Factory Brake Controller - After the fact with Tow pkg

[Sierra Boy]

The one WITH the hitch...It is a truck after all. I have a small hitch on my Honda accord for my wife's bike rack and a class 5 on my 2015i GMC 2500 HD and I use it.

 

Sierra Boy

[SouthernSilveradoGuy85]

If you saw two used trucks (same trucks and mileage & equipment in all ways) on the dealership lot with one with a trailer hitch and the other without a trailer hitch - which one would you buy or pay a little more?

 

I would buy the one with the hitch since I would have put one on it anyways if it didn't have one. I doubt not having a hitch would help the asking price. Plus with all of the trucks that come standard with a hitch there's probably more people that don't use the hitch. Unless someone at the dealership personally knew the person that traded the truck in then there's not much to know how often the truck was used for towing and you can't go around assuming just because it had a hitch that they used it to tow everyday.

[PMattras]

I would buy the one with the hitch since I would have put one on it anyways if it didn't have one. I doubt not having a hitch would help the asking price. Plus with all of the trucks that come standard with a hitch there's probably more people that don't use the hitch. Unless someone at the dealership personally knew the person that traded the truck in then there's not much to know how often the truck was used for towing and you can't go around assuming just because it had a hitch that they used it to tow everyday.

I guess we come from two different schools. Buying second hand is always a risk if you don't know the previous owner or how it was used. Mileage may also be a consideration but the high cost to repair an engine or transmission etc. is a big factor for me. If the truck never had a hitch, I would purchase that one and put on a hitch and do the wiring for about $200 to $300 to deal with this unknown. Usually the hitch is a bolt on and it only needs a pigtail (because the wiring at least on my 2008 was already there from the factory). Especially if you just want it for decoration and don't have any plans to use it. Trucks don't come standard (need trailer package for additional cost - $770) with a hitch and doesn't have any resale value to it in my opinion. This is based on the fact I always got better money on my older trucks without a hitch.

[FL335i]

OK, someone smarter than us needs to figure out out how to add the factory brake controller. Common....

[TJay74]

OK, someone smarter than us needs to figure out out how to add the factory brake controller. Common....

 

Lots of smart have looked at it, the problem is some of the chassis wiring harness is not the same, you are missing the dash controller and that harness as well. then the biggie is getting the BCM reflashed to turn on the brake controller function. That is the part that is a no go as GM now only allows the dealers to flash modules with the exact calibration that is tied to your VIN for that module, the loop hole of substituting another VIN has been removed.

 

If I was to guess you would spend well over $1k in parts, not including labor and still not be able to use the factory controller yet when the factory controller is only an $230 option.

 

As said it is a lot cheaper to go aftermarket and they operate the same way the factory one does.

[BlackZ71Silverado]

OK, someone smarter than us needs to figure out out how to add the factory brake controller. Common....

IT CAN NOT BE ADDED. There's nothing to figure out, it just can't be done.

 

The answer is simple, buy a truck that comes with the controller, that's it.

 

 

Sent from my crappy iPhone 6

using Tapatalk

[FL335i]

I know... thanks. I like the features the P3 has. big question is where do you mount it.... probably end up on the knee area.

[Britt Lifsey]

Are you sure the trailer for boats you are looking at even use a brake controller? Most all boat trailers including triple axles I've seen have surge brakes.

[FL335i]

^yes. The big boy boats seems to have electric brakes on teh axles.

[GuyGene]

If I saw a used truck without a hitch, I'd be suspicious. Wha' are they hiding? Gotta have me hitch. And, those Prodigy brake controllers work great! For anything over 2,000 pounds, ye MUST have trailer brakes. If ye think going is hard, just try stopping'er. That'll raise ye hackles.

[FL335i]

^ I want Electric Discs on my boat trailer. We'll see what boat/trailer combo I end up with then go from there. But most of the 25-30' boats I'm looking at all have double axle, some tripple axle. All have electric drums, some nicer one have electric discs.