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BayRunner · 03-21-2023, 03:07 PM

I would like to hard wire a brake controller on my VTDP 4369 instead of using a Bluetooth controller and having a heck of a time locating the controller wires on the coach. Newmar support says they are under the dash to the left of the steering column and are labeled. Their answer was a documented reply and he had no idea of anything else including the type of labeling (tag verses writing on wire) or wire colors. I spent a good hour on my back sifting through wires left of the steering column. The only wire I found with a label was the “Dome” wire going to the dome switch in the dash. The only loose wires I found were a yellowish one with radio written on the wire and an accompanying white ground wire. I pulled the dash cover off above the instrument panel and there were 4 wires directly under the dash with no labels or writing on them. Their ends were taped together with electrical tape and ultimately ran to a harness with a big tag labeled “KIB”. So these must be house related and not chassis.

I’m hoping someone has done this on a late model Ventana and can tell me where they hid the brake controller wires.

Dennis C. · 03-21-2023, 03:24 PM

Is your Ventana on a Freightliner chassis?

Mine is on a Freightliner chassis, and I was able to locate the wiring pretty easily but mine was almost directly underneath the steering wheel, not over to the left side. There was a "dummy plug" inserted into the connector. The connector has 6 wires. Not sure if your 2022 model will be the same way, especially if it's on a Spartan chassis.

BayRunner · 03-21-2023, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis C.

Is your Ventana on a Freightliner chassis?

Mine is on a Freightliner chassis, and I was able to locate the wiring pretty easily but mine was almost directly underneath the steering wheel, not over to the left side. There was a "dummy plug" inserted into the connector. The connector has 6 wires. Not sure if your 2022 model will be the same way, especially if it's on a Spartan chassis.

Thank… Yes I’m in a Freightliner chassis. I was not looking for wires running to a plug for I was told by Newmar support that it was not plug and play. Did you use a pigtail adapter to plug your brake controller into that plug in your pic? Also, what year is Your coach. One more question. Are the wires labeled and if so, are they paper tag labels or written directly on the wire?

Dmars · 03-21-2023, 04:57 PM

I am in the same boat on my new Dutch Star. I can't find it. However, here is the wire on my Ventana. It is attached to the harness that goes up the steering column right behind the column. You can get a prodigy P2 controller and it plugs right into the harness. My old coach came with a short pigtail adapter that you plugged in between both to make it work. Here are a couple of photos of the plug and the controller wires.

BayRunner · 03-21-2023, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmars

I am in the same boat on my new Dutch Star. I can't find it. However, here is the wire on my Ventana. It is attached to the harness that goes up the steering column right behind the column. You can get a prodigy P2 controller and it plugs right into the harness. My old coach came with a short pigtail adapter that you plugged in between both to make it work. Here are a couple of photos of the plug and the controller wires.

Thanks! I have a feeling my current Ventana is going to be more like your Dutch Star. The P2 controller is the one I’m looking at and the one from eTrailer that they said was for the current Ventana has a wire plug that is just 4 bare wires in order to splice in.m and no plug.

I believe the pigtail adapter in your pic is this one:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZZHVZNJ/?coliid=I2L6NEAJ7YAA7B&colid=2XGG9ZCRUXEA1&psc=1&r ef_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Dmars · 03-21-2023, 06:01 PM

Yes that is the right one for my last two coaches. I just took that out of my Ventana a couple days ago and thought it would be a slam dunk again. What a spaghetti factory of wires everywhere on these things! For the price of them you would think they could put a little more effort into making things tidy and consistent? I could see if it was made in China but this should be embarrassing for any manufacturer in the US. Just my opinion

Dmars · 03-21-2023, 06:40 PM

I found it on my Dutch Star. Don't give up! I took a picture of where it was. There is a flat black bracket that looks like it holds the steering column directly over the column but way back. There is a large wire harness going over it and this plug was taped to it underneath the harness and on top of the bracket. The connector has this plug with the blue on it. I just saw the blue and started digging and bingo! Pulled it down, unplug the blue part and plug your controller right in. It works perfect now. Good luck!!
Thanks

Dennis

BayRunner · 03-21-2023, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmars

I found it on my Dutch Star. Don't give up! I took a picture of where it was. There is a flat black bracket that looks like it holds the steering column directly over the column but way back. There is a large wire harness going over it and this plug was taped to it underneath the harness and on top of the bracket. The connector has this plug with the blue on it. I just saw the blue and started digging and bingo! Pulled it down, unplug the blue part and plug your controller right in. It works perfect now. Good luck!!
Thanks

Dennis

Nice find! I know the area that your picture is of so I will look up for the support bracket and white harness over the bracket. Maybe I’ll get lucky and mine will be in the same place. At least now I know what I’m looking for. Thanks again.

Dennis C. · 03-22-2023, 08:10 AM

I bought a pigtail adapter for mine. I didn’t see any labels on the wires. My Ventana is a 2018 model. Mine had the same little dummy plug with the blue plastic tips as shown above.

BayRunner · 03-22-2023, 02:51 PM

Wow, finally found it. Took me a while because I kept looking and feeling all the wires above that steering column bracket. What a rats nest of wires. Couldn’t find it from underneath the dash so I took to access panel off the top dash and couldn’t find it from above either. I finally decided to look on the right side of the steering column and immediately saw it sticking out on the right. It’s not labeled and you definitely have to k ow what you are looking for so I sincerely appreciate the pictures of the blue tip plug.

The local Tractor Supply store had a Prodigy P2 brake controller on the shelf but I have to wait for the plug-in adapter. For those interested, here are the part numbers for a plug and play brake controller for at least the Ventana and Dutch Star. Unknown if other models have this plug.

Brake Controller: Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Proportional Brake Controller for Trailers with 1-4 Axles
Part Number: 90885

Wire Adapter: Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Freightliner SL, XC
Part Number: 3027-P

Picture s of where the brake controller wires were on my Ventana

Dmars · 03-22-2023, 07:54 PM

Thats Great! Congratulations! Now try to find somewhere that is straight or flat to mount the controller. Haha, everything is rounded on my dash. I haven't quite figured out what I am going to do yet. Those controllers have to be level from side to side but can be up, down, or anywhere in between the other direction.

BayRunner · 03-22-2023, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmars

Thats Great! Congratulations! Now try to find somewhere that is straight or flat to mount the controller. Haha, everything is rounded on my dash. I haven't quite figured out what I am going to do yet. Those controllers have to be level from side to side but can be up, down, or anywhere in between the other direction.

The bottom lip of my dash, left of the steering column has a nice 3” flat edge that runs horizontal to the floor.. Using Velcro on top of the controller to mount it there.