How To Wire Brakes On Utility Trailer That Is Being Pulled By 5th Wheel Camper / RV

Question:

Hi, I have a 2020 Ram 2500 6.4L with the oem intergrated electric brake controller. I want to tow a utility trailer behind my 5th wheel camper legal in MI. The utility trailer has electric brakes, so any suggestions on the best way to do this so that the utility trailer brakes do not lock up do to the 5th whl requiring a higher braking pressure than the utility trailer. Will I have to convert to surge brakes on utility trailer? Any help is greatly appreciated,

asked by: Mike S

Expert Reply:

First off, if you do not have a receiver on the back of your 5th wheel then use Adjustable Width Trailer Hitch Receiver for RVs, 22" to 72" # 13703. I think you are limited to two options if you are wanting to use the brakes on your 5th wheel and your utility trailer. You could either install a separate brake controller to be ran to your utility trailer or you could convert your utility trailer to surge brakes and do away with running a brake signal to the utility trailer. I would opt for the first option so that you do not have to completely change your braking setup on your utility trailer.

To make the process of installing a brake controller for your utility trailer even simpler, I would go with the Curt Echo Wireless Trailer Brake Controller # C51180. This can plug into a 7 way at the back of your 5th wheel and wirelessly connect to your phone via the Echo Smart Control App. Since you probably do not have a 7 way at the back of your 5th wheel, I recommend mounting Pollak 7-Way # PK11898 on the back of your 5th wheel. You can then use 10 Gauge Primary Wire # 10-1-1 to splice into your 5th wheel lighting wires and connect it to the Pollak 7-way connector. The Curt Echo does not require a brake signal wire to be ran up to the tow vehicle, so you will just need to connect the light signal wires, ground the white wire, and run the black wire up to positive terminal on the 5th wheel's battery. Now you can plug the Curt Echo into the 5th wheel's 7 way and then connect the utility trailer's 7 way into the Curt Echo.

I have attached demonstration videos for the Curt Echo and Pollak 7 Way Trailer Connector.

expert reply by: Andrew N