Parts for Installing Prodigy P3 Brake Controller in 1965 Ford F-100 and 2006 Chevy Avalanche

Question:

Im interested in the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller for use in two vehicles I have. It will be used primarily with a 1965 F100 which does not currently have any trailer tight wiring. Its an old simple four wire tail light system with common brake and blinker wires. I think Id like to install the ETBC7 seven way and four way flat on the back of this truck. it appears I need an existing flat four plug at the rear to plug this into. Is there a simple plug and play flat four that works on my old 65? It has two two wire plugs at the back of the bed for the left and right side Id like to plug into rather then cut and splice on existing wires. My second vehicle is a 2006 Chevy Avalanche with a 7 wire plug at the back. It has a factory wiring adapter for a break controller so Im guessing I wouldnt need much to hook that up. Lastly I have a wench on the trailer and a battery Id like to have charged via the truck. Will my exiting avalanche wiring support that and what terminal in that plug would I use for battery charging? What about the ETBC7 for my 65? What would I need to do to set up a charge lead?

asked by: Craig T

Expert Reply:

We can get your two vehicles ready for sharing your new Prodigy P3 Brake Controller # 90195.

Let's start with that nice old Ford that I wish were mine. You can install a new 4-pole harness # 18252 and then convert that to a 7-way using our # ETBC7 kit, just as you suggested. This kit includes all the parts needed for the truck and an article covering installation is linked for you. It will include a 12V power feed to maintain your trailer battery. There is no aftermarket plug-and-play 4-pole for your truck. The 4-pole kit 18252 includes quick-splice connectors to make the hard-wired connections.

Then for the Avalanche all you'll need is a wiring adapter # 3015-P which will simply plug in between the P3 and the under-dash port as shown in the linked video.

You will easily be able to transfer the Prodigy P3, perhaps the best such unit on the market, between the two vehicles. You may care to add a second Mounting Bracket Kit # TK5906.

The existing 7-way on your Avalanche does include a 12V power feed for your trailer battery. This is carried on the pin at the 1-o-clock position on the vehicle socket. Please refer to the linked photo.

This will deliver enough current for a maintenance charge but it will not be able to re-charge a depleted battery. If you trailer battery needs a charge, rather than a top-off, then use a shore power battery charger like the CTEK # CTEK56353. I have owned this charger for several years and it continue to provide reliable charging for my lawn mower and Harley batteries.