Trailer Brake Controller Installation on a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500

Expert Reply:

The red wire on the Tekonsha Voyager, # 39510, is for the stop light wire on the cold side of the brake switch. In order to find it, you will need a circuit tester, # 3808 if needed) and then probe the wires on the brake switch above the brake pedal.

You will need the wire that carries a signal only when the brake pedal is pressed. If you find a wire that also shows a signal when the lights are on or turn signals engaged it is not the correct wire. You need a dedicated brake light wire only. I have included a link to the brake controller installation details for reference.

If your truck came with a factory installed 7-Way trailer connector, you can use brake controller wiring harness # 3020-P. The connection point is located at the back of the driver side floorboard between the brake pedal and emergency brake pedal. You can see this location on the product page for # 3020--P.

If the truck came with just a 4-Way factory trailer connector, you can still use the harness and plug it in in the same spot. To add a 7-Way, you will need # 37185. However, the brake (blue) wire does not run all the way back to the 4-pole at the rear; it stops at the connector that is located under the drivers side wheel well. In order to finalize the installation you must splice into this wire and continue it back to the plug using wire # 10-1-1.

To power the 7-Way, you will need to attach a long enough length of # 10-1-1 wire to the black wire on # 37185, route it under the truck avoiding any areas that may damage the wire, and up into the engine compartment. It will attach to the positive battery terminal via a 40 amp circuit breaker, # PK54540.

expert reply by: Michael H