How To Install A Trailer Brake Controller On A 2008 Ford Ranger

Trailer Brake Controller Installation How-To

How to Install a Brake Controller Guide - CURT

Trailer Brake Controller Installation How-To

But v Steps to Install Brake Controller and Wiring!

Installing a brake controller involves disconnecting the vehicle battery, mounting the brake controller onto dash and plugging the unit of measurement in with a vehicle-specific wiring harness. If your vehicle is not equipped with a plug-and-play harness, you lot tin besides splice in wiring for connecting a brake controller.

In this guide, we encompass step-by-step how to install a brake controller. Think to follow the specific instructions included with your unit of measurement -- find Curt instructions by part number.

Disconnect the vehicle's negative battery cablevision
Decide where to mount the controller on the dash
Drill mounting holes for the subclass
Fasten the brake controller into identify
Plug in the restriction controller with a custom wiring harness

How to install a trailer restriction controller video

Stride ane: Disconnect the negative battery cable

Whatever time you work on your vehicle'south electrical systems, it is a skilful idea to disconnect the battery. This is truthful when installing a brake controller as well. Disconnecting the battery helps prevent personal injury and damage to your vehicle'southward electronics.

For a restriction controller install, merely unbolt the negative battery cable and movement it off to the side.

Step ii: Determine where to mount the controller

Discover a suitable mounting location for the brake controller. On nearly vehicles, particularly large trucks and SUVs, the best identify tends to exist below and off to the side of the steering wheel. Here the controller will be easily visible simply out of the way. It can also be mounted in a higher place the dash.

If you have a CB radio or other RF transmitter, make certain the brake controller is not installed close to these sensitive electronics.

Step three: Drill mounting holes

With the restriction controller positioned in the desired location, use the mounting bracket as a template to mark where yous'll need to drill. And so, drill a hole for each of the fasteners included with the bracket.

Be mindful of what you're drilling into!

You don't want to damage vehicle electronics backside the dash. If possible, remove the panel that you're drilling into to avoid unnecessary risks.

Step 4: Fasten the brake controller into place

With the holes drilled, reposition the brake controller bracket and install the fasteners included with the unit. Many brake controllers come up with self-tapping screws. When tightening the screws, exist careful non to overtighten or strip out the holes.

Adjacent, attach the brake controller to the bracket using the included bolts.

Step 5: Plug in the brake controller

Using a vehicle-specific wiring harness, plug the brake controller into the vehicle. One end of the wiring harness plugs into the vehicle's factory harness nether the dash, and the other end plugs into the brake controller.

The location of your vehicle's factory wiring harness may vary. Refer to the diagram below to locate yours.

Brake controller wiring locations

CURT Brake Controller Wiring Installation Locations - Diagram

BH1 - Under dash, left of steering column, near emergency brake pedal

BH2 - Under nuance, virtually middle console

BH3 - Under dash, in junction box left of steering cavalcade

BH4 - Behind storage pocket, above ashtray

BH5 - Under dash, behind center access panel on passenger side

BH6 - Under dash, near restriction pedal

BH7 - Behind storage pocket in eye of dash

BH8 - Under dash, to right of emergency restriction pedal

Trailer Brake Controller Installation - TriFlex

How to Wire a Restriction Controller: Splice-in Option

How to wire in trailer brake controller video

Step 1: Disconnect the vehicle's battery

Kickoff your splice-in brake controller installation by disconnecting the negative battery cable. This volition assistance ensure your safety while working on the wiring system. It will also aid protect your vehicle's electrical components from harm.

Disconnect the negative cable, and move it to the side.

Stride ii: Locate the brake controller wiring

Fifty-fifty if your vehicle doesn't have a factory connector for plugging in a restriction controller, it should have blunt-cutting brake controller wiring, if it is compatible with a restriction controller. This wiring bundle will be located somewhere underneath the nuance.

Carefully dissever the bundle of wires and remove any record holding the wires together.

Step 3: Determine wiring connections

Strip the vehicle-side wires every bit needed and separate them out to set up for splicing in the brake controller harness.

Notation the post-obit wire functions:

Blue - Brake output to trailer
Red - 12+ volt
White - Basis
White with bluish stripe - Finish lights

Pace 4: Splice color-coded wires together

Strip the wires on the restriction controller harness if needed (#51515). Then, adhere barrel connectors. Splice the wires from the vehicle to the brake controller harness, matching the colors as follows:

Blue vehicle wire to blue brake controller wire
Red 12+ volt vehicle wire to black brake controller wire
White vehicle wire to white restriction controller wire
White with blue stripe vehicle wire to ruddy brake controller wire

Step v: Insert the quick plug and mount the brake controller

With the wires securely crimped together, you can now plug the brake controller harness into your restriction controller unit.

Find a suitable mounting location for the restriction controller and install it with the included subclass and other hardware. Make sure the restriction controller is hands visible while driving merely not obstructing your view of the road or other controls.

Footstep 6: Adhere power wire to the battery

The final step is to supply power to your brake controller unit. This is washed using a factory power feed wire already installed on the vehicle.

Locate the power feed wire under the hood, near the fuse box, and adhere it to the auxiliary power terminal on your vehicle'southward fuse box.

Finally, reconnect the negative battery cable.

Dorsum to Brake Controller Wiring & Brackets