Brake Controller Wiring Harness for a Reese Brake Controller on a 2014 Ram 1500

Question:

I have recently bought a reese breakeman digital professional series controller part #83500DODGE13. The adaptor harness they sent me to do the install is part# 23166 which requires you to run the red breake sense wire back to the third breake light and use a wire tape to make the connection,NOT A BIG FAN !! The truck this unit is to be installed on is a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500. From what I have read from other peoples comments there has been some issues with installing aftermarket breake controllers on these newer model trucks. Is there anouther adaptor harness that will eliminate having to run a sense wire back to the third breake light and just plug into the connector above the breake peddle? Or should I return this unit and go with a different brand of controller? Thanks for your time

asked by: Loren L

Expert Reply:

The issue is that Dodge started using the Powernet electrical system starting in the 2013 model year. This is a multiplex wiring systems so it is more complicated than pretty much everything else that came before it. A regular harness will not work so they developed a special harness just for this system and it is the only one that you can use.

However, you do not need to run the additional wiring back to a third brake light wire. Everything still plugs in under the dash. The harness that you will need for the Reese controller is # 3023-P. I have linked the instructions and a video that shows how it installs.

If you want something that is really easy to install then you might be interested in the Curt Echo # C51180 which just plugs directly into the 7-Way at the back of your truck and is adjusted via the Apple/Android app.

expert reply by: Michael H