Installing Brake Controller on 2007 Dodge Ram with Factory 7-Way or Factory 4-Way Trailer Connector

Updated 06/29/2020 | Published 07/14/2010

Products Featured in This Question

7-Way & 4-Way Replacement Connector for Dodge OEM Style Plugs

(83)

$35.79

Adapter 4 Pole to 7 Pole Vehicle End Trailer Connector

(600)

$31.18

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(60)

$13.68

Question:

I am installing a Tekonsha prodigy controller on my 2007 Dodge Ram 1500. My truck has the 4 pin connecter under the dash. I have the 42145 4/7 pin on my bumper connected to the 4 pin harness. Do I still need to hook up the ground wire and run a power back to tha battery? or just the ground. I dont want to short out the controller.

asked by: Wayne

Expert Reply:

If your 2007 Dodge Ram already had a 7-Way, then all you would need to do is connect the Hopkins Replacement harness, # 42145, and install the brake controller and plug it in to the factory tow package plug.

If your Ram had a factory 4-Way, there are a couple of more steps. Start by plugging in the brake control adapter into the OEM harness located under the steering wheel, just to the right of the emergency brake pedal. Then find a place to mount the brake controller.

Look for a connector on the driver side of the truck, right behind the front wheel well. Using a circuit tester # PTW2993 locate the wire that supplies power to the trailer brakes. Usually, it is the blue one. Using a quick splice, run a wire lead from the blue wire to the back of the vehicle. Enough wire will be needed to make it from the front wheel well to the end of the truck bed. The wire lead will connect to the blue wire on the 7-Way adapter, # 30717. After mounting the new trailer adapter and plugging it into the original 4-pole connector, installation is complete.

To provide power to the 7-Way, you will need to run a wire from the 7-Way to the vehicle battery via a 40-amp circuit breaker. The yellow wire on the 30717 harnesses will get connected to a reverse light wire behind one of the taillights. I have included an FAQ article on installing a brake controller on a Dodge Ram below.

expert reply by: Michael H

Albert L.

6/24/2020

Is there another color wire that dodge may have used ,the only blue wire in the connector has a white stripe in it.

Chris R.

6/29/2020

It's absolutely possible. It's not always best to go by wire color alone, as vehicle manufacturers tend to switch up the wiring they use from time to time. You'll want to actually test the wires for function with a circuit tester. You can start with the blue/white wire you found and see if it gets power when applying the manual override on the brake controller.