Brake Control Installation Instructions for a 1996 Chevrolet C/K Pickup

Updated 02/06/2020 | Published 03/15/2010

Products Featured in This Question

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

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Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires

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$142.15

Pollak Circuit Breaker - Cycling/Automatic Reset - 20 Amp - Straight Mount Bracket

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$9.50

Pollak Circuit Breaker - Cycling/Automatic Reset - 40 Amp - Straight Mount Bracket

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$8.08

Tekonsha BRAKE-EVN Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

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Question:

Where under the dash are the wires to hook up a DT#TK63VRon a 96 chev pickup without a factory tow pkg.

asked by: bruce c

Expert Reply:

You will need to hard wire the Tekonsha # TK63VR, on your 1996 Chevrolet CK Pickup. Hard wiring is straight forward and fairly easy to do. We have instructions and a video that I have linked below for you.

From the Brake controller here are your connections.

White wire to negative battery post.
Black wire through a 20-amp circuit breaker, item # PK54520 (included in kit), to the positive battery post.
Red wire to the stop light switch wire behind the brake pedal, use a circuit tester, item # PTW2993, to locate the correct wire. See minute 7:40 in video.
Blue wire runs back to the blue wire on the 7-Way adapter.

You will need a wiring kit, item # ETBC7, to install the brake controller and wiring. This kit has all of the items needed to do a professional installation of the brake controller and trailer connector. The only other item you may need is a 4-Pole Hardwire Kit, item # 18252, if you do not already have a 4-Way connector on your vehicle.

You will then need to run another wire from the black wire on the 7-Way Adapter to the positive post on the vehicle battery through a 40-amp circuit breaker, item # PK54540 (included in kit), and a wire to the reverse light circuit, behind one of the taillights, from the yellow (center pole, sometimes purple) wire on the connector if needed. If you do not need the center pole circuit, you can just tie it up out of the way with a wire tie.

expert reply by: Robert G

Robert W.

2/4/2020

I have a 1996 Chevy k1500, there are 2 terminals on the fuse box under the hood which has fuses to them. They are screw posts and I was wondering if I could use those when wiring up my trailer brake.Thank youRobert

Jacob H.

2/6/2020

It's always a good idea to make sure that the brake controller has its own relays so that if you were to have a problem with it, you would know where it's coming from. This is why we recommend isolating the brake controller to its own relays.