Installing a Brake Controller on a 2004 Dodge Ram Without a Factory Tow Package

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Question:

Can you help me with where to tie in the harness for the brake controller.

asked by: JIMMY B

0

Expert Reply:

We have everything you need to install a brake controller on your 2004 Dodge Ram. Since your truck does not have any factory trailer wiring, we will want to install a trailer connector first because the brake controller will tie into the trailer connector, vehicle battery and the vehicles stoplight switch.

You will notice 4 wires on the back of your brake controller. The black wire is for 12-volt power from the vehicle battery via a 30-amp circuit breaker. The white wire should be grounded to either the vehicle battery or to a clean bare metal surface. The blue wire will run to the trailer connector at the back of the truck and the red wire will splice into the cold side of the stoplight switch. The stoplight switch is located on the arm of the brake pedal (see photo). Dodge traditionally used a white wire for this, but they have been known to change the wire color. I recommend using a circuit tester, like part # PTW2993 to test the wire before splicing in the red wire. The wire should only show power when the brake pedal is pressed.

Before you install the brake controller, I recommend installing a trailer connector. If your truck does not have a 4-way flat trailer connector, then I recommend installing the Curt T-Connector Wiring Harness, # C55504. This harness plugs into the trucks taillight harness to provide the light functions. If your truck already has a 4-way trailer connector, then you do not need this harness.

The next part you will want to install is a 7-way trailer connector. For this, I recommend installing our Brake Control 7-Way Installation Kit, # ETBC7. This kit comes with a 7-way and 4-way trailer connector along with all of the wiring and hardware necessary to complete the installation of your brake controller. I have attached the installation instructions and an installation video on a Dodge Ram for you to check out. The truck in the video is slightly older than your Dodge Ram, but the installation process will be the same.

I have also attached a help article on installing a brake controller on a Dodge Ram truck that explains each step of the installation.

expert reply by: John H

0

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Answer 1

If you are getting a no trailer connected warning on your Tekonsha Prodigy P3 #90195 you may have a corroded or dirty connector which is hampering the connection. Check the vehicle and trailer plug to see if there is any type of corrosion or dirt…

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Answer 2

In order to add a 7-Way to your 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 that came with a factory 4-Way you will need to use a 4- to 7-Way adapter such as #30717. The white wire will ground to the truck frame. The black wire is the 12 volt power circuit you will need to…

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Answer 3

Since you have narrowed the problem to your truck that does help the troubleshooting process a bit. What you want to do from here is determine if your brake controller is bad or if it's simply a wiring problem. To find out if the controller is…

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Answer 4

I think you are going in the right direction. I would definitely replace the 14 gauge wire going to the trailer brake magnets with 10 gauge wire or larger. Usually larger than 10 gauge is hard to get into the trailer connector though. I would also…

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Answer 5

Since you did not mention the particular brake controller that you have, I am going to give you some general brake controller information that might help you solve the problem. I am including a link to a FAQ page on troubleshooting a brake…

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Answer 6

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 7

If you prefer using the Curt Venturer Trailer Brake Controller, part #C74VV, then we have the adapters required to make them work. If you already have a 4-way on your 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup, then the adapter for the Venturer is part #C51332. This will…

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Answer 8

If your 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 did not come with a factory installed 7-Way trailer connector then you will need to add one using #37185 (provided that the truck came with a factory 4-Way flat trailer connector). The blue wire that is output to the…

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Answer 9

Yes, we do have a generic brake controller wiring diagram on our Brake Controller Information page. I have added a link to it below. The bundle of wires you are looking for should contain the following: white with red stripe, blue with white stripe,…

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Answer 10

You will need to hardwire the brake controller to your 2008 Dodge 1500. Because the wires have all been cut it would be best to run all new wires so you know it is done correctly. The four wires coming from the brake controller are White for ground.…

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Answer 11

I have added a photo detailing the wiring connections for the Pollack Heavy-Duty, 7-Pole, Round Pin conncetor, #PK11700, see link. This is a SAE J560 compliant connector. The wiring diagram for the vehicle side connector, #PK11720, is pictured also.…

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Answer 12

When wiring a trailer connector, it is best to wire by function, as wire colors can vary. We have an excellent wiring diagram on our website, I will provide you a link so you can look at it. If you are looking at the inside of the trailer connector…

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Installing a Brake Controller on a 2004 Dodge Ram Without a Factory Tow Package

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