I'm planning to install a electric brake controller in a 2010 ranger. It came with a four-prong hitch connector, but I need to change that for a seven-prong connector. There is a
connector through the dash, just under the steering column, that I can't find the purpose for in my owner's manual. Can anybody tell me if I have lucked out, and it is for a brake controller, and if so, where do I pull the extra wires for the trailer brakes.

Thanks in advance

Lou

 

I had to run 4 wires when I added a controller in my '08 Sport.
One wire connects to the brake pedal switch, one wire connects to battery (thru a 20 amp circuit breaker), one wire connects to ground and the last wire (brakes to the trailer) runs all the way back to the 7-pin jack at the rear of the truck.
...Terry
ps. If your trailer has a battery in it, you will also need to run a wire from the truck battery, thru another circuit breaker (30 amp) and run it to the 7-pin jack. This will charge the trailer battery.

 

Terry, hey, thanks for the help. After much digging, I found out that the connector on the dash is not for a brake controller - I don't know what it's for, but it just ain't for a controller. So, being the brave fellow I am, I took it to a trailer place to get it installed. Glad I did - it took them 3 hours - if it took the pros 3 hours, I'm thinking it would have taken me 6 hours. Even then, there is lots of scope for me to bugger it up...

Nevertheless, thanks for the reply.

Lou

Powell River - I was there a couple of times when I was in sea cadets (in the 60's)...

 

That connector under the dash is the diagnostics port. You can pull codes there and re-flash the computer if you have the right equipment.

It should not take a pro 3 hours to install a brake controller. I don't think it took me that long and it was the first time I ever did it. Maybe it took him a long time to figure out where to put it.