Towing Package, tow ready?

[patrick_g]

So, you lay down your $ and buy a new truck with an OEM towing package. You get a good stout (but not amazingly so) receiver hitch, a built in electronic brake controller, a couple styles of sockets to let you plug the trailer plug into the truck as well as engine stuff like tranny coolers etc.

You then plug in your new dump trailer and SHAZAM! all the lights work correctly: turn signals, running lights, clearance lights, stop and tail lights...

Ahh, isn't life grand? Then you notice that the battery running the hydraulic pump for dumping the trailer is not doing too good. A little trouble shooting and you find that the pin in the trailer connector that is proclaimed to be 12 volts (charge line to trailer battery) is in fact dead as a doornail. Further investigtation and phone call to the dealership reveals that the vehicles are supplied without a relay and fuse that you have to buy to plug into a fuse block to get the 12 volts out the trailer connector.

There is a schematic diagram on the dust cover/lid to the connectors showing which pins are for which lights and which is for 12 volts but the 12 volts is NOT THERE. So the MFG saves a buck by not really making the truck ready for towing and you are inconvenienced by a dead battery which should have been charging off the trucks alternator.

Is mine an isolated incident or is this the NORMAL state of affairs? I'd have appreciated it if they would have at least reminded me when we were specking out a truck WITH TOWING PACKAGE that the towing package was incomplete and you were responsible for buying a couple parts and installing them yourself. I think this situation SUCKS!

Pat

 

[Egon]

Back in the last century I also bought a truck with a tow package. All that added was some coolers with a garanteed to fail fitting and no fog lights as there wasn't room for them.

The hitch was added later as well as wiring for the Canopy, trailer, and camper and the brake controller.

 

[patrick_g]

Egon, Quite a different situation from mine. My truck came with a built into the dash brake controller and installed and wired trailer socket to plug into. The plug in works great as I mentioned EXCEPT for not supplying 12 volts where the schematic on the socket dust cover says it does. To get the 12 volts DC you are supposed to buy a relay and a fuse and have them installed in a fuse block.

I was told the truck was TOW READY. Apparently the truck was a partially assembled "KIT" that the owner is responsible for finishing by buying additional parts from the dealership and having them installed.

I would have felt better on the honesty and integrity issues if they had at least told me I needed to add the parts to make it work instead of letting silence serve them better. Given the price of a truck what percent would a relay and fuse constitute? What next, schrader valves so the spare will hold air? Fuel cap as an additional cost accessory?

Pat

 

[jwstewar]

Pat, this is the norm. At least it is for GM. I believe Ford is the same. Don't know about Dodge, nobody buys them. When I first bought my '99 GM included the fuse and pig tail for the brake controller. As time went on these became extras you had to buy. On my '05 Trailblazer and then my '08 Suburban I had to hook up a wire for the aftermarket brake controller and for the 12-volt. I then had to add a fuse for the 12-volt. So what you are experiencing is the norm.

 

[patrick_g]

Pat, this is the norm. At least it is for GM. I believe Ford is the same. Don't know about Dodge, nobody buys them... So what you are experiencing is the norm.

Well the norm sucks. When I am sold a tow package and told that the truck is "TOW READY" I expect it to be READY for use, not ready to be owner completed. I think this is a pretty shabby state of affairs. If It were an after market controller install or owner installed trailer connector on the bumper and NOT OEM installed equipment then maybe...

At the least, dealers should be up front and disclose the DIY nature of the tow ready BS.

I suppose they do it to us because we let them. I intend to make my dealer aware of what I think of the practice and because it is NORMAL is no excuse as I was told the truck was ready for towing use and it isn't, After our conversation the dealer will be aware of just how much profit was in it for him if I never return to them again for a new vehicle or service. Fool me once... and if my brain is working I will likely not give you a second chance. There are lots of Ford dealers out there and I think it is likely any number of them would "toss in" a relay and fuse plus installation to secure a sale, repeat service business or customer loyalty/satisfaction.

Pat

 

[Ductape]

I agree its the norm. Your truck is ready to tow................ just not tow EVERY type of trailer out there. I'd just hook 12 volts to the line going to the trailer battery and call it good. No doubt if the manufacturers do that for us it will add another $1000 to the sticker price.

 

[jwstewar]

Worse Pat. When GM used to include the Pigtail and fuses the dealer would take them out and sell them back to the people that weren't aware they were to be included. My dealer that sold me my '99 tried to do that to me until I told them that it was included from GM. And this was on a truck that I had custom ordered and actually sat down with the inventory manager and speced out what I wanted.

The problem is you are dealing with salesmen. They don't know the product. Heck, most of them don't even know (or maybe allowed) to make a deal any more. Everything has to be run by the manager for approval.

 

[Builder]

Maybe I'm just lucky, but my '07 came with everything ready to tow, my dealer even installed the fuse.

I know it's not right that you have to do this, but bring a checklist with you to the dealer when you spec your truck.

Before you sign your contract, jot down the items you expect to be in place on the open spaces of the paperwork before you sign. Make the sales manager initial that he will have those things done before you agree to take delivery.

When the truck arrives, do not smile, do not stare at the shiny new truck. Instead, say "now let's get out that checklist". Make sure everything you wrote on the sales column is included with the truck. Refuse to buy until they're done.

You'd be shocked at how fast the service dept will get these things done.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes, pat its the norm. I am guessing you have a Ford since you are talking about the relay but things change day to day. GM did away with the pigtail all together in the new body style and now you have to run wires to a non OEM brake Controller from under the hood. I bet this saved them $1 per truck but I guess it adds up.

If it was a Ford it should have came with the relay. If not the dealer swiped it to sell you later.

Chris

 

[jwstewar]

Chris you don't have to go under the hood on the GMs. They are right there under the dash. That is the way it was on my '08 Suburban. You can also see them installing one on an '08 Silverado here: Brake Controller Installation - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado - etrailer.com If you are going out under the hood, you are doing it wrong - or at least the hard way. Incidentally that video show connecting the power wire for the brake controller but not the battery charging line & fuse.

 

[Patches]

You folks should have purchased a Toyota Tundra, 5.7L, tow package; it has a simple plug-in harness by the left kick panel for your brake controller; but you do have to install the 30 amp trailer "power" fuse in the underhood fuse box yourself

 

[Baucom]

Jim,

Maybe GM changed something in 08. When Dad bought his new 07 Silverado, he had the dealer install his Tekonsha Prodigy, and they had to run wires from under the hood. At that time, both the dealer and Southwest Wheel confirmed that there was no pigtail for the new Silverados.

Incidentally, my Titan didn't come with the factory tow package, but I negotiated a hitch and the transfer of my brake controller from my F150 when I bought it. The dealer installed the hitch and brake controller, but didn't install the necessary relays. When I realized this, I didn't complain (did make a note of it on their customer satisfaction survey though) but just stopped at Uhaul on my way home from work 1 day and picked up a set. They plugged right in and everything worked. All 3 cost about the same as 1 relay from the dealer. There's no sense getting worked up over a few bucks, IMO.

 

[jwstewar]

Jim,

Maybe GM changed something in 08. When Dad bought his new 07 Silverado, he had the dealer install his Tekonsha Prodigy, and they had to run wires from under the hood. At that time, both the dealer and Southwest Wheel confirmed that there was no pigtail for the new Silverados.

Incidentally, my Titan didn't come with the factory tow package, but I negotiated a hitch and the transfer of my brake controller from my F150 when I bought it. The dealer installed the hitch and brake controller, but didn't install the necessary relays. When I realized this, I didn't complain (did make a note of it on their customer satisfaction survey though) but just stopped at Uhaul on my way home from work 1 day and picked up a set. They plugged right in and everything worked. All 3 cost about the same as 1 relay from the dealer. There's no sense getting worked up over a few bucks, IMO.

Nope, don't think so. http://www.stealthv.com/images/GMT900_Trailer_Brake_Controller_Install.pdf This was the same for my '05 Trailblazer. They were under the dash. Just kind of hard to find if you didn't know exactly what you were looking for.

 

[Builder]

That's a great resource jw. Thanks for posting. The wire plugs are right there & ready to go with my '07 GMC. Took me all of ~10 minutes to plug in and install my Prodigy.

Since I don't smoke, I remover the factory ashtray and mounted my Prodigy right in it's place. Fits perfect almost looks factory.

Amazing how much disinformation there is out ther.

 

[Baucom]

Thanks for posting that, it is a great resource.

I should have clarified, there was no direct plug-in pigtail for the GMT900s like there was on his 99 & 03 Silverados. My F150 and Titan both also had ports under the dash for a direct plug-in harness--makes installing a brake controller take about the same time as plugging in a toaster.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I just got done doing a 2008 1500 4x4 and we had to go under the hood. The wires were tied up under the master cylinder. We had to run them to the under hood fuse box to get power at the 7 pin plug and get power at the brake controller wires under the dash. Also had to install 1 fuse for sure, maybe 2, cant remember. I had to call the local GM garage. He said its a pain on the new trucks because they have put them in a few different ways. The wires are not always the same color either. You also have to go to the hardware store and buy metric nuts to secure the wires, one 6mm and one 8mm. A real GM improvement!!!! What a joke. LOL!

Here is the guy I get parts for trailers from. Best in the business in my opinion. Anyway, he has help sections for all popular trucks.

R and P Carriages Trailer Sales, Service, Parts and Rentals

2007 GM Trailer Brake Controller install

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

You folks should have purchased a Toyota Tundra, 5.7L, tow package; it has a simple plug-in harness by the left kick panel for your brake controller; but you do have to install the 30 amp trailer "power" fuse in the underhood fuse box yourself

My Nissan Titan just plugged in, no fuse or any hassle. Took 5 minutes. Mine needed no fuses or relays. According to the site below if it is not equipped with a tow package you need to install the relays.

Nissan Titan brake controller install

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Nope, don't think so. http://www.stealthv.com/images/GMT900_Trailer_Brake_Controller_Install.pdf This was the same for my '05 Trailblazer. They were under the dash. Just kind of hard to find if you didn't know exactly what you were looking for.

You must have got a truck built on the change over period. All the late 07 to current I have seen do not have the plug and play anymore. You have to run the wires from under the hood. Big pain but better than nothing.

2007 GM Trailer Brake Controller install

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

That's a great resource jw. Thanks for posting. The wire plugs are right there & ready to go with my '07 GMC. Took me all of ~10 minutes to plug in and install my Prodigy.

Since I don't smoke, I remover the factory ashtray and mounted my Prodigy right in it's place. Fits perfect almost looks factory.

Amazing how much disinformation there is out ther.

Yes, on your truck, the classic or early 07, they are a cake walk. My 5 year old daughter can do them now. She could change the oil if needed. Anyway another subject, another time. It all changed in the 08's. Some early build dates had the old style like yours, then they went to the non plug in type with just wires, to the now bundle of wires that you must connect and apply power by getting to the under hood fuse box and buying the appropriate fuses/relays and the 6mm and 8mm nuts.

2007 GM Trailer Brake Controller install

No misinformation here!

Chris

 

[jwstewar]

You must have got a truck built on the change over period. All the late 07 to current I have seen do not have the plug and play anymore. You have to run the wires from under the hood. Big pain but better than nothing.

2007 GM Trailer Brake Controller install

Chris

Chris, following your own link

Many of the new 2007 GM/Chevy trucks do not have the "Plug and Play" (I guess that is a improvement??) But if you have the tow package, it should have the wires folded and tapped up under the dash. You will have to connect the wires to your controller.

Under the dash, we found the wires tapped up. Wire colors IN THIS TRUCK when connected to a Tekonsha Brake Controller were as follows: Dark Blue, Brake wire, connects to Blue on Controller

They even say the wires for the controller are under the dash. Yes, you have to connect the 2 wires under the hood, but you don't have to run anything through the firewall.

BTW, my Suburban is a late 2008.