Wiring Trailer Brakes On a 5TH Wheel Trailer

Updated 05/02/2024 | Published 05/01/2024

Question:

My 5th wheel has 2 white wires going to each axle. The wires going through the axles from one side to the other, are both brown. The brakes have 2 black wires. Is there a certain way they should be connected?

asked by: Darren S

Expert Reply:

For the wires coming from the brakes they do not matter as they connect to the magnets in the drum brakes which are not polarity specific. So one wire from each brake will connect to the frame/ground wire as a ground and the 2nd wire will connect to the positive wires coming from the 7-way.

The brown wires running through the axle are simply put there by the axle manufacturer so you do not have to run wiring down both sides of the frame.

As for the 2 white wires on your 5th wheel you will need to determine if one wire is a ground connection and the 2nd is power or if both the wires are power wires. Once you know this you will know if you need to connect each axle to a separate power wire or if they will both wire up to one wire. I have included an image for this below as that is how the brakes are most commonly wired.

expert reply by: Bud M