Brake controller for motorcycle trailer

[mjacks06]

I plan to tow an Iron Horse motorcycle trailer (about 900 pounds) with my Can Am Spyder (about 1000 pounds). The trailer will be equiped with brakes. Recommendations for a brake controller to be installed on my Newmar Bay Star Sport? I tow my Grand Cherokee with no problems, but have never towed a trailer. Not at all familiar with brakes/control systems for a trailer. Thanks!

[Country Road]

Originally Posted by mjacks06

I plan to tow an Iron Horse motorcycle trailer (about 900 pounds) with my Can Am Spyder (about 1000 pounds). The trailer will be equiped with brakes. Recommendations for a brake controller to be installed on my Newmar Bay Star Sport? I tow my Grand Cherokee with no problems, but have never towed a trailer. Not at all familiar with brakes/control systems for a trailer. Thanks!

It’s going to depend on what you’re trailer is equipped with. If they’re electric, you’ll need a brake controller in your rv. If they’re hydraulic, you can go with a surge setup. Both are simple setups but it depends on your trailer.

You’ll also need a breakaway setup.

[PanJH]

I'd check with Newmar and/or Ford to see if they have a plug and play controller. If not, look at Techonsha controllers. They have worked well for me on various applications and usually can be ordered with a plug in connection.... there is usually a plug near the steering column

[l1v3fr33ord1]

mjacks06-

What year is the Ford chassis under your Bay Star Sport?

This Ford TSB Q-206 (Technical Service Bulletin) shows where to find the connector on the F-53 chassis. There is one location for model years 1999-2011, and another location for model years 2012 and later.

A Ford-provided connector under the dash has six pin positions and up to five wires in it:

Pin 1: Blue wire - brake controller output to hitch connector
Pin 2: Green wire - brake signal input to brake controller
Pin 3: Red wire - constant (not ignition-switched) 12V+, fused at 30A
Pin 4: White wire - ground
Pin 5: (optional) Brown wire - parking lamp (illumination)
Pin 6: Empty

Ford provides a pigtail to coach manufacturers that plugs into that connector. This means that you may see labeled wires under the dash (the ends of the pigtail wires), rather than the connector. Gently pull the labeled wires down from under the dash to bring the connector out into the open.

Once you have the connector and pigtail out where you can get to them, you have two choices for wiring up a brake controller quickly:

1) Wire the controller to the ends of the pigtail wires, or
2) Remove the pigtail and attach a pre-made adapter

This is a link to the correct 3035-P adapter to connect a Tekonsha brake controller to the Ford connector.

There is no need to cut off the Ford connector, if you use the pigtail or the adapter above. With the adapter, it is truly plug-and-play.

If you have not already chosen a brake controller, the Tekonsha P3 is a popular choice.

Finally, I suggest you add a "signature" to your profile. It contains whatever info you want; most people put info about their coach there, so they don't have to type it into each message. Instructions for adding a signature are here.