Recommended Brake Controller For A Camper That Will Be Rented Out

Question:

1. Looks like the 2008 Subaru Outback doesn’t have a 4-pin connector yet, so is the C55370 what I need first to get the 4-pin? 2. The camper we’re setting this up for will be hauled by different vehicles, so does it make sense to install the brake controller on the camper? I thought I saw that that’s an option. Do all vehicles with 7-pin harnesses already have brake controllers? I ask this because we may rent the camper out and don’t know how that would work if a vehicle has a brake controller AND there’s already a brake controller on the camper. 3. What if a vehicle just has a 4-pin harness. Can they still tow the trailer with an adapter assuming their truck is big enough it doesn’t need to use the brakes on the camper?

asked by: Kevin M

Expert Reply:

If your 2008 Subaru Outback Wagon didn't already have the 4 Flat, then I recommend going with the Tekonsha T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness # 118461. In my experience I have found these to be longer lived products. It is a little more expensive, but it is the one I would go with. Once that's on, I recommend going with the # ETBC7L. This will only need the power wire run and will let you use a brake controller that will not be wired into the cab of your Outback. With what you are wanting to do, this will be the style of controller you will want to use. For this type of controller, you do have a couple options.

With that being said, I think the best option will be the Curt Echo # C51180. This requires no drilling or splicing and all you need is a smartphone. It will need to be reset when a new person goes to use it, but that just involves downloading the app and running through a quick process. It can then easily be set to what it needs to be via said app and will remember the settings until it is reset again. This is easy to use, easy to set up, and it is less expensive than other options. Not all vehicles that have a 7 Way installed have a brake controller equipped, but 99% will have power to the 7 Way. You will still want to make sure whomever is looking to rent the camper does have 12 volts at the 2 o'clock position on their 7 Way and as long as they do, this will be the option I recommend.

As to a vehicle only having a 4 Flat harness, there will not be a way to adapt that to be used with a trailer that has brakes without tapping into the wiring to run a separate 4 Flat harness. This wouldn't be overly difficult, but you will need to test your wires to make sure splicing something like the # 18004 gets to the correct functions. However, I do recommend staying with the 7 Way as it will supply power to the battery, or batteries, on the trailer and any other accessory that might be used.

expert reply by: Lazer S