Towing and Hauling / RV Discuss towing and hauling here. Share your tips and tricks. RV and camping discussion welcome.

Trailer brake wiring????

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-14-2007, 10:12 PM
  #1  
RAF
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
RAF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Egg Harbor City, NJ
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Trailer brake wiring????

Just bought a 6ton trailer with Dexter axles. Someone had cut the wires going to the brakes. I need to know how to wire the brakes. I see there are two wires coming from the backing plate. I assume one is a ground and the other power. Does it matter which one to ground and which one to power? And do I ground to the trailer or back though the plug connector?

Thanks
Rich

P.S. When I put on a new connector I found that The old one was wired wrong. I think this is why the brake wires were cut.
Old 03-14-2007, 11:23 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Oilguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bryan/ College Station, Texas
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by RAF
Just bought a 6ton trailer with Dexter axles. Someone had cut the wires going to the brakes. I need to know how to wire the brakes. I see there are two wires coming from the backing plate. I assume one is a ground and the other power. Does it matter which one to ground and which one to power? And do I ground to the trailer or back though the plug connector?

Thanks
Rich

P.S. When I put on a new connector I found that The old one was wired wrong. I think this is why the brake wires were cut.
You can ground it to the trailer if the trailer is grounded... (I recommend grounding the trailer if you haven't already done so) It does not matter which wire you choose...
Also it is good to always check the connector for correct wiring any time you borrow or buy a trailer OR after you have loaned your trailer out >> People don't take care of your stuff until they are within your sight... A simple mistake will blow out your delicate power distribution box before you realize there is a problem. (Ask me how I know )
Here is the wiring diagrams



Good luck

Oilguy
Old 03-14-2007, 11:48 PM
  #3  
Weg
Registered User
 
Weg's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Kaysville, UT
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by RAF
Just bought a 6ton trailer with Dexter axles. Someone had cut the wires going to the brakes. I need to know how to wire the brakes. I see there are two wires coming from the backing plate. I assume one is a ground and the other power. Does it matter which one to ground and which one to power? And do I ground to the trailer or back though the plug connector?

Thanks
Rich

P.S. When I put on a new connector I found that The old one was wired wrong. I think this is why the brake wires were cut.

The magnets are just an electromagnet, it does not matter which wire you run the power to or which one you run the ground to.
Old 03-15-2007, 10:12 AM
  #4  
Registered User
 
darkvader's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: northern california
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
not to be picky but i do not agree with frame grounding any circuit. by all means ground the frame but whenever possible run a 2 wire to trailer lights, brakes ect.most of the vechical elect. problams i see are frame ground related
Clark
Old 03-15-2007, 07:52 PM
  #5  
RAF
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
RAF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Egg Harbor City, NJ
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So I can tap all the power wires in series and the grounds in series right? Well at least front to back?
Old 03-15-2007, 08:19 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
Oilguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bryan/ College Station, Texas
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by RAF
So I can tap all the power wires in series and the grounds in series right? Well at least front to back?
Yes....

OG
Old 03-15-2007, 10:30 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
Jeff in TD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 3,519
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts
I'm guessing you didn't mean to imply that they would be wired in series, but they should be wired in parallel...

You can download an excellent manual from Dexter here.

http://www.dexteraxle.com/products___literature
Old 03-16-2007, 04:53 PM
  #8  
RAF
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
RAF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Egg Harbor City, NJ
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I emailed dexter because I wasn't able to down load anything off there site.
Old 03-16-2007, 05:10 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
Jeff in TD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 3,519
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts
If they can't help, PM me with an e-mail address and I'll try to send the pdf as an attachment...

Otherwise, you could download Al-Ko's manual, since they are pretty similar.

When you click on the pdf from either, if you are on dial-up it is likely to sit there for a while before opening...

http://www.al-kousa.com/prod_bhd.htm
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
SkyKing56
2nd Gen. Dodge Ram - No Drivetrain
3
10-17-2007 07:22 AM
stumpjumper
3rd Generation Ram - Non Drivetrain - All Years
11
09-20-2007 06:57 PM
robert97dodge
HELP!
8
07-18-2007 08:36 PM
DieselSmith
1st Gen. Ram - All Topics
12
05-14-2007 09:25 PM
charcoal600
Towing and Hauling / RV
2
04-30-2005 02:34 PM



Quick Reply: Trailer brake wiring????



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:54 AM.