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timmac's avatar
timmac
Explorer
Oct 24, 2014

Brake Controller for 07 Ford F-53 Chassis

I just finished my double deck trailer to haul my Jeep and small boat on top, the trailer has brakes all 4 wheels, so what I need now is a
brake controller, the motorhome already has the 6 or 7 way round plug and 2 wires for the brakes already wired in going up front somewhere, has any one done this with the newer F-53 pre wired, what do I need, I hope its just a plug and play.

:C

10 Replies

  • Thanks but I am still doing my own wiring, I know how to protect wire under chassis, trying to find the connectors are a pain, I installed air bags and lines without leaks and can handle this. "also any issues in future I know where the wires are"

    By the way I got the Hopkins Insight brake controller.
  • The wiring for the brake controller is under the dash. Generally it's taped to the steering column or to another wiring harness close to the column. Ford has been installing wiring for brake controllers since at least 2001.

    The Ford factory plug is under the dash, BUT the wiring harness to the rear of the coach stops at the end of the Ford supplied frame. It's folded back and taped inside the wiring harness that runs along the left frame rail. If your frame has added extensions for the house to sit on the body builder extends the wires from the original frame to the socket at the rear of the coach.

    If you don't have frame extensions the Ford factory harness will be at the rear of the left frame rail. The body builder terminates the wires into a socket and mounts the socket.

    There are several open sockets and plugs under the dash for various options that may not be installed. The easiest way to find the one for the controller harness is to purchase a jumper harness for the controller you want to install. One end will match the controller, the other will match the socket/plug under the dash. Each chassis manufacturer uses their own configuration of a socket/plug so you'll need to get a harness for your specific year and brand chassis.

    It's worth the time to find the original harness rather than install a new wire. The original wire is run through a protective loom and secured along the way to minimize damage from weather and road debris.

    You shouldn't have to remove the dash. Granted it's a pain to squeeze into the limited space. I've done it on both our 2001 Ford chassis and our 2013 Ford chassis.
  • Lt46 wrote:
    Just an FYI...I too was about to give up when I decided to pull the dash radio speaker and look under there. That was where I found my brake controller wiring.
    Just a thought...


    My Bounder dash don't look to easy to remove and the time I have invested looking for it I could have ran new wire to plug on back on 5 motorhomes, that's what I am just going to do, at least this way if any wire issues I will always know where that wire is.

    Why oh why if Fleetwood took the time to pre wire why did they not leave the open end in a easy accessible area.
  • Lt46's avatar
    Lt46
    Explorer II
    Just an FYI...I too was about to give up when I decided to pull the dash radio speaker and look under there. That was where I found my brake controller wiring.
    Just a thought...
  • Well after extensive looking I can not find the blue and white wires that are suppose to be under the dash, yes its prewired the 2 wires are at the 7 round pin in back but unable to locate them under the dash.

    So I will be running my own wires, so much for prewire from the factory if the customer cant find the other end.
  • Check under the rear of the motorhome and see what color wire you have there, assuming it is prewired. I believe the coach builder does it, not Ford, so each make may differ. Mine had two spare wires run from under the dash near the steering column and terminating at the rear by the 7 way plug.

    Tekonsha Prodigy controllers get a lot of good feedback. I've had them on a bunch of different vehicles and all worked well.
  • PastorCharlie wrote:
    I suggest looking under the dash near the steering for wires with a label attached stating for the brakes.


    Been there done that, I was told its there but for the life of me I can not find it, it sure is hard looking under the dash without a drivers door, I was bent like a pretzel laying on doghouse bent backwards under dash cramped up to drivers seat.

    If I had a pic of what and where to look that would be so great.
  • I suggest looking under the dash near the steering for wires with a label attached stating for the brakes.
  • And to add one more thing, what is the best brake controller on the market right now, are they digital now days like everything else ?