dodge brake controller

[deereabhm]

I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 without the towing package. I am trying to hook up a brake controller. Where and which wire under the dash do I connect the brake wire to so it will trigger with the brake pedal?

 

[MurrayE]

Hi, I just had one installed on my vehicle a few months ago. This was completed at a Service station and the truck was on a lift/hoist. Can't say how the brake activation takes place,the main power for the system is taken off the main post on the battery,there was a fuse installed in the immediate area and fairly heavy gauge wire, took over an hour for the installation, was sort of glad that I did take to a service centre as it would have been several trips crawling back and forth under the vehicle, the one I purchased did have all the instructions for the installation.Cheers, Murray

 

[Mathias NY]

Even if it doesn't have the tow package, I think there will still be the connector to plug the controler into. You would just need to buy the correct adapter to go between the controler and the truck.

On my '97 1500 (without tow package), it was a 4 blade connector in a white casing, probably 0.5"x1.5" in size. It was located just above the brake pedal.

 

[Mike M]

My 1996 ram 2500 has the factory wiring for the controller. Problem with it is the way the factory designed it they pull the power off of a 40 amp fuse in the fuse box under the hood. The problem is you should power up a brake controller with a breaker so it can reset instead of just blowing out. I also installed a 15 amp breaker in that line in hope if something shorts out it will kick on and off and not blow the 40 amp fuse.
So I would just hook a seperate wire from the fuse box ( should be a power stud )to a breaker as should be specified in the controller manual then to your controller.

 

[Mathias NY]

I re-read your question and wanted to add that I believe you are looking for a blue wire. I traced the one on my truck from the white connector (mentioned in the last post), through the fire-wall, into another connector on the driverside frame rail at the back of the engine compartment. There it ended. I ran my own wire from the back of the truck and spliced it in at that connection. 6 months later it is still working well.

 

[Mathias NY]

Sounds like you may have some other issues. My dad has a '97 ram 2500 (since new), with factory wiring and has never blown a fuse.

The only issue we had was when we tested the breakway controler without unplugging it from the truck; it fried the brake controler.

 

[ncdiesel48]

The blue wire is correct, I believe on most of them, mine was this way the blue wire is coiled up under the dash and not in the connector, you have to put it there.

 

[jose bagge]

if I understand your question right, you already have the power issues figured out and you're asking which wire on the truck to use as the trigger for the brake box. Follow the brake pedal up under the dash- you are looking for a switch near the top that has two wires going to it. One will have power all the time- that is NOT the wire you want. The other shunts power off this wire when the pedal is depressed and the switch is tripped- this IS the wire you want.
You'll know if you tap into the wrong one- your trailer brakes will be on all the time

 

[Mike M]

I haven't blown a fuse, yet.
My controller instructions say to use a breaker so it can rest and not totally loose power like a fuse will. Dodge in 1996 uses a 40 amp fuse to protect that trailer outlet package. I didn't want it blowing so I also hooked the recommended 15 amp breaker in the line too so I hope I NEVER blow that fuse.