Solutions for Electric Over Hydraulic Brakes with a 2011 GMC 3500 With Integrated Brake Controller

Updated 09/20/2011 | Published 09/19/2011

Question:

I have a 2011 GMC 3500HD with the ITBC and I need to add a Prodigy 2 due to having e/h brakes, Dexter 1600 actuator, and the owners manual says to disconnect the power from the ITBC when adding the aftermarket controller. You guys say to leave the power on the ITBC but to cut the blue wire in the factory 7wire loom and add a another separate wire . Does disconnecting the power to the ITBC as directed by my owners manual eliminate the need to cut the factory blue wire and add another blue wire?

asked by: Paul W

Expert Reply:

I did some searching on the Internet and if you wanted to, there is a way to use the integrated brake controller that is in your 2011 Chevy 3500 with an electric over hydraulic system.

The first thing you will need to do is connect the 12 volt power source that is under the hood of your truck. This will be the 12 volt power source that will run the hydraulic pump to give you hydraulic pressure when you need it.

Next, you will need to wire in two magnets to your trailer. You will need to cut the blue wire and splice it in. connect the other side to the white wire. The blue wire will tell the pump how much pressure to develop. For magnets you could use Trailer Brake Magnet # BP01-115.

The Dexter Electric Over Hydraulic Brake Actuator # K71-651 that you have would work well for a hydraulic brake actuator.

If you would still like to use a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Brake Controller # 90885 check out the FAQ article I attached that details how to install an aftermarket brake controller on a GM truck with the integrated brake controller. This information came from Tekonsha and is our recommended method of doing the installation.

Basically, the two ways of dealing with the blue wire will give you the same result. Either way you will end up with the blue wire of the 7-way being attached to the aftermarket brake controller allowing it to send braking power to the trailer brakes.

You will need to cut the wire regardless of what you do so you can install the aftermarket brake controllers output circuit to it.

You will also need to connect a couple wires under the hood of your vehicle. In that FAQ I linked there is more details on that also.