2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 12 Volt Trailer Towing Wire Connection Instructions

Updated 01/07/2011 | Published 01/06/2011

Products Featured in This Question

Twist-in, 7-Pole, RV-Style Trailer Connector for Chevy and GMC Vehicles - Vehicle End

(612)

$21.18

Zinc Plated Hex Flange Nut - M6

(52)

$2.61

Zinc Plated Hex Flange Nut - M8

(68)

$1.46

Question:

Dealer that installed 5th wheel hitch says he has had this trouble on the newer chevys. Does not have 12 volts on the hot wire. fuse is good, wire is good, but no 12 volts. Some has the 12 volts and some do not. He said you can run a hot wire from the battery, but thats not the way it should be and I agree. Do you have any ideas about this. He also said that I dont have it at the rear plug either, but I did before, because when battery was dead on camper and I would hook up to truck the lite on the electric lift would get brighter. Is there another fuse or curciut breaker I dont know about.

asked by: Steve

Expert Reply:

Your 2008 Chevrolet Silverado is set up from the factory with trailer tow wiring, so I agree that wiring power wires from the battery is not the way that things should be done in your case. On the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado there are two wires under the hood that need to be connected to have power to the 7-Way trailer connector at the back of the vehicle and the brake controller wiring under the dash, see photo at right.

These wires are connected to the two studs at the power distribution box under the hood and are fused. The fuses for these studs are located in the power distribution box adjacent to the studs. We have a article for you to review that details installation of these wires and wiring a brake controller on your vehicle, see link.

The wire located below the master cylinder is for 12 volt power to he 7-Way at the rear of the vehicle and the wire located between the power distribution box and the driver side fender is the power wire to for the brake controller wiring under the dash.

Once these wires are connected with M6, item # 185916, and M8, item # 185917, nuts and you have fuses installed in the locations closest to the power posts you will have power at the 7-Way and brake controller wiring. If fuses are not present you will need to purchase a 30 amp fuse for the brake controller wiring and a 40 amp fuse for the 7-Way power wiring. These fuses are available at your local automotive store.

If you find that the 7-Way wiring is already connected then check the fuse mentioned earlier. If the fuse is not blown, check the trailer connector itself. There may be green and/or white corrosion in the connector that is not allowing the power circuit to make a correct connection. If so you will need the Twist-in, 7-Pole, RV-Style Trailer Connector, item # PK11916, that you selected to replace it. I recommend using some dielectric grease, item # 11755, on the connection and inside the connector to prevent corrosion.