Can Electric Trailer Brake Controller Install in Dump Truck that Has Air Brakes

Question:

I have a 1985 Ford l9000 6 wheel dump truck that has air brakes. There is no provisions to simply plug a brake controller in like on some of the newer trucks. How would I go about adding a 7 way plug with controller onto this old air brake truck. I need the 7 way plug with brakes for towing my 20 foot equipment trailer around town. Thank you for The help!

asked by: Blake

Helpful Expert Reply:

Installing a brake controller in a vehicle like your dump truck that wasn't pre-wired for an electric brake controller is something we help people with all the time as most vehicles aren't pre-wired. So the first thing you need is to install a basic 4-way trailer wiring harness to provide the taillight signals with the # 119250KIT. Once this is installed you need to install the 7-way conversion kit # ETBC7 which gives the easiest solution for ending up with a 7-way connector and also comes with everything needed to install a brake controller.

For a brake controller the Brake EVN part # TK63VR is a really great option. It's proportional which means it senses how hard you are applying the vehicle brakes with an inertia sensor and applies a relative amount of pressure to the trailer brakes. You might still be curious with how this integrates with your air brake system, but the answer is that it doesn't. All this controller needs is to run to a circuit that voltage only when the brakes are applied and it will take care of the rest.

To find the stoplight circuit you'll use the included circuit tester of the # ETBC7 to test for voltage when the brakes are applied on the wiring of the brake pedal switch. Or if you can't find that wire we have the part # RM-751000 which is designed to provide this.

Check out the install instructions link I attached for the # ETBC7 that I attached to this page for more info on how it installs as well.