Is a Brake Controller Needed on a 2010 GMC Yukon Denali Towing a 6,000 Pound Camper  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Some trucks now come equipped with factory brake controllers. Ford has been doing it since 2005 and GM started in 2006 or 2007. Your Yukon Denali may have come with an integrated brake controller. I would check with GMC to see if your Denali was built with an integrated brake controller. You should be able to call in with the VIN.

If your Denali does not have an integrated brake controller, I would certainly add one if the camper is equipped with brakes. It will save wear and tear on the Denali brakes and it will reduce your braking distances.

In 2007, when GM changed the truck bodies, they did away with the plug in brake control port. They just included a wire bundle underneath the dash. Not quite as convenient as the plug-in, but the wires are already run so you would only have to splice 4 wires.

I have added links to a couple of instruction pages on installing brake controllers on 2007 to current GM trucks. The first is an article to follow if your truck did not come with a factory brake controller. The second is if your truck came with a factory controller and you want to swap it out for a new, aftermarket unit.

The Tekonsha Prodigy, part # 90885, would be a great choice for pulling your 6,000 pound camper. It is a proportional style controller which means the controller will gauge how hard or light you are braking and engage the trailer brakes proportionally so braking and coming to a stop is much smoother and better controlled than a time-delayed controller.

I have added links to additional information.

expert reply by: Patrick B

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