Brake Controller and Install Wiring Needed for 2016 Chevy Express Van

Published 09/07/2016

Products Featured in This Question

Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

(2763)

$160.34

Wiring Kit for 2, 4, 6, and 8 Brake Electric Trailer Brake Controllers

(159)

$51.51

Question:

I purchased a 2016 GMC Savana 2500 van conversion from Explorer in Warsaw ,IN. It has a Z82 trailer package with the 7 way plug on the hitch. I will be pulling a two axle 5000# travel trailer through mountains. Does the GMC come with a built in brake controller? If not, I was looking at the Tekonsha P2 controller, is this a good choice? In the video on the 2015 express van it shows only attaching to 4 wires. In the instructions it says you also need a 20 amp circuit breaker if a vehicle wiring connector is not used. Is a vehicle connector available for the 2016 GMC Savana? If not, do you have a video showing wear to install the 20 amp breaker? thanks

asked by: Lynn W

Expert Reply:

Your 2016 GMC Savana isn't going to have an integrated brake controller, but the P2 part # 90885 would be an excellent choice that we would highly recommend.

Vehicles with the 7-Way tow package have the blue output brake wire already ran from the back to the front. It is located under the dash near the emergency brake pedal.

Some models will have the connection wiring taped and tucked under the driver side floor mat up towards the firewall. So look there if you don't find it by the emergency brake pedal.

To power the controller you will need the part # 5506 which comes with wiring to run to the battery with a circuit breaker needed on the power wire (the wire that runs to positive post of battery).

The blue wire of the controller runs to the blue output circuit of the van. The white runs to the ground wire of the # 5506, the black wire runs to the positive post of the battery through the breaker and the red wire runs to the stoplight circuit near the brake pedal that only sees voltage when the brakes are applied.

Watch the install video I attached to see how this all installs in a similar Express Van.