Trailer Brake Option

deerchooper · December 19, 2009

well i just got me a 7x16 enclosed trailer w/brakes.

plugged it and i didnt notice any trailer brake options/ adjustments on the dic.

i assume i need to get a brake controller now. is there models that are plug and play? how or where do i have to cut in to make them work? i figured with the 7way plug it would have it or am i missing something?

thanks

GPGuy · December 19, 2009

well i just got me a 7x16 enclosed trailer w/brakes.

plugged it and i didnt notice any trailer brake options/ adjustments on the dic.

i assume i need to get a brake controller now. is there models that are plug and play? how or where do i have to cut in to make them work? i figured with the 7way plug it would have it or am i missing something?

thanks

Is there a switch to the lower left side of your steering wheel? That's where mine is. Since mine came with it I'm sorry but I'm not sure how you would go about adding it.

REV353 · December 19, 2009

There should of been a wiring kit that came with the truck, if not get one from your GM dealers parts department. It's been a few years since I added mine, if I remember correctly, there is a fuse box on the firewall next to your left foot, you plug it in there and attach it to your brake controller, I had to find a pos & neg to hook mine up. I went with a digital brake controller, it makes it easier to adjust depending on weight of your load, you'll get use to it, I think I paid between $65-$75 for it.

Badass69 · December 19, 2009

There should of been a wiring kit that came with the truck, if not get one from your GM dealers parts department. It's been a few years since I added mine, if I remember correctly, there is a fuse box on the firewall next to your left foot, you plug it in there and attach it to your brake controller, I had to find a pos & neg to hook mine up. I went with a digital brake controller, it makes it easier to adjust depending on weight of your load, you'll get use to it, I think I paid between $65-$75 for it.

Unfortunately on 2007 and newer this is no longer the case. The new trucks now just have a bluntcut wiring harness left in dash if they are not equipped with a built in brake controller.

deerchooper · December 19, 2009

Unfortunately on 2007 and newer this is no longer the case. The new trucks now just have a bluntcut wiring harness left in dash if they are not equipped with a built in brake controller.

so now what lol

Badass69 · December 19, 2009

Unfortunately on 2007 and newer this is no longer the case. The new trucks now just have a bluntcut wiring harness left in dash if they are not equipped with a built in brake controller.

so now what lol

Buy an aftermarket controller and wire it into the truck. It's just not as nice as the 06 and older trucks with the underdash plugin.

compulynx · December 19, 2009

You guys need to use the search option. I have posted the info on how to do this several times.

Her ya go again. One of the best (if not THE best) guides for installing a new brake controller on a GMT900.

GMT900 brake controller install

Its a pdf, so it takes a few seconds to load

C

Keepontrying · December 19, 2009

Can you wire in a break controller on a 2009 with the integrated brake controller?

Chevy should worry about making these trucks easier to adapt to towing instead of tire presures and traction control. I bought a truck not a car.

compulynx · December 19, 2009

Can you wire in a break controller on a 2009 with the integrated brake controller?

Chevy should worry about making these trucks easier to adapt to towing instead of tire presures and traction control. I bought a truck not a car.

Should be possible, but I bet the wiring is not the same as the ones without it.

C

robertbick · December 20, 2009

Can you wire in a break controller on a 2009 with the integrated brake controller?

Why would you want to? I have the factory integrated brake controller and it works great towing my fifth wheel.

Keepontrying · December 20, 2009

Was just wondering because i know my prodigy worked well. Only have 500 miles on te truk and won't be towing until the spring thaw.

Thanks for the info.

cfeiring · December 20, 2009

It is my understanding that the trucks that have the Integrated Brake controller from the factory, you can not add the after market controller.

And the Integrated Brake Controller can not be added after leaving the factory.

The cause is all the various computers and the associated wiring.

So far my trucks, factory integrated controller works well. But I understand that there are some brake systems the controller will not work with and you have to throw in a magnet of some kind in the wiring. GM should have done a better job of planning / design but for my needs it has worked well, but as of this moment I have limited towing experience with my truck.

96chevy7.4L · December 20, 2009

If the integrated won't work with some break systems I am willing to bet its 3 axle systems. If that were the case with my truck I would wire another 7 pin RV plug in the back and run my own wires. Nothing worse then having to worry whether or not the controller will work backing up to a trailer. Just my opinion.

rjgvt · December 20, 2009

I was reading some travel trailer stuff on another forum and read that GM's Integrated Brake Controller will not work on trailers with electric over hydraulic brakes (Airstreams).

I towed a camper with old fashioned brakes last month to get it home and the IBC on my truck worked perfectly. Had to set the gain to 8 to get the brakes set right. It's nice that the truck was ready to go from the factory.