Wiring for trailer brakes

[nhproxr]

Just wondering what it takes to wire up a '98 Yukon for electric trailer brakes. I know newer trucks have a plug ready to accept the brake controller, but don't know how and where to connect controller on one without plug.

 

Any help would be appreciated. Also any suggestions on brands of controllers.

[Shaners]

Generally you will have to "hardwire" the brake controller to your truck. I don't think that in '98 they had the "plug and play" harness like the NBS trucks.

 

I would highly recommend a Tekonsha brake controller. Most likely the Prodigy model would be a very good choice. They are expensive as compared to other controllers though... but in this case you definetly get what you pay for.

[99-2door]

You have to hardwire in the 98.

 

Look under the hood on the driver's side firewall. Where the frame harness comes up the inner fender you will find a blue and orange wire that are folded and taped up. The wires run all the way to the back of the truck, these are for your brake feed and 12v+ if you wish to hook that up. Just use the instructions that come with your controller.

[nhproxr]

Thanks, 99-2door that's just what I needed to know.

 

My father just installed the Prodigy controller on his truck and recommended it as well. Not sure if I need such an expensive controller for just a 18' aluminum enclosed snowmobile trailer, little over 3000 lbs. fully loaded.

[kdm101]

For a lower cost controller then, try the Tekonsha Envoy or Sentinel models. Not quite as nice, but still far better than the low-end timer-based controllers (uses an adjustable delay before activating the brakes, but usually very little control over braking otherwise).

 

I use the Envoy and have an 18' car trailer (steel) with brakes on both axles . I've never had to dial the braking up more than 1/3 around the dial. Any more than that, and it could still lock the wheels up even with a heavy car on the deck.