jon@dakota-truck.net wrote:
> Barry Oliver <barrysuperhawk@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>>99 SLT, 4x4, 5.2 HD tow package [7 pin plugin]
>
>
>>I just bought a trailer and discovered it has trailer brakes, so now I
>>need to know what I need to do to make them work.
>
>
>>A guy at work said it is simple as running a wire from my brake light to
>>the extra pin, but another [smarter] co-worker says I need a brake
>>controller. So, basically I am wondering how involved this is going to
>>be as in is it worth it to pay a professional a few bux to avoid the
>>headache or is it so simple a caveman could do it?
>
>
>
> Yes, you need a brake controller. The reason is that the brake
> circuit isn't a simple on/off deal, the force applied by electric
> trailer brakes varies depending on the voltage sent down that wire.
> If you simply connect your brake lights to that pin, the trailer
> brakes will lock hard every time you even touch the brake pedal. A
> brake controller varies the voltage depending on the conditions. It
> has a device inside such as an accelerometer or a pendulum which
> allows it to sense how hard the brakes were applied and adjust the
> trailer to match. You can adjust this on the brake controller,
> depending on the load in the trailer, etc. I have a Tekonsha Prodigy
> brake controller in my Ram 3500 and I love it. Definitely not the
> cheapest around (you can get them around $90) but its supposed to be
> about the best there is. Besides the normal amount of braking, its
> got 3 "boost" levels which allows you to tailor the amount of trailer
> braking to get the best match for your truck/trailer weight ratio.
>
> Since you have a '99, hookup is super simple, like less than 5
> minutes simple. Just get the Dodge pigtail, find a place to mount the
> brake controller under the dash, plug one end of the pigtail into the
> controller, the other into the blue conector under your dash, and you
> are done. If you get a controller which does not have a pigtail for
> Dodge, then it will need to be wired up, which obviously is more
> involved than a plug-n-play pigtail.
>
>
GREAT! Best news I have heard all week. So, when I search for a dodge
pigtail... I didn't get what I was expecting to get... but is this it?
http://www.etrailer.com/p-3020-P.htm
http://www.tekonsha.com/product/details.asp?ProdID=90185&cat=1435
If so I am going to order tonight...
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Sep 01 2009 - 00:06:00 EDT