Parts Needed to Add Electric Trailer Brakes to Trailer Towed by 2014 Ford F-150

Question:

I drive a 2014 Ford F-150 4X4 with tow package. I want to add electric brakes to my 6x12 CarryOn Cargo Trailer, and I will need to be able to change the 4 wire plug to a Ford wiring plug that has 6 terminals in a circle with a single center terminal. Do you have an adapter that will work for this situation?

asked by: Kurtis A

Expert Reply:

We can help you with addition of electric brakes to your cargo trailer as well as with the update to your trailer wiring. We do offer wiring adapters, but in your case since you are adding a new function to the trailer - electric brakes - an adapter will not work. The trailer will need additional new wiring to allow addition of the new function.

First, you'll need a trailer brake controller in the F-150 to generate braking signals for the brakes you will be installing on the trailer. I recommend the reliable Prodigy P2 # 90885 because it is easy to set up and operate. You'll connect this unit to your truck's wiring using part # 22292. This process is shown in the linked video.

To wire your trailer for use with the brake signal that will be on your truck's 7-way trailer socket you will need to install a 7-way plug on the trailer, such as # H20044, that will carry the existing lighting signals along with the 12V trailer power and trailer brake signals from the Prodigy. It is easiest to do this with a wiring junction box like # 38656. The box is where you will join the new 7-way plug to the 4 wires already on the trailer. You will need 11 ring terminals like # 44-5310A to wire both the existing 4 leads on the trailer and the 7 leads on the new 7-way plug to the posts on the junction box. You will also need a length of # 10-2-1 duplex wire, sold by the foot, that is long enough to reach from the junction box to the two brake assemblies.

I suggest you have a circuit tester like # PTW2993 on hand to confirm the functions on each vehicle wire since wire colors are NOT standardized. Please see the linked video. The linked article on trailer wiring will be useful to you also. A spare 12V battery makes it easy to test the trailer wiring to confirm each's function.

Finally, you'll need to select brakes for your trailer. The items you'll need will vary depending on the nature of the trailer - such as whether it has brake flanges and whether it has idler hubs - and this process is outlined in the linked article on how to add electric brakes to a trailer. The article details the items you'll need and how to choose the correct parts.