Class A DP Trailer Brake Controller Wiring

[PCarnathan]

We have a 2009 Mandalay 43A, and I need to install a trailer brake controller. The rear of the coach has a seven-pin connector, but there's no controller up front. I realize unless you have the same coach you won't know exactly, but is it customary for the manufacturer to pre-wire for the controller? Is there a special code for wire colors that could help with my search? The owner's manual is virtually worthless.

I'm sure most of you have owned your class A's for a while and I'm leaning on you and your knowledge.

Many thanks in advance,

Pat in Menifee, CA
www.patcarnathan.com

[Big_Katuna]

I bought an inertial sensing controller; no wire from the brakes lights required. Works great, very adjustable.

Under my dash, the excess loom was bunched together and bundled with lots of ty wraps. I had to cut all the ty wraps apart to find the brake harness. I also took the idiot light panel out and laid it on the dash which gave me much better access to the under dash wire harnesses.

I never would have found it by just looking up from the floor.

[bigdisplay]

PCarnathan wrote:
Still no luck. We spent an hour looking under, over and around the dashboard to no avail. Tekonsha sent me some pictures of the plug and specific wiring instructions, but if I can't find the wiring I'm still stuck. As for actuating the controller with air brakes - Even air brakes activate brake lights; and that's how the controller receives the signal.

The search will continue. Thanks for the answers and suggestions.

Pat in Menifee, CA
www.patcarnathan.com

DID??? you look at the 7 pole connector and make sure you have the Blue brake lite wire????????
If its factory wired you will have a Blue wire for the brakes, red or black for the charge,white for grounds,BRown for tail/run,yellow/green for turn/brake lites and another wire if Back up lites are prewired. so SIX or SEVEN wires go look

[bigdisplay]

DSDP Don wrote:
If you're prewired, the loom will USUALLY consist of four wires, similar in color to the wires on your controller.

The issue with DP's is that they don't use a brake switch which triggers the braking system. They use pressure sensors on the firewall. You need something to trigger the system and make sure it doesn't come on with the exhaust/engine brake.

Most likely the factory wires are there for towing
Hooking the controller to the brake lite sensor is same as brake lite switch
As far as the exhaust brake goes how would it come on?

BUT If you have a trailer heavy enough you need electric brakes then there is no way a little exhaust brake will be sufficient to not only hold back the MH on a steep decline but the loaded trailer also

[PCarnathan]

Still no luck. We spent an hour looking under, over and around the dashboard to no avail. Tekonsha sent me some pictures of the plug and specific wiring instructions, but if I can't find the wiring I'm still stuck. As for actuating the controller with air brakes - Even air brakes activate brake lights; and that's how the controller receives the signal.

The search will continue. Thanks for the answers and suggestions.

Pat in Menifee, CA
www.patcarnathan.com

[DSDP_Don]

Big Katuna.....I realize that, installing the controller is the simple part, it's locating or installing the trip wire on a DP that is a PITA.

[Big_Katuna]

Gas or diesel you still need a controller.

[DSDP_Don]

Gasman2....no problem....you would think the chassis manufacturers would just incorporate the trigger wire that wasn't affected by the exhaust brake. Our neighbor had a prewired Monaco. The trigger wire didn't work and the wire that was suppose to run the length of the coach didn't work....a known problem. It's so much easier with a gas coach!

[pigman1]

If you have a Freightliner chassis, it's pre-wired under the dash. I have a PDF that I got at Camp Freightliner, but I don't know how to attach it to these posts. There's a 6 pin connector with only 5 wires in it and the PDF gives wire sizes and colors to look for. If you PM me an email address I'd be happy to mail it to you. On my 2008 Tiffin the Tiffin factory used that plug to power other things under the dash, but the wires were all there and all worked.

[Gasman_2]

DSDP Don wrote:
Gasman2....I don't get what you're asking...you stated the same thing as I did, except I didn't add the word "air" in my sensor statement.

Don sorry,
It sounded like in were talking about something other than the brake light
switch.

[Big_Katuna]

My 05 Freightliner was prewired. If there is a wire in the rear connector, yours probably is too.
My connector was buried in the bundle of wires by the steering column.

As stated it was in a square white connector.

There are inertial sensing controllers that worked very well.

[lanerd]

I believe your Mandalay is equipped with a raised rail Freightliner chassis, and it will be pre-wired for a "trailer brake" which is indeed the same wiring required for a toad braking system controller.

Typically, it is a six pin flat connector with four wires attached to it and a protective cap on it. Usually you will find it under the dash to the left of the steering wheel...sometimes it is located in the driver's left console. If it has not been previously used (sounds like you are not the original owner), it may be tied up with other wiring harnesses and very difficult to find. I located mine by finding the wiring harness coming out from the steering column and then following it for about six inches until I found the first harness leading off of the steering column harness. At the end of that harness was the connector. It was up under the dash just as far as possible and tied to another harness. I had a hard time cutting the ties so that I could get the connector and it's harness back down to where I could access it.

However, you will probably need an adapter cable from the manufacture of the controller (or toad brake system) that will mate the mh's connector with the controller's connector.

Good luck

Ron

[DSDP_Don]

Gasman2....I don't get what you're asking...you stated the same thing as I did, except I didn't add the word "air" in my sensor statement.

[glamisorbust]

Yup, it sucks but is what it is. I guess they figure people with a big DP won't be towing anything. WRONG!!!!

[crasster]

glamisorbust wrote:
I just went through all of this myself. I have a 1999 holiday rambler endeavor diesel pusher. It did not come with the required wiring for brake controller. It was not pre-wired whatsoever. I had to wire the entire thing myself, which was quite a bit of work.

I had to run two wires from the front of the dash, through the firewall, and down the entire frame rail. It was a pain in the rear. I also had to find a power source up front for the controller and install a 7 pin connector out back. It was a big job but it's done now and I have been towing my big trailer trouble free.

My advice is to call the manufacturer that built the RV and get a tech on the phone. That's what I did, and they were able to tell me that my coach did not come with any trailer brake wiring.

Some of them come pre-wired and are labeled. They would be able to tell you exactly where the wires are located, if they are there.

Odd how a coach can cost $100k+ new and it gets skimped on $10 worth of wire even though it's wired for a trailer.