Options to Install a Brake Controller and Trailer Hitch on a 2013 Infiniti JX35

Question:

I am interested in installing a hitch and an adapter for the prewired line for an electric brake for my Infiniti JX 35. Is this harness compatible with the Infiniti JX35 pre wired connector? As for the hitch, I believe that except for the curt product, the other 3 brands, hidden hitch, drawtite ,and reese are essentially the same unit. I am interested in the latter 3 because I read that no cutting or modification is required, I am hoping you guys can confirm. Lastly, would you know if the hitch has a place to mount the 7 pin connector on the hitch itself? Thanks in advance

asked by: Michael S

Helpful Expert Reply:

We can provide you with all of the parts that you will need to install a trailer hitch, 7-way trailer connector and a brake controller on your 2013 Infiniti JX35, however none of the items will work with pre-wired circuits or plug-in ports on your vehicle. I spoke with my contact at Tekonsha and they have not guarantee that the Plug-In Wiring Adapter, # 3050-P will work on your vehicle. I also spoke with my local Infiniti dealer and they told me that the JX35 does not come with a port under the dash for a plug-in style harness for a brake controller.

To install a brake controller on your JX35 you will need the Curt 3 Wire to 2 Wire Converter, # C56190, the Brake Controller Installation Kit, # ETBC7, and a brake controller.

You will first need to install the Curt wiring harness which will splice into your vehicles tail light circuits and provide a 4-way flat trailer connector. Next, you will install the Brake Controller Installation Kit, # ETBC7. This will give you a 7-way connector and all necessary wires and hardware to install a brake controller. You can use the No-Drill Mount Bracket, # c57202, with the mounting bracket included with the ETBC7 kit to attach the 7-way connector to the trailer hitch.

I have attached links to the installation instructions for the Curt wiring harness and the ETBC7 kit for you to look over. I have also attached an installation video for the ETBC7 kit. The vehicle in the video is different from your JX35, but it should give you an idea on what is involved for the installation. This video also shows how to install the brake controller as well.

Once you have the Curt harness and the ETBC7 kit installed, you will just need to install a brake controller. I would recommend looking at the Tekonsha Prodigy P2, # 90885, if you do not already have a brake controller. The brake controller will come with four wires, blue, black, red and white. The white wire is ground and we recommend running that to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery. The red wire will splice into the cold side of the stop light switch at your brake pedal. The black and blue wires will splice into the black and white wires that were ran to the front of the vehicle from the ETBC7 kit.

Finally, you will just need to decide on a trailer hitch. Hidden Hitch, Draw-Tite and Reese are all sister companies, so the trailer hitches are all essentially the same hitch as you mentioned. The Hidden Hitch and Draw-Tite hitches have a lower hanging receiver from the Curt hitch, # C13126, which is why fascia trimming/modification is not required. I would recommend going with the Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch, # 76031, because the installation will be much easier than the Curt hitch, and the Hidden Hitch has been discontinued.

To complete your towing set up is a ball mount and hitch ball. For this we offer the Ball Mount Kit, # 989900, that includes two ball mounts with different rises and drops, a 1-7/8 inch hitch ball, a 2 inch hitch ball, a pin and clip and a storage bag.