Wiring a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe to Tow a Rockwood Camper Trailer with Electric Brakes

Question:

We have a 2010 Santa Fe which is wired with a flat 4 pin connector for pulling our small utility trailer. I would like to retain this option while also wiring it with a 7 pin flat system for the camper. Also want an electric brake controller and power to the trailer battery. Can the 2 systems be inter-connected? also would prefer to have the wiring systems remain inside the vehicle when not in use they use a lot of salt up here. If you could list parts I need that would be great. Also I know there are 2 types of brake controllers Which should I use?

asked by: Derrick C

Expert Reply:

Since your 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe has a factory 4-Way trailer wiring connector, it will be pretty simple to install a working 4-Way and 7-Way combination connector. We offer a kit, # ETBC7, that has this style of connector. You will need to hardwire the remaining wires that will supply power for trailer brakes, 12 volt power for trailer lighting or maintaining trailer battery charge, and reverse light signal.

We have detailed instructions, see link, that show how to connect these wires, we have a video, see link, showing all of the components in the # ETBC7 kit, which includes the wiring needed to complete a brake controller installation, and there is also a video installation of this kit that should prove very helpful, see link.

Normally the 7-Way and 4-Way connector is installed at the rear of the vehicle and attached to the hitch or vehicle bumper. I would recommend using the no drill mounting bracket, # C57202, to attach the connector to the hitch. If you wanted to route all of the wiring into the interior of the vehicle and then pull it out when needed, you could do so, just keep the wires as flat as possible so that the rear door will close. The door seal will protect the wires as long as the bundle is not too thick.

When selecting a brake controller there are two types, time delayed and proportional, see links. I would recommend a proportional controller because it will sense your vehicles deceleration and apply the trailer brakes accordingly, up to the preset limit that it is adjusted to. Proportional controllers offer safer braking because if you slam on the brakes the controller will sense it and send full power, up to the preset adjustment, out to the trailer brakes.

A time delayed brake controller uses the stop light signal to activate the trailer brakes. When the vehicle brakes are initially applied the brake controller will send a small amount of power and no matter how fast you are actually stopping the brake controller will ramp up the power to the preset maximum if the brake pedal remains pressed. The pitfall here is that if you slam on the brakes the controller will still have a delay while the braking power ramps up. Time delayed controllers also cause the braking experience to be much more jerky also.

I would recommend the prodigy P2 brake controller, # 90885, for your 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. We have an informational article on brake controllers that you may find helpful also, see link.