Dexter Predator Brake Controller 58-8 Installation in 2005 Ford F150

Question

Question:

Cant locate the charge wire and brake light wire. The turn signals and the brake lights work. Controller does not apply brakes. I have a 7 wire hook-up and only 4 wires can be located on the truck. I am trying to use the Predator DX2 part # 058-008-00 and the wiring harness that plugs in under the dash that plugs in to a gray 4-way plug.

asked by: Larry W

0

Expert Reply:

If your 2005 Ford F-150 has only 4 wires at the bumper (or only a 4-pole connector) and you need to install a 7-way vehicle-side connector, you could use the Hopkins # 37185. If you already have the 7-way connector on your truck, you will need to make the additional wire connections for the brake controller. (The 4 wires you have carry the brake light, running light and turn light signals for your trailer, plus a ground: white = ground, brown = running/brake lights, green = right turn signal and yellow = left turn signal.)

Please refer to the photo attached; this shows the Hopkins 7-way connector and includes labels for the functions carried on each wire. If you have a 4-pole connector this will plug into the 4-pole lead on the Hopkins adapter (or if you have bare wires you can cut off the 4-pole on the Hopkins adapter and connect these to the 4 wires from the vehicle color for color). It is always a good idea to use a circuit tester like # PTW2979 to confirm wiring functions, however.

Ford wires the front of the vehicle as if it will be manufactured with a 7-Way plug. All the 7-Way wires are run to a connector on the frame rail; they may not continue all the way to the rear bumper. Follow the 4-way trailer connector wires from the trailer connector toward the front of the vehicle. These wires connect to a factory plug along the frame rail, usually on the driver's side, between the back tires and the rear bumper.

Snip the blue and orange Ford wires next to the plug coming from the front of the truck. Connect them to the blue and black wires on the 7-way adapter. Using a self-tapping screw, secure the white wire to the vehicle frame to ground the adapter. You may wish to refer to the included article on trailer brake controller installation in Ford trucks. I have also include a second image showing a vehicle-side 7-way and where each wire/function should attach.

You will also want to make sure that all fuses/relays required for towing are installed in the fuse box under the hood.

expert reply by: Adam R

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Answer 1

There is no universal or standard wiring color code, unfortunately, so you will have to test the wires you have with a circuit tester like #PTW2979 if you need one. Then you can go by the diagram I have included to determine which wire will attach to…

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Answer 2

There are many things that can affect the voltage on the brake output wire from your brake controller to your trailer brakes such as the power setting on your brake controller, how you are testing the wire and if you are testing it with the brakes or…

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Answer 3

The only difference between 7-Way Utility and 7-Way RV is the color of the wires. The pin outs are the exact same so either would work just fine with the other. If you check out the picture I attached you'll see that the functions are all the…

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Answer 4

If you already have brake drums you will not have to replace them unless they are damaged or became overheated and have discoloration on the inside armature surface where the magnet rides, grooves in the armature surface, or severe wear where the…

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Answer 5

Yes, the temperatures you mentioned are normal. If you were getting over 200 degrees that would be a bad sign. But typically if all of the hubs are the same temperature you're good and it's only really an issue if one of the hubs is hotter…

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Answer 6

On a trailer electric brake assembly like the Dexter 6,000 Pound #23-105 you were looking at the magnet itself should be at the bottom. The arm that is attached to the magnet should then be located on the front side of the trailer (towards the…

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Answer 7

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 8

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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Answer 9

If you just need a 4-pin to 7-pin trailer wiring adapter, then you can use part #C57672. This will plug into the 4-pin trailer connector on your brother's vehicle and give him the 7-pin socket for the trailer. Keep in mind, this will only give…

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Answer 10

It sounds like you are speaking of the wires for the brake magnets. If this is correct, you will need to connect one of the wires to the brake controller output wire on your trailer connector and the other wire will need to be grounded to a clean…

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Answer 11

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 12

That's a very good question, we tend to be extra cautious and say to use 10 gauge wire because that would be more than enough. When you get into longer trailers that will end up using a lot of wire the heavier gauge wire becomes more necessary.…

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Dexter Predator Brake Controller 58-8 Installation in 2005 Ford F150

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