Hey all,

I'll be installing electric brakes on a pretty common 16' flat bed trailer (typical tandem axle, 7K lb trailer) and will need to wire the brakes into the existing harness. Since I don't have the brakes in-hand yet, can anyone tell me how hard this will be? Installing the drums and new bearings is no problem.

My main question is about the battery and charging that I've read a lot about. What's the story with this? In my case, aren't the brakes powered from the truck? I shouldn't need a trailer battery, should I?

Thanks!

You will still need a battery for the break away part. They are relatively inexpensive. Do an internet search on google for trailer parts. I just came across a site that had them the other day, but don't remember the name of it.

Thanks for the response. I hadn't really researched them, but have found a battery, breakaway switch, and battery box for $29.95. That's a whole lot less than I thought (thought I'd be looking at a standard 12V automotive battery).

Won't be a hard job at all. Just make sure you do it right the first time and route the wires safely. I had a camping trailer years ago that had the brake wires hooked with scotch locks from the factory. I wouldn't use those things to wire anything!!

Make good connections and shield them well with heat shrink tubing. You may even want to run the wires through some cheap rubber hose or plastic conduit fastened to the under side of the trailer to keep them safe.

If you ever have plans for a winch or work lights on the trailer, you could buy a standard battery box and a deep cycle battery and use it for the brake away battery too.

Ken

Thanks for the responses! I've got everything on the way, including a decent amount of 6-lead wire. Figured it would be much easier to re-wire the trailer with wire of the proper configuration, rather than trying to add to what's there already. I also bought the Tekonsha Prodigy controller, based on all the threads I've read here.

Just a side note - though I found the Prodigy a little cheaper elsewhere, I made my entire purchase (brake assemblies, drums/hubs with bearings, breakaway kit, wire, and brake controller) through SouthwestWheel.com (also brakecontroller.com). They are fantastic to deal with, and I got free shipping on the entire order (your results may vary). I highly recommend them, based on both price and customer service.

Your breakaway kit you priced I noticed didn't include a charger for the battery. Something you might want to check on.

Your breakaway kit you priced I noticed didn't include a charger for the battery. Something you might want to check on.

My fault - the charger is included, I just forgot to list it! It also increased that price to around $45.

Sounds like you have everything figured out. SSSSSince you are replacing all the wiring, use the old wiring to pull your new wiring through the trailer. It makes things go a lot quicker.

Sorry if I went a little overboard on the secure connections and proper routing! It just seems that any time I have anything done for me, I end up re-doing it right!!

On my brand new gooseneck, the second time out, it blew the fuse for the left turn signal. Took a while to figure it out as I had been towing two different trailers off and on at times a few trips a day.

Ended up being a really crappy wiring job by the trailer builder and the wire had a bare spot rubbed in it.

Would only do it once in a while so I fugured since that was the newest part of ot the problem, I would start by checking out the trailer.

Ended up taping a plastic cigar tube over the bare spot to keep it from rubbing but this isn't a problem I liked to have on a brand new trailer.

I say spend the time to do it right the first time and not have to worry if the brakes are going to work half way down a big hill!!

Ken

You didn't go overboard at all! I appreciate all the help and advice!

Got the Prodigy in this morning - it shipped yesterday, and shipping was free! Didn't realize what a feature-packed controller it is.