How to Activate the Factory Trailer Towing Package on a 2000 Chevy Silverado

Updated 07/30/2020 | Published 11/03/2010

Products Featured in This Question

7- and 4-Pole Trailer Connector Socket w/ Mounting Bracket - Vehicle End

(2653)

$41.31

Pollak 7-Pole, RV-Style Trailer Connector Socket w/ Wiring Harness and Mounting Bracket

(100)

$43.55

Question:

I have a 7 blade tow connector that came with my 2000 Silverado. It has a factory tow package, and I am trying to get power to the 4 hub elec brakes, utility trailer. Is the factory wiring in my truck already connected to the 7 blade connector or do I have to do that myself? If so, where is the harness located?

asked by: Big D

Expert Reply:

The wiring will already be run on your 2000 Chevy Silverado. There will be 1 of 2 wiring situations on your truck. The wiring for the 7-Way will be located above the spare tire. If it is just bare wires with no plug, you will need to hard wire one in. The harness we have for this wiring situation is Pollak 7-Pole, RV-Style Trailer Connector Socket w/ Wiring Harness and Mounting Bracket, # PK11898.

If your truck has a plug, then you will need to use a connector like the Replacement Multi-Tow 7-Way and 4-Way Trailer Connector, # 30955. You will just plug the adapter into the factory connector and mount the 7-Way at the rear of the vehicle.

If you find that the wiring is already run to your factory 7-Way, there is one more thing you may need to do in order to make it functional. I have included an FAQ video below that should be helpful when you are wiring in a 7-Way. Even with a tow package, there may be some connections that need to be made under the hood. The article covers these steps.

expert reply by: Michael H

Mike

3/11/2020

If the truck came from the factory with a tow package,Are the wires already connected on the seven blade plugin for lighting and trailer brakes?

Chris R.

3/12/2020

If you have a 2000 Silverado like in the above question and it's equipped with the factory 7-Way, all the wiring should already be connected. The only add-on you would need in order to activate the trailer brakes is a brake controller like the Primus IQ # TK90160, which could be easily installed using the Plug-In Harness # 3025-P.

Helpful Links

Accessories-and-Parts/Tekonsha/3025-P.html

Mark

7/25/2020

I was told that the 7 way plug that is on my 2000 silverado can be used to also charge the battery in my camper/trailer but there is a fuse slot in the fuse box under the hood I would need to add a fuse to for this to work. any idea on which fuse slot since mine does not specify in the box under the hood.

Chris R.

7/30/2020

I took a look at the online owner's manual for your Silveardo and I wasn't able to find a fuse location for the trailer 12V circuit, either. At this point you could either check with a local Chevy dealer to see if they have some more information or simply run your own wire to activate this circuit. To do this simply use a length of 10 gauge wiring # 10-1-1 and run it from the 12V pin on the 7-Way up to the battery via a breaker like # 9510.