Trailer-Side Plug Not Fitting Curt Echo When Used on 2020 Ford Ranger

Question:

We tried hooking up our echo wireless brake controller this afternoon but could not get the trailers plug to fit into the controller. It fits in the Ford Rangers 7 way pin but when we went to the trailers plug it would not go in at all. Sad part: I had ordered it from A***** but the weather had not allowed us to get started on checking this out until today. I checked our A***** account and we had until ... to return this product for a refund! Unbelievable. I checked Curt Manufacturing and they are closed until Monday. So I hurried up and returned the product to A***** so I wouldnt lose over $200.00. We really want to use this product as my husband got a new Ford Ranger and we dont want to hardwire a trailer brake into his new truck. The Echo wireless trailer brake fit the bill. Our trailer is a 2019 Geo Pro from Rockwood so I cant figure out why the trailer plug wouldnt fit into the Echo wireless brake controller. Can you help us? Thanks! We will order this brake controller from you.

asked by: Mary R

Expert Reply:

That's quite the journey you took us on there and I have to say, I've never heard of an issue with the trailer side plug not fitting the Curt Echo Wireless Trailer Brake Controller # C51180.

So I called Curt to see if this is an issue at all with the Echo, and was told it was not, and that there were just a couple of reasons why the Echo would not fit. One was if your trailer did not have a standard 7-way plug, though that seems unlikely, as I did just take a look at the Geo Pro and from everything I saw, it uses a standard 7-way. The most likely issue that I can think of is that the plug on your trailer has corrosion on it which doesn't allow it to fully seat inside the Echo Brake Controller # C51180.

Take a look and see if there may be some type of corrosion that is possibly green or white which may have hampered the fit, and if so the easiest thing to do is clean the trailer 7-way and always be sure to use Dielectric Grease # 11755.

The other thing you can do that will remedy the situation is replace your trailer's connector with a new 7-way, the Hopkins 7-Way RV Style Connector with Molded Cable - Trailer End - 8' Long - RV Standard # H20046.

Apart from doing those things, the only other option would be to wire in the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller # 90195.

This would be easy on your 2020 Ranger though, since you have the 7-way with the tow package you'd just need to connect the four wires on the Prodigy to the four trailer brake controller wires sticking out of the large wire harness that goes through the driver's side firewall, left of the brake pedal, with shrink tubing on the ends. If you'd like to take a look I have added some links below to video reviews for you to check out as well.