wiring harness

[LimeJeeeep]

well here goes a friend wanted to join us camping in GA.well they went to get a brake controller installed in their 06 chrysler grand voyager.camping world won,t do it as well as the dealership can,t do it.has anyone heard of this.?

[ldgregory]

well here goes a friend wanted to join us camping in GA.well they went to get a brake controller installed in their 06 chrysler grand voyager.camping world won,t do it as well as the dealership can,t do it.has anyone heard of this.?

Hmmm. Is the tow vehicle rated enough to tow the popup? When you say install brake controller, do you mean the whole nine years like also installing the 7-pin plug?

Why did they say they wouldn't do it?

[wavery]

I would tell them to call their local Chrysler Dealer.
Our of curiosity.....is it a 4 cyl?

[LimeJeeeep]

it has the big V6...i would have to agree that it close to the rated tow capacity...they are telling him that a hard wired  plug can mess with the computer for ABS brakes........me personally i think they do not want to be responcible for the wiring harness in the vehicle..

[wavery]

it has the big V6...i would have to agree that it close to the rated tow capacity...they are telling him that a hard wired  plug can mess with the computer for ABS brakes........me personally i think they do not want to be responcible for the wiring harness in the vehicle..

You may be right but I would still contact the Chrysler Dealer. The brake controller wires into the brake lights to receive it's activation signal. However, it may change the impedance on that circuit which, I suppose could be wired through the vehicles ABS computerized circuit (although I doubt it).

If the vehicle is under warranty, I would recommend that only an authorized Chrysler dealer be allowed to wire the controller, if the vehicle does not have a brake controller connector already pre-wired, under the dash.

[LimeJeeeep]

i neglected to say that the dealership said they won,t install it and camping world gave him a price for install (125) then said they couldn,t do it for that and came back with a 400$ price with no warranty for the vehicles wire system ,also the dealship said they would void the warranty if someone cuts in to the harness......

[wavery]

i neglected to say that the dealership said they won,t install it and camping world gave him a price for install (125) then said they couldn,t do it for that and came back with a 400$ price with no warranty for the vehicles wire system ,also the dealship said they would void the warranty if someone cuts in to the harness......

When you say, "the dealer says", do you know who he is talking to? This makes no sense to me. I can't believe that Chrysler Corp would market a van than is not capable of towing. A step like that would effect their market share and I just cannot conceive that they would do that.

If it were me, I would contact the Service Manager at that dealership (in writing) and arrange for a meeting with the Factory Rep. I would mention in the letter what I was told, by whom, on what time and date. I would ask for a response in writing and send a copy to Chrysler. I guaranty you, that will get him a straight answer. Until your friend does that, he is just talking to employees of the dealership that may or may not know what they are talking about.

[ldgregory]

When you say, "the dealer says", do you know who he is talking to? This makes no sense to me. I can't believe that Chrysler Corp would market a van than is not capable of towing. A step like that would effect their market share and I just cannot conceive that they would do that.

I agree with wavery, but you really need to check what the tow rating on the Caravan is. I found a thread talking about the '05 V6 and it was about 1,800 pounds tow rating (non-tow package).

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/17862866/srt/pa/pging/1/page/2.cfm

Now, the factory tow package looks like it bumps it up somewhere around 3,800, but I'm guessing that since he doesn't already have the 7-pin that he doesn't have that.

At any rate, I find it weird that they would blame it on the ABS. My Power Wagon has ABS and it's made by the same company, and it has the tow package with an aftermarket Prodigy brake controller.

[LimeJeeeep]

yes the dealership.and  yes i think its weird it has a 3800 towing capacity and no wiring harness .isn,t there a certain threshold now where it is mandatory to have electric brakes.and if  so doesn,,t this 3800 lbs meet that threshold?

"idgregory "i also have a 06 jeep commander a D/C product .it was a plug and play harness and the install of the prodigy is a piece of cake....i think his getting a line of bs.....

thanks for the reponses i will keep you folks updated.maybe they will sign on to the forum

[ldgregory]

yes the dealership.and  yes i think its weird it has a 3800 towing capacity and no wiring harness .isn,t there a certain threshold now where it is mandatory to have electric brakes.and if  so doesn,,t this 3800 lbs meet that threshold?

Threshold for what? Weight on the popup or trailer. I think so, but I don't know what it is. So he has the tow package on the Caravan but there isn't a 7-pin plug? That doesn't seem right.

[LimeJeeeep]

well the dealer is saying that his van has a 2K lbs capability and thats it.no if and or buts...

my question what is the weight at which it is mandatory to have trailer brakes?

[wavery]

well the dealer is saying that his van has a 2K lbs capability and thats it.no if and or buts...

my question what is the weight at which it is mandatory to have trailer brakes?

The law varies by state but one must comply with the law that the trailer is being towed in (no matter what state it is registered in). Florida (and bordering states) is 3000#.

http://www.brakebuddy.com/Towing-Laws

[ldgregory]

my question what is the weight at which it is mandatory to have trailer brakes?

I honestly don't know the answer to that. I can tell you that on Forest River, electronic brakes are standard equipment on 12' box models and bigger. The Flagstaff 206BH, for instance, is a 10' box with a GVWR of 2383 and they are optional equipment there.

I'm guessing this answer is going to lie with your local state laws. I found this place that might help:

http://www.hitchemup.com/statetowinglaws.htm

According to them it looks like 3,000 pounds is the limit without electronic brakes. However, I'm assuming that this assumes a tow vehicle reasonably capable of stopping 3,000 lbs.

I'll say it again in this thread too. My wife was an ADA prosecuting DWI and Great Bodily Harm in the DAs office. She did prosecute a few cases involving towers where they were involved in accidents resulting in deaths. They calculate down to the pound the tow rating of the vehicle and the weight of the trailer and whether everything was within limits.

I only bring that up because it's something people don't necessarily think of.

Leif.

[LimeJeeeep]

thanks .so based on previous post if said vehicle has the capability of 3800Lbs it should except a 6or 7 wire harness to control trailer brakes harness(in the real world)

thanks for all the replies. those friends of ours like the site and will registering soon.

oh BTW they are taking the van to a place that assures them that they have installed them before(with out issue) and would glady install it ..so hopefully they will be joining us at cloudland canyon st pk,GA

[wavery]

thanks .so based on previous post if said vehicle has the capability of 3800Lbs it should except a 6or 7 wire harness to control trailer brakes harness(in the real world)

thanks for all the replies. those friends of ours like the site and will registering soon.

oh BTW they are taking the van to a place that assures them that they have installed them before(with out issue) and would glady install it ..so hopefully they will be joining us at cloudland canyon st pk,GA

What kind of trailer does your friend have?

If he will be towing in any heat or leaving Florida with the trailer, he may want to consider trailer brakes and a good trans cooler anyway.

I know that hills are not an issue in Florida (unless you consider bridges and highway overpasses as hills :p ) but it can get quite warm.