Trailer brake setup for OBS? Whats involved?

[always-strokin]

Hello all.

I am buying a car trailer, unsure if I'm getting single ax, dual ax or tri-ax as of yet... but I know it will have trailer brakes.

I have the trailer connection harness and hitch, but my OBS has no trailer brakes installed.

Whats involved, how hard is it, and how expensive will this be?

 

[Ad8 PRODIGY]

You will need a brake controller first and foremost. Other than that its running a few wires and done. Took my all of 45 minutes.

Wiring diagram will be with your brake controller. One is constant hot to give power to the brakes, one from the brake circuit to tell it to engage the brakes, and one for ground. Ground for controller and ground for the trailer connector are seperate. Your trailer connector has to have wires connected to it in a certain way also. Mine were labeled on the plug and on its packaging.

 

[OldschoolPSD]

If your truck is wired with the trailer package from the factory there will be a plug under the dash. Plug your brake controller into this plug.

 

[always-strokin]

You will need a brake controller first and foremost. Other than that its running a few wires and done. Took my all of 45 minutes.

Wiring diagram will be with your brake controller. One is constant hot to give power to the brakes, one from the brake circuit to tell it to engage the brakes, and one for ground. Ground for controller and ground for the trailer connector are seperate. Your trailer connector has to have wires connected to it in a certain way also. Mine were labeled on the plug and on its packaging.

So how does the brake controller interact with the brake-pedal?

Thank you for the input so far

If your truck is wired with the trailer package from the factory there will be a plug under the dash. Plug your brake controller into this plug.

Whatttttttttt? Yes I have the stock Ford towing package! I had no idea there was a brake-controller setup built in though! Where does the wiring for the brake controller go to? I have the trailer harness to the left of the hitch for lights, but where does the brake controller come out of?

 

[Ad8 PRODIGY]

So how does the brake controller interact with the brake-pedal?

Thank you for the input so far



Whatttttttttt? Yes I have the stock Ford towing package! I had no idea there was a brake-controller setup built in though! Where does the wiring for the brake controller go to? I have the trailer harness to the left of the hitch for lights, but where does the brake controller come out of?

Let me get a picture for you. I'll get it in a little while

 

[always-strokin]

Sure that works.

I'm wondering if I've known about this factory brake controller all this time I just haven't known what it is??

I really dont recall another set of wires beneath my truck though, unless the factory brake controller integrates w/ the factory trailer harness.

 

[PsRumors]

There is no factory brake controller on the obs trucks only the wiring if you have the factory tow package which is integrated with the big plug mounted under the bumper next to the received hitch.

If you have a factory tow package all you need to buy is a brake controller with the plug for the OBS trucks. The plug is just to the right of the OBD2 plug under the dash.

 

[Arisley]

Moving this to the correct section.

 

[chromehound]

I know around here Advance Auto carries the plug to hook the controller to the truck. It's with all the rest of the trailer plugins but good luck getting anyone who even knows what it looks like.

 

[always-strokin]

There is no factory brake controller on the obs trucks only the wiring if you have the factory tow package which is integrated with the big plug mounted under the bumper next to the received hitch.

If you have a factory tow package all you need to buy is a brake controller with the plug for the OBS trucks. The plug is just to the right of the OBD2 plug under the dash.

So all I need is the physical brake controller, and then the factory ford towing plug by the bumper contains the brake controller? The same harness that controls blinkers, brakes trailer lights etc?

 

[OldschoolPSD]

Exactly. Buy a brake controller with the ford plug and you are set.

It's just like doing an aftermarket radio. You buy a generic brake controller and a manufacturer specific plug

It's plug and play. Your lights should work without the controller plugged in, they are already part of the tow package

 

[PsRumors]

So all I need is the physical brake controller, and then the factory ford towing plug by the bumper contains the brake controller? The same harness that controls blinkers, brakes trailer lights etc?

You need a brake controller.

If you have a factory tow package that has the big round plug next to the received hitch it will contain the wiring need to activate the trailer brakes.

 

[always-strokin]

Exactly. Buy a brake controller with the ford plug and you are set.

It's just like doing an aftermarket radio. You buy a generic brake controller and a manufacturer specific plug

It's plug and play. Your lights should work without the controller plugged in, they are already part of the tow package

You need a brake controller.

If you have a factory tow package that has the big round plug next to the received hitch it will contain the wiring need to activate the trailer brakes.

Holy**** this is epic guys.... I had no idea this was the case. Since I'm a dumb trailer brake noob, can you guys give me an example of a good brake controller/plug that will work for me? Like a link or something? I want to make sure I order the right stuff.

 

[OldschoolPSD]

http://www.realtruck.com/curt-brake...dium=Website&gclid=CPn53_HjorcCFQef4Aod3WYAvg

Thats the plug you are looking for.

I have a dayton controller. I don't really care for it, but I buy all my trailer stuff from a wholesale supplier and thats what they sell.

 

[always-strokin]

Wait, so where do I have to splice that plug into? It connects to where, and splices into where?

 

[PsRumors]

Wait, so where do I have to splice that plug into? It connects to where, and splices into where?

There is a plug under the dash about dead centerof the truck. That plug above will plug right into it.

 

[OldschoolPSD]

Your brake controller will have 4 wires. The male plug you buy will have 4 wires. Solder them together. Blue goes with blue, white with white, ect. Then you plug the male end that you soldered to the brake controller into the female plug under your dash.

Its really simple.

 

[always-strokin]

:doh:

So the the brake controller will have 4 wires that are soldered to that harness you guys sent me the link to.

The harness you sent me the link to goes from the controller to the built-in harness receiver under the dash..

that is easy.

Can I use that harness with any brake controller though?

 

[OldschoolPSD]

Yep.

 

[always-strokin]

Holy**** this is simple... man I love a good old Ford.

Thanks a million guys, this is some good stuff right here.