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Trailer Brake Wiring

Firetiger(MN)

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Firetiger(MN) Enthusiast

Firetiger(MN)

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Buddy of mine is wiring in a 5-wire connector for his boat trailer which has brakes but needs to find a blue wire on the truck to disengage his trailer brakes when backing up.  He said he can't find it anywhere.  Any ideas?  

 

This is a '98, so it doesn't have the round plug that the '99+ have.

 

Thanks

bassdog Enthusiast

bassdog

Posted
Posted
I'm pretty sure the blue wire is under the dash on the drivers side. If I'm not mistaken it's there for the electric brake controler. You may have to run wire all the way back to the harness you are installing.
Dr. Dan Enthusiast

Dr. Dan

Posted
Posted
As I understand it, the brakes should not work without a controller.  If they are working, then they must be on all the time, not just in reverse.  Without a trailer controller, you will get power to the tail lites for turn signals and brake lites.  There is nothing in the wiring that senses the brake pedal application.   If the trailer is somehow wired to the back-up lites, then the brakes might work in reverse.  If you have a trailer with brakes, take advantage of them and get a controller.
Firetiger(MN) Enthusiast

Firetiger(MN)

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Apparently they lock when backing up.  He has to get out and flip the connector some way so the disc brakes don't lock up when he's in reverse.  I've never seen anything like that before.  

 

He has a 5-wire connector but didn't find the blue wire that the instructions say to wire to near the back end of the truck.  I was thinking that he may have to run it all the way back from the front like bassdog mentioned.

 

I'll let him know.

 

thanks

Bob G. Enthusiast

Bob G.

Posted
Posted

Surge brakes are common on big bass boat trailers. They can be disabled for backing up two ways - turn lever on trailer tongue so that the coupler does not push in or hook up the reverse circuit so that the valve for the hydraulic brake line is "closed" when in reverse. If your buddy has the factory tow package and the 7 pin connector, there will be a reverse circuit there already. All that is needed then is a 7 pin to 5 pin adaptor. If he doesn't have the factory tow package, then he will  have to find a circuit on the truck that is 12vdc when in reverse and run it to the back of the truck.

 

FYI, boat trailers have surge brakes and NOT electric brakes for obvious reasons like submersing in water. Electric brake controllers are used for campers and "dry" trailers, usually with a weight capacity over 2000 pounds.  

 

Bob G.

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