Adding A Brake Controller To A 2023 Chevrolet Suburban LS

Published 10/28/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty Brake Controller w/ Universal Wiring Harness - Dash Knob - Proportional

(3299)

$167.00

Redarc Tow-Pro Wiring Adapter for Curt Brake Controller Harness

(15)

$27.00

Curt Custom Wiring Adapter for Trailer Brake Controllers - Dual Plug In

(90)

$14.60

Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness for Factory Tow Package - 7-Way and 4-Pole Flat Connectors

(778)

$36.46

Redarc Tow-Pro Elite Brake Controller - Dash Knob - Off-Road Mode - Up to 3 Axles - Proportional

(1749)

$280.21

Question:

I would like to add an electric brake controller to my 2023 Chevrolet Suburban LS which has a standard factory receiver and light plug. I notice one of your controllers requires a factory controller and all say trailer towing package. Is my standard receiver and wiring enough to add one of your controllers? which ones?

asked by: David D

Expert Reply:

Welcome back, David!

A quick and fairly easy way to tell if you do have the "factory towing package" on your 2023 Chevrolet Suburban LS, is to look under your dash just to the left of your steering wheel column. I included a picture that shows exactly where the plug will be and if you see the plug, you have the factory towing package. If you have blunt cut wires and no plug (which can be pretty tucked up in there), that would indicate you do not. That isn't the end of the world or anything, it just means you need to hardwire the brake controller to those wires with butt connectors. It's only slightly more difficult than the plug and play options and will really only add a couple minutes to the install time.

One thing I do need to ask though, when you said "light plug", did you mean you have a 4-Flat or a 7-Way? If you meant a 4-Flat, you will need to upgrade that to the plug and play Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness for Factory Tow Package - 7-Way and 4-Pole Flat Connectors # C55774. If you already have the 7-Way though, you are good with what you already have and will not need to change anything.

For the brake controller itself, I am going to recommend Redarc as they are currently the best controllers on the market. For your Suburban, we have the (up to) 2 axle Redarc Tow-Pro Liberty # RED52VR and the (up to) 3 axle Redarc Tow-Pro Elite # RED44FR. The correct one will depend pretty much solely on how many axles your trailer has, so that part should be fairly easy. Both of these come with blunt cut wires so they can be easily hardwired, but they can also be adapted to that plug if you have it. To do that, you will need the Curt pigtail # C51525 and the Redarc Tow-Pro Wiring Adapter for Curt Brake Controller Harness # 331-TPH-019. Then it's just figuring out where you want to mount the knob. I typically say to use a switch blank somewhere in your dash, but we have had people mount it in all sorts of locations. Just make sure it's easy to get to.

What kind of trailer are you going to be towing with your Suburban?