Installing a Hopkins Agility Brake Controller on a 1998 Chevrolet Pickup  

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We have everything that you need to install your Hopkins Agility Brake Controller, # HM47294, on your 1998 Chevrolet truck. The installation process is going to depend on how your truck is currently equipped.

If your truck has no trailer wiring at all, then you will need a few different components. First, you will need 4-way flat trailer connector. For this, I recommend the Curt T-Connector Harness, # C55315. This harness will plug into the factory connector located on the driver side frame rail behind the rear bumper.

Next, you will need a 7-way trailer connector to provide the additional functions for electric brakes and 12 volt power. For this, I recommend using the 4-Pole and 7-Pole Installation Kit, # ETBC7. I have attached installation instructions, a help article and an installation video that explains how to install this wiring kit.

Finally, you will install the brake controller. Your Agility brake controller will have 4 wires, white for ground, black for 12 volt power from the vehicle battery, blue for electric brake output and red for the stop light switch. It is recommended that you attach the white wire to the negative post of the vehicle battery. The black wire will attach to the 12 volt power wire coming from the vehicle battery from the ETBC7 kit. The blue wire will attach to the brake output wire coming from the 7-way trailer connector that you installed with the ETBC7 kit and, finally, the red wire will splice into the cold side of the stop light switch. Use the circuit tester included with the ETBC7 kit to test the wires coming from the stoplight switch at the brake pedal. On Chevy trucks, the wire is typically light blue, but I recommend testing before splicing.

If your truck already has a 4-way flat trailer connector, then you can follow the same process as above without installing the Curt T-Connector wiring harness.

If your truck already has a 7-way trailer connector, then you will only need a brake control wiring kit, # 5506. Use 20-amp circuit breaker if your trailer has 2 or 4 brake assemblies or use the 30-amp breaker if your trailer has 6 or 8 brake assemblies. This will install the same way as the ETBC7 kit without the 4-Pole and 7-Pole adapter.

expert reply by: John H

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