Trailer brake controler

[Fixitman0]

Can any one tell me if the 2010 Avalanche with the towing hitch and towing package has a plug for a trailer controller? And also would I be better off not using the simple GM version that was the option. I have other vehicles with controllers that have indicated lights that lets me know what amount of trailer braking I have it set at. But if the 2010 has a prewired plug I might use it with GM’s controller until I can figure out how to use a Curt or other brand with the factory plug if there is one. New here, just got the truck, and need to pull a trailer in spring. Thanks for any help or wire diagram.

 

[ronthehandymanga]

Yes, prewired, any brand will work.

 

[ToyHauler13]

has a plug for a trailer controller?

The wires for a brake controller are tucked up under the dash around the steering column and are just cut off wires (no connector) and pre-wired to the 7 pin plug at the receiver.

The red wire will connect to a stud for power at the front of the under hood fuse block. This red wire is tucked up between the fuse box and the fender and will need to be connected to this stud.

 

[Fixitman0]

The red wire is already there? By the fender in the fuse box? I’ll have to look for that one, but it seems to me that there should be a hot wire already down there where the other wires are. But what you’re saying makes sense. I contacted E-trailer and also searched online. E-trailer said no plug, but like you said the wires might be there just cut off. Also, online I found out there was no plug. When I asked if it was pre-wired I was hopping for a plug.
I was hoping that there was a plug up underneath tucked in the wire loom like on some of the newer Chevy trucks
Thanks

 

[2004Slickside]

Note: ITBC means Integrated Trailer Brake Controller

-----------------------------------

Electric Brake Control Wiring Provisions
These wiring provisions are included with the vehicle as part of the trailer wiring package. These provisions are for an electric brake controller. The instrument panel contains blunt cut wires near the data link connector for the trailer brake controller. The harness contains the following wires:

• Dark Blue: Brake Signal to Trailer Connector

• Red/Black: Battery

• Light Blue/White: Brake Switch

• White: Ground

It should be installed by your dealer/retailer or a qualified service center.

If the vehicle is equipped with an ITBC, the blunt cuts exist, but are not connected further in the harness. If an aftermarket trailer brake controller is installed, the ITBC must be disconnected. Do not power both ITBC and aftermarket controllers to control the trailer brakes at the same time.

 

[2004Slickside]

Note the asterisks*

------------------------

Your vehicle is equipped with the seven-wire trailer towing harness. This harness with a seven-pin universal heavy-duty trailer connector is attached to the rear bumper beam. It is located next to the integrated trailer hitch.

The seven-wire harness contains the following trailer circuits:

• Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal

• Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal

• Brown: Taillamps

• White: Ground

• Light Green: Back-up Lamps

• Red: Battery Feed*

• Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*

*The fuses for these two circuits are installed in the underhood electrical center, but the wires are not connected. They should be connected by your dealer/retailer or a qualified service center.

If charging a remote (non-vehicle) battery, press the Tow/Haul mode button, if equipped, located at the end of the shift lever. This will boost the vehicle system voltage and properly charge the battery. If the trailer is too light for Tow/Haul mode, or the vehicle is not equipped with Tow/Haul, turn on the headlamps as a second way to boost the vehicle system and charge the battery.

 

[ToyHauler13]

The red wire is already there? By the fender in the fuse box?

Mine and others I've heard have that coiled up wire between (not inside) the fuse box and the fender where it's not that visible. I guess it's not connected to the correct stud since it would put voltage on that blunt cut wire tucked away under the dash.

 

[Fixitman0]

Note: ITBC means Integrated Trailer Brake Controller

-----------------------------------

Electric Brake Control Wiring Provisions
These wiring provisions are included with the vehicle as part of the trailer wiring package. These provisions are for an electric brake controller. The instrument panel contains blunt cut wires near the data link connector for the trailer brake controller. The harness contains the following wires:

• Dark Blue: Brake Signal to Trailer Connector

• Red/Black: Battery

• Light Blue/White: Brake Switch

• White: Ground

It should be installed by your dealer/retailer or a qualified service center.

If the vehicle is equipped with an ITBC, the blunt cuts exist, but are not connected further in the harness. If an aftermarket trailer brake controller is installed, the ITBC must be disconnected. Do not power both ITBC and aftermarket controllers to control the trailer brakes at the same time.

Never csme with factory controller. I was ghinking of adding OEM one into where they put the stock ones but wanted a better controller I could control . No pun intended.

 

[Fixitman0]

Note the asterisks*

------------------------

Your vehicle is equipped with the seven-wire trailer towing harness. This harness with a seven-pin universal heavy-duty trailer connector is attached to the rear bumper beam. It is located next to the integrated trailer hitch.

The seven-wire harness contains the following trailer circuits:

• Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal

• Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal

• Brown: Taillamps

• White: Ground

• Light Green: Back-up Lamps

• Red: Battery Feed*

• Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*

*The fuses for these two circuits are installed in the underhood electrical center, but the wires are not connected. They should be connected by your dealer/retailer or a qualified service center.

If charging a remote (non-vehicle) battery, press the Tow/Haul mode button, if equipped, located at the end of the shift lever. This will boost the vehicle system voltage and properly charge the battery. If the trailer is too light for Tow/Haul mode, or the vehicle is not equipped with Tow/Haul, turn on the headlamps as a second way to boost the vehicle system and charge the battery.

Note the asterisks*

------------------------

Your vehicle is equipped with the seven-wire trailer towing harness. This harness with a seven-pin universal heavy-duty trailer connector is attached to the rear bumper beam. It is located next to the integrated trailer hitch.

The seven-wire harness contains the following trailer circuits:

• Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal

• Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal

• Brown: Taillamps

• White: Ground

• Light Green: Back-up Lamps

• Red: Battery Feed*

• Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*

*The fuses for these two circuits are installed in the underhood electrical center, but the wires are not connected. They should be connected by your dealer/retailer or a qualified service center.

If charging a remote (non-vehicle) battery, press the Tow/Haul mode button, if equipped, located at the end of the shift lever. This will boost the vehicle system voltage and properly charge the battery. If the trailer is too light for Tow/Haul mode, or the vehicle is not equipped with Tow/Haul, turn on the headlamps as a second way to boost the vehicle system and charge the battery.

Thanks , I was able to see all I needed on etrailer. Showed where the wires are to the fues box under hood , and how to hook them up. ( after convecting the controller wires), as not to short something out . It is a good video for anybody adding controller. Thanks to all for the info so I was armed with info on what actions to search. Got-er-figured
.

 

[Fixitman0]

Mine and others I've heard have that coiled up wire between (not inside) the fuse box and the fender where it's not that visible. I guess it's not connected to the correct stud since it would put voltage on that blunt cut wire tucked away under the dash.

️. Thanks , I figured not th live wire until after conections were done.

 

[ToyHauler13]

Never csme with factory controller. I was ghinking of adding OEM one into where they put the stock ones but wanted a better controller

If you're thinking of going aftermarket and run across this one, I highly recommend it. I Put this in my Av after I got it. I like this since it can be hidden like the OEM controller. I stuck this in an area behind the fuse box cover on the left side of the dash which is accessible when the driver's door is open. I put the dial in the dash just below the row of DIC buttons.




https://www.amazon.com/Redarc-Tow-P...mzn1.fos.17d9e15d-4e43-4581-b373-0e5c1a776d5d

 

[Fixitman0]

Can any one tell me if the 2010 Avalanche with the towing hitch and towing package has a plug for a trailer controller? And also would I be better off not using the simple GM version that was the option. I have other vehicles with controllers that have indicated lights that lets me know what amount of trailer braking I have it set at. But if the 2010 has a prewired plug I might use it with GM’s controller until I can figure out how to use a Curt or other brand with the factory plug if there is one. New here, just got the truck, and need to pull a trailer in spring. Thanks for any help or wire diagram.

I’ve crawled all underneath this and I cannot find the four wires. I called Chevrolet and gave him my Vin number and they said yes it is, it is pre-wired for any brake controller. so I took these pictures and I still cannot find the four wires. I do remember when I brought this vehicle home that there was a tag that fell off when I crawled under and looked and I’m pretty sure it said that it was for the brake controller. The only thing I can do now take it to Chevrolet and pay them $60 to pull those four wires for me. I keep messing around with the wires looking for them and I’m afraid I am going to cause a connection to get loose or something so I give up.

 

[ToyHauler13]

I'll check tomorrow and see exactly where they come from. They were very visible and probably just came out of a bundle of wires.

 

[Fixitman0]

Can any one tell me if the 2010 Avalanche with the towing hitch and towing package has a plug for a trailer controller? And also would I be better off not using the simple GM version that was the option. I have other vehicles with controllers that have indicated lights that lets me know what amount of trailer braking I have it set at. But if the 2010 has a prewired plug I might use it with GM’s controller until I can figure out how to use a Curt or other brand with the factory plug if there is one. New here, just got the truck, and need to pull a trailer in spring. Thanks for any help or wire diagram.

I went out and was determined to find them . And after crawling around upside down I located them. Stiff neck and sore shoulder but I found them. I ended up connecting the wires to controller, and put off the wires under the hood to compleat the circuit until tomorrow. The wires in the pictures . One is below the brake fluid reservoir , and the other along the fender by the fuse box.
Thanks for the help from all in locating the wires inside cab and in engine compartment.
.

 

[ToyHauler13]

Great! Here are the ones under the dash that get connected to the new brake controller.
On my 2013 they come out of a large bundle of wires just above the parking brake mechanism.

 

[Fixitman0]

Im all good now.
But got a different question. I was reading an article that said the adjustable electric seats, and the seats being a leather were offered in the LT1 . The article said that the LT came with cloth seats and not adjustable electric in my 2010. What’s the article wrong or did somebody put the wrong sticker on the side of my truck, maybe when fixing it?

 

[cougarox]

Somewhat similary query here. We got an Opus Lite camp trailer, and traded to a 2012 Z71 with the stock tow package since our Highlander couldn't quite tow it fully loaded, and didn't have a controller. (d'oh) The RV dealer suggested a Tekonsha 902502 Prodigy for the Opus. Duly installed on trailer, pre- Avalanche. The trailer has electric brakes and a battery charging connector (for Lithium batteries not AGM, I think, and for heavier duty off-road/camping). The Z71 has the towing package with ITBC, which I presume can do the job of the Tekonsha, though perhaps not as well. Can they be made to work together? Towing the Opus to Denver for service, the lights all seemed to work with the 7-pin connector, but I'm not convinced the Z71 was, um, communicating properly. Is the ITBC sufficient? Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[ToyHauler13]

I understand now! The Tekonsha is an RF (Bluetooth) controller. So my understanding of it is to receive the braking force signal from the accelerometer that is plugged into the 12 volt socket in the truck.
The ITBC in the truck would do the same thing and send the braking voltage through the 7-way plug.
All light control of the trailer would still come through the 7-way either way.
So I would think you wouldn't want both controllers operating together or at the same time.
I could only guess what the braking signal would end up being with both controllers trying to operate the brakes, but I would expect some issues.

 

[cougarox]

Thanks for the input! That is pretty much what the RV dealer said as well, so I guess they are going to buy the Tekonsha and I'll just use the factory controller. FWIW, the Prodigy has an accelerometer built in.

 

[DaCurmudgeon]

If you're thinking of going aftermarket and run across this one, I highly recommend it. I Put this in my Av after I got it. I like this since it can be hidden like the OEM controller. I stuck this in an area behind the fuse box cover on the left side of the dash which is accessible when the driver's door is open. I put the dial in the dash just below the row of DIC buttons.


View attachment 236980

https://www.amazon.com/Redarc-Tow-Pro-Elite-Electric-Controller/dp/B08TPS46BX/ref=sr_1_30?keywords=Radac+trailer+brake+controller&sr=8-30&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.17d9e15d-4e43-4581-b373-0e5c1a776d5d

Hey @ToyHauler13 did you have to get a harness for this and lop a head off for splice, or were you able to tie the 4 wires in directly?

 

[ToyHauler13]

Hey @ToyHauler13 did you have to get a harness for this and lop a head off for splice, or were you able to tie the 4 wires in directly?

My Avalanche had the tow package but no factory brake controller. So the wiring to the plug at the bumper is already run and the end of the wires were tied up near the steering column under the dash.
I don't remember that there was a connector on the end of the controller wires but I would have cut and spliced them to the factory wire ends if there was one. It did come with a harness to tie into the factory wires and with a cable with connectors to the remote gain dial. It would have been nice if there was a socket to just plug into like on some trucks but not on this truck.

 

[DaCurmudgeon]

It did come with a harness to tie into the factory wires

Ahh.. I see that in the description for the Elite. Looks like the Liberty model, the red one, does not include the harness. I think I was merging the two. The 07 tow package should be similar in the wiring for tow. Fingers crossed tho...

 

[DaCurmudgeon]

Controller arrived today and wiring is done. Now just need to pick a spot for routing and mounting. Finding the pigtail was fun as it was fully encapsulated in extra black tape so took some hunting to find it.
Thanks for your earlier pics and the guide at etrailer found the vicinity and started carefully slicing tape.
Once I found it I took pause at the yellow wire that was included on the truck side, but then just decided it was white, but yellowed with age and just ran with it. Seems to test Ok, so we shall see. All in all one of the easiest things I've done on this thing, and a good way to end a Friday. Tomorrow we will finish it up and move on to the next thing.