Electric Brake Controller

[bassknuckles]

I need to tow a larger trailer then I normally due I have a 1999 Dodge Durango.  The trailer I will be towing has breaks so I would like to hook up the brake controller.  The Durango that I own has the trailer tow kit and has a 7 pin connector attached in the bumber.  The kit also came with with a harness to ease the installation of the electric trailer break controller.  The harnes plugs in under the instrument panel and has 4 wires coming out of it.  Here is my ignorance, what else do I need to make the breaks work.  What am I attaching these four wires to? And where do they plug into on the trailer?

[tlhdoc]

Welcome to PUT.  There should be a plug under the dash of your TV (tow vehicle).  You need the Dodge end of the wire harness and then connect the two wire harnesses together, and then plug the Dodge end into the plug in your vehicle.  I don't know where the plug is in your vehicle, but someone here should, or you can check with a Dodge dealer.

[Monterey]

On my 2000 Durango, the plug was on the left of the steering column tucked way up out of the way.  You may need to check the relays under the hood to make sure the one that controls the trailer and brake wiring is present.  Somtimes the dealer forgets to install it.

[tknick]

I'm not sure if it was made clear, you ned to buy a brake controller.  When you get that, it will have a pig tail with three or four wires coming from the brake controller.  Usually, there is one wire that supplies 12v+, one wire that detects when the brake pedal is pressed (via the brake light circuit), one wire to send the voltage to the brakes on the trailer when the brake pedal is pressed and sometimes one wire for illumination (when headlights are turned on).  You would match up those wires to the ones on the pigtail from Dodge and plug the unit in under the dashboard.  Make sure to mount the brake controller where you can access it as well as at the correct angle.  

Once the brake controller is installed, the only thing you have to do is plug your trailer in to the 7 way plug under the bumper.  

As mentioned by the previous post, you may have to add a relay under the hood to allow your Durango to charge the battery on the trailer.  If the trailer does not have a battery or you don't care whether or not the truck charges it then don't worry about it.  If you need the relay it should be explained in the stuff that came with the wiring harness.

hope this help.  I bet it is as clear as mud about now!
travis