 wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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11-13-10 02:22 PM - Post#2003702
I asked this question on the electrical forum, but only got one response and no definite answer (thank you Richard (someotherguy) for chiming in though). I figure someone on here must have added a hitch and wired a plug for a truck that didn't come with one on this forum.
I have a GM hitch and 7 pin round plug on my '99 Silverado. My truck did not come with a hitch, but it did have the pigtail in the rear to splice into. The pigtail only has six wires. LH brake and signal, RH brake and signal, ground, backup lights, running lights and another one that has power when the brakes are applied (lt. blue).
The plug has seven terminals and one of them is for a positive and one for the electric brakes on the trailer. I hooked up five of the wires. I also checked out a friend's Escalade with a factory hitch and plug but no brake controller and he has power on the pos. terminal when the key is on and no power on the electric brake terminal.
I talked to a hitch shop and he said the power for the electric brakes comes from the brake controller and the lt. blue wire that has power when the brakes are applied goes to the pos. terminal when the brake controller is hooked up. I don't have a brake controller yet, but I don't really trust using that lt. blue wire for the positive all the time even if it will get power all the time with the controller hooked up. It is only an 18 gauge wire.
I will leave these terminals disconnected until I get a controller, but my questions are:
Should I run fused larger gauge wire on a key switched circuit for the positive terminal? and
Does the electric brake terminal hook to the brake controller?
I have no problem leaving the 18 ga. lt. blue wire unhooked. My guess is that it is for a third brake light of some kind. Maybe one of those kind that fits into the receiver.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
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Vista Cruiser
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 5514
Loc: Erie Canal
Reg: 10-01-99
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11-13-10 09:31 PM - Post#2003898
In response to wagonman100
Jay, one of them should be 12v power. Another will be the brake controller, (variable)by way of the brake setting (pot) on the controler. Since it's only on when braking, and never a whole 12v, the gauge should be fine. The 12v is for charging trailer batteries, and/or inside trailer lights.
If GM has the pig tail that way, i would'nt worry. Did it just plug into the juction, or did you have to hack it on?
Hopefully the controller will just plug right into a plug that's waiting in the dash.
I've hacked on the rear plug on Chevies, but never a controler.
My Ford had plugs waiting at both ends.
Try this:
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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11-15-10 05:44 AM - Post#2004488
In response to Vista Cruiser
The wires at the back of the tuck were just cut wires with a rubber coating on the end to keep them from shorting. You cut those and butt splice in the wires on the plug that you buy from GM that plugs into the back of the plug on the hitch.
I was a bit concerned by the gauge because on the Escalade it is a larger gauge wire. But none of the wires have a constant 12V. I will only be borrowing a car trailer occassionally, so the need for the 12V terminal is moot for me I guess.
I haven't even looked under the dash yet for the brake controller connection.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
|
2plus2
Member
Posts: 1290
Loc: Mission,BC
Reg: 02-03-05
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11-15-10 06:25 PM - Post#2004804
In response to wagonman100
you need a harness to go from the controller to the junction box (between the brake and ebrake peddles on the fire wall)
from there you go under the fuse pannel under the hood the blue wire will need to get extended to the hitch and the red wire goes to one of the aux power studs to feed the brake controller
then you can run a 10ga wire from the other aux power stud to feed the trailer power
if you want to switch it you can with a relay
I didnt because I have dual batts and just unplug the trailer if it sits for more then acouple of hours
69 Canadian Pontiac 2+2 Convertible
Factory L48 350 Chev,TH350,PW,PT
99 Silverado RCLB 4.8 NV4500 14BSF 4.10's locker 6" Procomp 35'S
07 Town Car Loaded,Tinted,Getting Bagged |
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wings59
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 2356
Loc: Bakersfield Ca
Reg: 01-30-05
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11-21-10 03:58 PM - Post#2007531
In response to wagonman100
Here's another site that might help.
Just noticed my other post has been removed... 
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Chevy /tec...
Larry
Larry
59 Impala Sport Coupe
36 Dodge Street rod..........owned 27 years
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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11-21-10 06:26 PM - Post#2007616
In response to wings59
Thanks for that Larry. I put it in my favorites.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
|
alanco
Forum Newbie
Posts: 42
Age: 84
Loc: Fallon, Nevada
Reg: 11-18-10
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12-01-10 06:27 PM - Post#2012254
In response to wagonman100
My '01 Silverado did not have a trailer plug on it or a hitch. I found that I would have to run two wires to the plug that were not in the rear loom. These were the fused 12V for the RV trailer (charging the battery) and the brake controller. I also had to install the brake controller. I found that they sold a brake controller wire loom and I used that to install the controller. For a normal trailer, you need the Rt turn, Lt turn, taillight/marker, ground, backup light, brake controller, and Aux (12V). You should get yourself a schematic of the wiring for your truck. If you don't want to buy a service manual, you can get what you want for a subscription to a place that sells what you want that you can download for a month or more.
Alan
80 Olds Cutlass built as a pro cruise car: 355 Chevy 2004R OD Trans, 8.5" 4.11 4 link rear.
01 Pontiac GrandAm SE 4 cyl
06 GMC Sierra 2500 4x4 LongBed ExCab w/Duramax Diesel
84 S-10 Blazer 5 sp manual, 4wd V-6 engine |
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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12-02-10 05:41 AM - Post#2012420
In response to alanco
Thanks Alan. I now have a brake controller thanks to another CT member. It plugs right in under the dash. I have yet to see if the manual switch on the brake controller energizes the brake wire at the rear. I suspect that it does. I really don't need the 12V keyed source, but may add it anyway. You said you added another wire for the brakes. How did you wire it up? In other words, what was the source for the wire to go the the brake controller terminal on the rear trailer plug?
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
|
alanco
Forum Newbie
Posts: 42
Age: 84
Loc: Fallon, Nevada
Reg: 11-18-10
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12-05-10 02:08 PM - Post#2013944
In response to wagonman100
All of the wires come from the big terminal box in the engine compartment that has the fuses in the top under a cover. The brake controller connects to the under dash terminal area which connects to the under hood terminal area. My truck did not have a wire for the brakes in the rear loom, I had to add it along with the 12V wire. All the other wires were back there. If a truck is ordered with the trailer option, the wires and a trailer plug are installed. My truck was a rubber floor mat non electric locks/windows version which did not have foglights or cruise control. I added all that. I just sold the factory service manuals that had all the schematics. I now have an 04 GMC Sierra 2500 Duramax which has all the stuff done already.
80 Olds Cutlass built as a pro cruise car: 355 Chevy 2004R OD Trans, 8.5" 4.11 4 link rear.
01 Pontiac GrandAm SE 4 cyl
06 GMC Sierra 2500 4x4 LongBed ExCab w/Duramax Diesel
84 S-10 Blazer 5 sp manual, 4wd V-6 engine |
Edited by alanco on 12-05-10 02:09 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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12-06-10 05:41 AM - Post#2014161
In response to alanco
Thanks for the info. Mine has a wire that gets power when the brakes are applied in the loom, but it is a very small guage wire. I also hooked up the brake controller I received yesterday and applied the manual switch and got nothing on that brake wire at the rear. I still have to test the connection under the dash to see if it has power going to it. It is my understanding that I may have to put in a fuse somewhere for the connection to work. At any rate, you said
My truck did not have a wire for the brakes in the rear loom, I had to add it along with the 12V wire.
Exactly how did you add the wire going to the back for the brakes. I know you connected it to the brake terminal in the plug, but where did you connect it at the front to get power from the brake controller? Right from the controller itself?
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
|
2plus2
Member
Posts: 1290
Loc: Mission,BC
Reg: 02-03-05
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12-06-10 09:26 AM - Post#2014241
In response to 2plus2
you need a harness to go from the controller to the junction box (between the brake and ebrake peddles on the fire wall)
from there you go under the fuse pannel under the hood the blue wire will need to get extended to the hitch and the red wire goes to one of the aux power studs to feed the brake controller
then you can run a 10ga wire from the other aux power stud to feed the trailer power
if you want to switch it you can with a relay
I didnt because I have dual batts and just unplug the trailer if it sits for more then acouple of hours
69 Canadian Pontiac 2+2 Convertible
Factory L48 350 Chev,TH350,PW,PT
99 Silverado RCLB 4.8 NV4500 14BSF 4.10's locker 6" Procomp 35'S
07 Town Car Loaded,Tinted,Getting Bagged |
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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12-07-10 05:38 AM - Post#2014576
In response to 2plus2
Thanks. I have the harness that goes from the controller to the junction box. I have no problem running the 12 volt power wire. It's the brake wire I am still not clear on. You say the blue wire gets extended to the hitch, but where does it connect at the front end? Is there a wire at the fuse box already to splice the wire I run to the hitch or do I have to splice into another existing circuit?
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
|
2plus2
Member
Posts: 1290
Loc: Mission,BC
Reg: 02-03-05
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12-07-10 01:03 PM - Post#2014765
In response to wagonman100
when you remover the cover over the fuse pannel under the hood there will be a red wire with a ring connector that powers the brake controller via one of the aux power studs and a blue wire that you extend to the rear
69 Canadian Pontiac 2+2 Convertible
Factory L48 350 Chev,TH350,PW,PT
99 Silverado RCLB 4.8 NV4500 14BSF 4.10's locker 6" Procomp 35'S
07 Town Car Loaded,Tinted,Getting Bagged |
Edited by 2plus2 on 12-07-10 01:04 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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12-08-10 05:32 AM - Post#2015080
In response to 2plus2
Thanks, I'll take a look at it. I won't be doing anything with it until spring unless we get an uncommonly warm day here.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
|
CaptainK
Senior Member
Posts: 8252
Loc: Maryland
Reg: 02-25-02
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12-09-10 05:20 AM - Post#2015525
In response to wagonman100
Thanks, I'll take a look at it. I won't be doing anything with it until spring unless we get an uncommonly warm day here.
Oh come on now Jay, where's your sense of adventure? 
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wagonman100
Site Ambassador
Posts: 15777
Loc: Baltimore, MD
Reg: 11-27-04
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12-09-10 05:36 AM - Post#2015529
In response to CaptainK
It quickly goes away with the temperature drop. I know you're just kidding, but I actually don't get cold very easily. I can readily go outside in just a t-shirt when the temp is in the teens, but I've done enough working on vehicles when the temp is low in my lifetime.
If this needed to be done right now, I'd be out there doing it. But this can wait until it is a comfortable temp. The truck is a bit hard to get into my garage, so even that is out. Plus the garage isn't heated yet, so it only offers slight relief from the outside temp.
Jay
Friends don’t let friends drive Fords.
1999 Silverado Z71 4X4 extra-cab short bed
1983 Malibu Fauxmad - tubbed
1978 El Camino Kustomized
1972 Monte Carlo
1957 210 handyman wagon
1957 Nomad sport wagon
1957 Cameo Carrier |
|
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