Adding a Brake Controller to an RV with 6-Way Trailer Connector for Tow Dolly with Electric Brakes

Question:

Use of a towing dolly does require an electric brake controller that mounts inside the towing vehicle and that activates the tow dolly brakes when the motor home brakes are applied. One of the most popular is the Tekonsha Prodigy P2, part # 90885. You will also need a wiring kit, part # ETBC6. This kit includes everything needed to establish the 6-way wiring required to use a tow dolly behind your motor home. expert reply by: Adam R What if you already have the 6 wire harness on the Motor home? Do you just have to add the brake controller? Thanks

asked by: Edward M

Expert Reply:

If your RV already has a connector that has an electric brake circuit such as a 6-Way (not all that common anymore) or a 7-Way (very common) then you would only need the brake controller to activate the electric brakes on a tow dolly such as # RM-2050-1.

On some RVs there is a brake controller port. If the RV was built on a Ford F-53 chassis then there will be a port for sure and you would use brake controller harness # 3035-P with the brake controller recommended by Expert Adam, # 90885. If the RV is on the Ford F-53 (or F-59) chassis and is a 2011 or newer, then the port is located under the dash to the left of the steering column near the driver's side kick panel. If it is older, then the port is up under the dash behind the instrument cluster and is difficult to reach.

If there isn't a port then you can hardwire in the controller using wiring kit # 5506 and some extra wire, # 10-2-1, sold by the foot. The white wire must ground to the negative battery cable, black is 12-volt power for the controller that will connect to the positive battery terminal via a 30-amp circuit breaker included with 5506. The blue wire is output to the brake pin on the trailer connector. And the red wire is input from the brake switch.

To find the right brake switch wire test the wires with a circuit tester such as # PTW2993. You need the one that has power only when the brake pedal is pressed. If a wire also has power when the head lights or turn signals are on then it is not the correct wire.