Recommended Brake Controller and Wiring Harness for 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 with Factory 7-way

Question:

I have a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 Tradesman crew cab. We recently purchased a travel trailer and we have been using my brothers Ford to pull it because it has a readily available built in trailer brake controller. I want to be able to pull it but do not have a factory built in brake controller but the connection for a 7 pin is already on. What product and other accessories is recommended and needed to have a functioning TBC?

asked by: Michael B

Expert Reply:

Since you already have the factory 7-way, adding a brake controller to your 2012 Dodge Ram is easy. My recommendation is to use a proportional brake controller (which is what is in your brother's truck) and the simple wiring harness that will give you the plug and play ability.

The most popular brake controller we have is the Prodigy P3 # 90195 because it has the easy to read diagnostics and LCD screen for ease of use. It also has preset boost settings so you can easily be ready to tow your trailer in just seconds from installation. The proportional controller will apply the brakes on your trailer at the same time and with the same amount of pressure as you hit your brake pedal so there isn't a difference in braking like you may feel in a time delayed controller.

For your Plug-In Wiring Adapter, I recommend # 3021-P. This will plug into the harness located underneath the dash, to the left of the steering column, taped to another harness near your emergency brake pedal. I've attached a video to assist.

If you want a good brake controller with less features for a more cost efficient option, I recommend the Primus IQ # TK90160. This will function well but won't have the troubleshooting, testing, and diagnostic capabilities to the same level as the Prodigy P3.

expert reply by: Jason S