Wiring Needed for 2015 Jeep Wranlger Unlimited Tow Set Up When Adding Electric Brakes to Trailer

Question:

I have a 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with 4 prong trailer light wiring in place. I am building a tiny camper trailer on a boat trailer frame. I have removed the original axles and replaced with 4 independent torsion half axles with additional steel reinforcement. Each of the four independent axles has 7inch electric brakes with two white wires coming out of each. Can you please provide guidance on your parts needed to convert the 4 prong to a setup to control the lights and brakes with all needed wiring, connectors and controller internal and external. The camper is not built with a 12v system so a wire to keep trailer battery charged is not needed. Thank you for your help.

asked by: Kevin Z

Helpful Expert Reply:

I am happy to help with the parts needed to make your vehicle and trailer compatible with electric trailer brakes. Though you don't need a 12V hot lead wire to keep a trailer battery charged, the easiest way to wire up your 2015 Jeep Wrangler and trailer is with vehicle-end and trailer-end 7-Way blade-style connectors.

To add a 7-Way vehicle-end connector on your Wrangler, I recommend the Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controllers # ETBC7. This kit will provide you with the 7-Way connector, wiring, and hardware needed to install the connector and an electric brake controller. I have attached the installation instructions and an installation video of the # ETBC7 kit on a 2013 Wrangler Unlimited for you. If you do not need power at the 12V pin, or other pin, you do not have to run that wire at the connector.

The brake controller I recommend for you is the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Proportional Trailer Brake Controller # 90195. This is our most popular break controller because it has all the bells and whistles. The P3 controller features an LCD customizable, easy-to-read screen, storable settings for up to 5 trailers, 3 boost levels, battery protection, and continuous diagnostics. The installation instructions for the # 90195 are attached.

To wire your trailer for electric brakes, I recommend the Trailer Wiring 7-Way Upgrade Kit # HS381-9000. This kit includes a 7-Way trailer-end connector, a junction box to allow for easier wiring, and the hardware needed to make the connections for the 7-Way.

You will also want duplex wire # 10-2-1, sold by the foot, to make the connections for the trailer brakes. This duplex wire will connect with the 2 white wires from each of the brake assemblies. One wire is for brake signal and the other is for ground, but it doesn't matter which wire is used for which on the brake assembly. I recommend running each of the trailer assembly grounds back to the main trailer ground. To make the connections for the brake signal wires at the junction box and for grounding the brake assemblies, you will want a ring terminal for 10 gauge wire # 44-5310A for each wire.

You can use ring terminals for 16-14 gauge wire # DW05702-1 to make the connections in the junction box for the right turn/stop, left turn/stop, and trailer taillight wires.

I have also attached a help article on wiring a brake controller from scratch and one on trailer wiring to provide futher information for you.