Recommended Method For Installing 7-Way Connector On 1996 Dodge Ram

Question:

I believe I have located the factory under dash plug for the 7 blade though the wire colors to each port seem different than the colors on the vehicle specific adapter. I think this is expected. I currently have a four flat connector at the back of the truck. It seems like there was once a 7 blade on it, based on wires Im seeing under the truck and in the engine compartment. My intent is to run a new hot lead from the 7 blade to the battery. My question is about the blue wire from the 7 blade to the brake controller. The only blue wire I have found - that looks like it was cut at the connection point of an old 7 blade, terminates unconnected under the hood. This leads me to believe that the under dash plug may not work for connecting the brakes to the hitch. I think what I will need to do, but want to confirm, is: 1 Plug the 4 way into the ETBC7 2 Run the black wire through the circuit breaker to the battery 3 Cut the blue brake wire on the adapter connector at the under dash side, and splice the white ETBC7 wire run along with the black from the back, to the blue brake controller wire where I cut it from the connector. Does this sound correct? Thank you!

asked by: Mark

Expert Reply:

You have the right idea.

Since it appears that the factory wiring on your 1996 Dodge Ram has been cut, bypassing as much of it as possible will be a great idea to avoid headaches down the road.

Since you already have a 4-way connector you will plug it into the Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller # ETBC7 as you mentioned and make the following remaining connections.

White wire grounded to vehicle frame
Blue wire to trailer brake controller
Black wire to vehicle battery with included 40 amp circuit breaker

Cutting the blue wire from your vehicle specific adapter for a trailer brake controller and using wire included with # ETBC7 to make the connection is exactly how we did it when we installed the # ETBC7 on a similar 2001 Dodge Ram.

I included a video of the # ETBC7 being installed on a 2001 Dodge Ram for you to take a look at.