electric trailer brake controller 2000 Tradewinds DP

[jwolf55]

I need to put an electric trailer brake controller on my 2000 Tradewinds, with a Freightliner chassis and a turbo cat.

Where is good place to get a brake light signal?

I guess it is not prewired as I could find anything.

[PCarnathan]

My 2009 Mandalay 43A on the Freightliner chassis came prewired for the trailer brake controller, but I had a devil of a time finding the pigtail up under the dashboard. It was black and it was wrapped in black electrical tape - Talk about camouflaged!

Maybe call Freightliner with your VIN and ask them if your chassis came prewired. Why run your own wire the length of the RV if the manufacturer already did it for you?

Pat in Menifee, CA

[hotjag1]

dougrainer wrote:
What I do is this. You need a large gauge wire from the Dash control to the rear to transmit a GOOD positive 12 volt signal to the rear brakes. I run a 12 gauge dual sheathed wire from the front to the rear. One wire is connected to the rear tow plug(for the electric brakes). The other wire is connected to one of the rear brake light wires that is HOT when brakes applied. This kills 2 birds with one stone. The newer models that have a so called prewire, the Gauge of the wiring is NOT adequate for electric brakes usually that wire is 16 gauge, way too small for a 40 foot run. You can also tap off the Air brake solenoid at the front that activates the Rear Brake switch. But, since I am running a Control wire already, I would rather connect to the rear brake light harness. Doug

My trusted RV shop installed my brake controller exactly the way Doug described doing it. It works perfectly.

[dougrainer]

What I do is this. You need a large gauge wire from the Dash control to the rear to transmit a GOOD positive 12 volt signal to the rear brakes. I run a 12 gauge dual sheathed wire from the front to the rear. One wire is connected to the rear tow plug(for the electric brakes). The other wire is connected to one of the rear brake light wires that is HOT when brakes applied. This kills 2 birds with one stone. The newer models that have a so called prewire, the Gauge of the wiring is NOT adequate for electric brakes usually that wire is 16 gauge, way too small for a 40 foot run. You can also tap off the Air brake solenoid at the front that activates the Rear Brake switch. But, since I am running a Control wire already, I would rather connect to the rear brake light harness. Doug

[gsf35099]

jwolf55 wrote:
I need to put an electric trailer brake controller on my 2000 Tradewinds, with a Freightliner chassis and a turbo cat.

Where is good place to get a brake light signal?

I guess it is not prewired as I could find anything.

When mine was installed they pulled everything from under the dash.