Parts Needed to Install a Trailer Brake Controller 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn with Factory 4-Way

Question:

I need your Help. I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Big Horn Truck. It has the Factory Flat Plug with 4 post round post inside the flat plug made into the wiring harness it will not unplug from the wiring harness The bumper came with the Factory Round Hole already in it for the Round Plug but was not installed. This is what I would like to Install on my Truck. 1. A Automatic Leveling brake Controller. 2. A 4 Pole to 6 Pole and 4 Pole Trailer Wiring Adapter or 4 pole to 7-Way and 4 Pole Trailer Connector the plugs have the option of using the round plug or the flat plug so which ever one of the two that will fit the factory hole in my bumper. The new plug will need to plug into the factory 4 Pole Flat Plug because it does not unplug from the trucks wiring Harness and there is no quick connect in the harness to plug a new round plug into with a quick connector. 3. A Wiring kit to hook up the brake controller to the New Round plug in the bumper. 4. I will need at least a 2foot two foot4 Post Flat Plug Extension to connect between the 4 post Flat plug in the new Bumper plug into the Trailer Plug on the Trailer with a Flat 4 Post Plug on it. So if you could send me a list of the Part numbers I will need to make this work it would be of a great Help to me when i order my parts to get my truck up to Date. If there is nothing to make it work from the Factory Hole in Bumper then please send me a complete list of Items and Part Numbers to mount it to the bottom bumper to make it work. i would rather not use a under bumper mount if i do not have to i do not like to Drill holes in my Chrome Bumper so please help me out out if you can.

asked by: George C

Expert Reply:

Here are the parts that you need to install a brake controller and wiring harness in your 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 with factory 4-Way.

First, a brake controller. The Tekonsha P2, # 90885 is our most popular because it is easy to use and easy to set up. It is self-leveling. I have included a link to the installation details for you.

Next, you will need a wiring harness and installation kit. Your truck requires that the brake controller be hardwired to the vehicle. Since you already have the 4-Way, you will need to use the 4- and 7-way installation kit # ETBC7, and you will need a circuit tester, # PTW2993.

The ETBC7 comes with a 7-Way that also has a built-in 4-Way. It will not fit in the factory knock out on the truck though you could try it to see how it looks. You will have to mount it in another location. An OEM one that will fit in there is not available.

You do not necessarily have to drill into the bumper to install the bracket. If you look under the truck, there may be a better location you could use or you could use no-drill mounting bracket # C57202, clamp it to the hitch and attach the ETBC7 bracket to it. You may have to manipulate the brackets to get them to fit just the way you want. I have included some links explaining the ETBC7 installation.

For a 4-Way extension, you could use # HM47115 to extend from the 4-Way on the ETBC7 to the 4-Way on the trailer.