Parts Needed To Tow with a 2017 GMC Savana 2500 Van

Question:

Good afternoon, Ive read Recommended Trailer Hitch and Wiring for 2016 GMC Savanna 3500inch QandA. The recommendation is for the 4 plug harness. With a 10k lb trailer, I think that I should electric trailer brakes. Its not mentioned or recommended in the answer. I have a 2017 GMC 2500 Cargo van and want to install a hitch, wire it and, I think add brakes?

asked by: John B

Expert Reply:

If the trailer you will be towing with your 2017 GMC Savana 2500 Van has brakes then yes, you will need to use a 7-way wiring harness and brake controller in addition to the trailer hitch, trailer wiring harness, and ball mount/hitch ball. These will be the only requirements to tow the trailer but you may also be interested in a transmission cooler to help prolong the life of your vehicle's transmission.

For a trailer hitch, I recommend the etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver part # E98861. This hitch is a custom fit so no drilling is required and it is super easy to install. It also has a 10,000 lb weight capacity and durable black powder coated finish. I have attached both an install video and photo for you as well.

For a trailer wiring harness, I recommend the T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness part # 118392 because we find this brand to be the most reliable with their wiring products. This harness is also a custom fit so no splicing is required. I have attached an install video for you as well. In order to add a 7-way to this you can then use the Curt Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller part # C57186.

For a brake controller, I recommend is the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Trailer Brake Controller part # RED44FR. The Tow-Pro Elite is very similar in design to a factory trailer brake controller. There is a control box that gets installed under the dash, out of sight and then a control knob that gets mounted on your dash wherever you prefer. This will provide a very clean look and will allow you to mount it in many different locations whereas others will need to be in a certain position/angle. The other nice feature of this brake controller is that you can switch between proportional and a user-controlled mode which I am not aware of any other brake controller that can.

In order to find out what ball mount you need we need to measure from the ground to the top inside edge of the receiver tube and then subtract the distance from the ground to the bottom of the coupler on your trailer. This will then give you the correct amount of drop you need to look for in a ball mount. However, more often than not I recommend using an adjustable ball mount as I am sure it is not unreasonable to assume you might get a different trailer or need to tow one for a friend so this way we are not purchasing a ball mount for a specific trailer but rather one that can be used with many. For this, I recommend Rapid Hitch Adjustable, Steel Ball Mount Kit part # AM3461. This mount has optional locking pins # 34061405-D.

If you choose to install a transmission cooler as well then I recommend the Derale Series 8000 Plate-Fin Transmission Cooler Kit part # D13503 which has everything that you need.