trailers or trailers with surge brakes. It blocks off the unused pins and passes the used pins through to the trailer.

Make more sense?

Ohhhh, OK,

So what your saying is that both 7pin and 4pin serve the same purpose, except the 7pin is used more for electronic brake controllers. Since I"m getting electronic brake controller anyway I should install the 7 pin and get a converter/adapter if I ever encounter the 4-pin....

 

[JCH13]

Ohhhh, OK,

So what your saying is that both 7pin and 4pin serve the same purpose, except the 7pin is used more for electronic brake controllers. Since I"m getting electronic brake controller anyway I should install the 7 pin and get a converter/adapter if I ever encounter the 4-pin....

Precisely!

 

[imagoon]

It is typically worth the effort to put the 7way on a vehicle and then use the adapter for smaller /other setups. 7 way can do things like charge the trailer battery (if equipped), power the aux brake (as you are planning to do.) Also make sure to get the "proper" 7 way as there is a variant that gives you reverse lights and to further confuse you, use different colors and operate the signals differently...

Example:

http://www.hitchinfo.com/index.cfm?event=viewpage&contentpieceid=5148

Note the "traditional" and "SAE J2863"

 

[hanoverphist]

ive got a controller in my truck with the 7way. i also have adapters for all the others for different trailers i have access to. comes in handy when youre helping others with different hook ups.

 

[skyking]

If you follow standards when wiring up a 7 pin, you get backup lights and a charging circuit for the trailer batteries.
If you need trailer brakes, you need an emergency battery and a safety lanyard to apply the brakes if the trailer gets loose. It is handy to not have to charge that battery manually.