Are Trailer Coupler Mounting Holes The Same And Is A Brake Controller Needed For Electric Brakes
Question:
Atwood Trailer Coupler - 84132 I have a trailer that originally had this type of coupler and hydraulic surge / drum brakes. I want to rebuild the trailer and use a standard basic coupler and electric drum brakes. Will the standard coupler holes line up? They both say 3 inch spread - but what about the distance from the front of the channel / frame to the 1st hole are they the same? Also, concerning the electric drum brakes. My tow vehicle has factory wiring 7 wiring - is a brake controller required or is that just an improvement allows easy adjustment and better response ? Since my trailer was originally hydraulic I only have wiring for lights - what kind of wire do I use for the electric drum brakes?
asked by: Mark
Expert Reply:
The standard, basic straight tongue coupler I have that will fit a 3 inch channel, and a 2 inch ball with a 6,000 lbs. weight capacity is the Fulton Fast-Lok Coupler with Cast Ball Clamp, 2 Inch Ball, 3 Inch Channel - 6,000 lbs, part # F346000301. It has the 3 inch spread between the side mounting holes. As long as the tongue has not been modified the distance from the front of the channel to the first hole will be the same on all of the bolt-on couplers.
When your trailer has electric brakes, you will need a brake controller for the brakes to properly actuate. The brake controller is tied into the circuit for the brake stoplight switch, which tells the trailer brakes when, and with how much force to actuate. I would recommend a proportional controller. A proportional brake controller has an internal sensor that can tell how quickly the tow vehicle is stopping, and will send the appropriate amount of braking force so that the trailer stops at the same rate as the tow vehicle.
I would recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller, part # 90885, as it self-diagnoses for any connection problems and is easy to use. I am including a link to the installation instructions on the Tekonsha brake controller.
You will need to replace the 4-way connector on your trailer with a 7-way trailer connector like the Pollak 7-Pole, RV-Style Trailer Connector, part # PK12706. This 7-way will give you the extra wire needed to control the electric brakes with the brake controller. It will also give you two more extra wires (if needed), one wire for 12v power for charging a trailer battery, and one for reverse lights or a hydraulic coupler with electric lockout. I am including a FAQ page on trailer wiring, which will show you how to wire your 7-way on your trailer.
The wire you would use for your electric brakes would be 10 gauge wire like the part # 10-1-1. The electric brake magnets will have two leads on them. One lead will be grounded to the trailer, the other lead needs to be connected to the 10 gauge wire that runs to the tongue of the trailer. Run one lead from the brakes on the other side to this wire as well. This 10 gauge wire that you just ran from the brakes would connect to the blue wire on your newly installed 7-way trailer connector.
This will give you a standard basic coupler, a brake controller, and wiring for electric drum brakes on your trailer that you are rebuilding.
Products Referenced in This Question
Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional
- Trailer Brake Controller
- Proportional Controller
- Electric
- Electric over Hydraulic
- Automatic Leveling
- Under-Dash Box
- Dash Mount
- Up to 4 Axles
- LED Display
- Up to 360 Degrees
- Tekonsha
more information >
Fulton Fas-Lok Coupler - 2" Ball - 3" Channel - 6,000 lbs
- Straight Tongue Trailer Coupler
- Standard Coupler
- 2 Inch Ball Coupler
- Bolt-On
- 6000 lbs GTW
- 3 Inch Channel
- Trigger Latch
- Fulton
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Pollak Black Plastic, 7-Pole, RV-Style Trailer Connector - Trailer End
- Trailer Wiring
- Trailer Connectors
- Trailer End Connector
- Plug Only
- 7 Round - Blade
- Pollak
more information >
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