So I bought a Tekonsha P3 brake controller, gonna get it in a week. But I have a question about it's operability...

Would I need to install some kind of fuse and/or relay in the fuse panel to make it work properly with a trailor's brakes? If so, what size relay and fuse and which locations?

Also, I have a 5-wire harness that I got from my dad. This harness (that he never used) came with his 1999 F150. Will it work for my 07 XLT that has a towing package (i.e. 7-pin, trans cooler, class III, etc)? I only ask this because I took a look under the dash and the vehicle harness that the controller harness plugs into only has 4 pins while the brake controller harness has 5 wires. Would I need a different harness?

And finally, the harness as a wire labeled FEED WIRE FROM BATTERY. I take it that I'll have to run a wire from the battery to this particular wire?

 

Just buy the wire harness for the Prodigy that's specific for your year truck. It's not that much $$ for the peace of mind that you just plug it in and go. I have no idea if the one from the '99 will work in your '07?

That 'feed wire from battery' wire would be the 12v power supply and you would attach that to the 12v wire from the brake controller. Normally, you will have a wire left over from the truck side. I don't recall what it is off the top of my head, but if the controller doesn't need it, then you are fine.

If your truck has the factory 'tow package', then it would have come with a bag full of additional fuses and relays as well as a brake controller wire harness.

If you bought your truck used, then the previous owner probably already installed the fuses and relays and just kept the harness.

Your owners manual will have a diagram for these additional fuses and you just have to verify that they are in place. These should be located under the hood, but maybe they changed that for the new F150's?

Mitch

 

Not completely applicable but it will give you an idea:

http://www.etrailer.com/tv-install_b...ford_f150.aspx

 

No the harness has changed

 

Crap, so I gotta get a new harness. Oh well, it's cheap. And I will have to see when the controller comes in which wire I will not be using. From the looks of it, it doesn't seem at all complicated to connect. My truck did come with a bag that had a harness and a relay, but I can't find it for the life of me. I will be certain to keep you guys updated on my findings when I get the controller in! And if I wasn't so sleepy right now I'd check my fuse panel to see if the relay(s) and fuse(s) needed for trailor braking are in place.

 

That is what I have, and it rocks! My truck came with the harness and relay, I just had to solder it to the p3 harness.

 

I just bought the Tekonsha P3 brake controller also and already arrived. I found in my glove box the cable in a bag and also a square plug of some sort in it also. I havnt went over the install instructions yet or opned it just yet. Im going next week to have the 5th wheel hitch mounted in the back of my truck. I already have the tow package im just wondering if I should have them run another plug in the back of truck for $85.00 instead of running the cables over the tail gate. I will only be using it 5-6 times a year. I though i read for the stock wireing harness not to follow the colors of the cables but follow the tag on what each wire and match them to what they say not by color.

I was just going to take the stuff with me to the shop when they did the other work and ask them about it while I was there. Maybe Ill take some pics and post the wireing when completed.

 

Putting a plug in the bed for in bed hitches is a great idea.
You never have to worry about dragging a plug and you won't scratch the tailgate with the trailer wiring.

I do have aproblem with the price they are installing.
They are taking it to you for that price.

7 pin plug $10 at retail
7 strand trailer wiring $2.50/ft at retail (6-10 feet needed depending on where the install the plug)
1/2 hour labor $25-40

Sorry, but the math doesn't add up.

My guess to get to that price they must be charging you the equivalent of $120/hr. Sounds kinda steep.

I install 5-10 a day and charge a flat fee of $60 (parts and labor)

 

Very true... Follow the labels and you won't go wrong. You could also get the Prodigy haress and it will just plug right in and you won't have to match up any colors.

New Dodge trucks are really strange colors.
Green w/ black trace for ground
Blue w/ white trace for brake switch
White w/ red trace for power

 

I wonder if they are figuring on the plug and play harness like this:



At roughly $50-60 for the harness and connector and a flat hour for labor, I could see $85 easily.

 

I learned yesterday that business are not charging 1/2 hour to install a plug in the bed, but are charging 1 full hour of labor.

WOW... what a bunch of crooks.

Trailer service unlike auto service does not have a hourly repair guidline. So they can make up whatever labor they want. I can't belive that people are charging an hour of labor for something that takes me 15-20 min to install. I though 1/2 hour was steep, but he have a half hour min. on labor.

Keep in mind that most service industries do not have hard guidlines on pricing. You can always be humble and ask if they can help you out with a better price. Most places will give you a discount.

 

Hey Colorado Osprey there going to charge me $498.00 out the door to install the 5th wheel 5th wheel hitch and other hardware. They said they couldnt use the old bolts I removed off the other guys truck and still had to buy more hardware because 2 of the brackets wouldnt match since it came off a 2003 F250 older body style.

So this is the prices ive been quoted and the cheapest ive found from a buissness anyways in my area!

For $498.00 out the door they will install the 5th wheel and extra hardware needed and also to cut my bed liner for the brackets so I wont have to take my bed liner out of the truck. Damn glad I already had the Draw-Tite 5th wheel hitch! Id hate to see what one of these cost as well.

Then she said its another $85.00 to install the Plug and F.L.U.F. im pretty sure its just the plug and not the cable! Then I have my own Tekonsha P3 brake controller and they charge $50.00 for labor if I wanted it installed too on top.

So for right now I have an appointment to take the truck next Wednesday at 9:30 to do the $498.00 out the door deal. I told them I would think about the other two things. I may just do the plug and install the brake controller myself.

Honestly if when I was looking looking at this kind of price going to a 5th wheel were is I already have evereything already done if I used the hitch thats mounted on the frame might not of bought a 5th wheel trailer and just looked for a regular camper that hooks up to the ball. However Im hoping when its said and done Ill be glad I got the 5th wheel camper hopeing it pulls and rides better then from the back of the truck! Even tho I dont plain on using it much..well as of now anyways but never know.

 

Colorado Osprey wish you lived closer to me and would just pay you! hehehe
Yeah again the othe places I called wanted much more! grrr

The good thing is the place IM taking it to was the cheapest of the 4 I called and also the one everyone recommand that do the best job so thats a good thing!

 

I actually had a customer tell me today we weren't charging enough.
Our labor rate is $75/hr.

I was doing a yearly service which is packing bearings, adjusting brakes, replace seals if necesary and inspecting the trailer for road worthiness and DOT compliance(lighting etc.). We charge $79 for this on a double axle trailer, $59 for a single axle trailer.

The company he had been using was charging $250!!

The issue I have been seeing is trailer repair companies charging a lot of hourly time rate for simple/quick jobs. We charge 1/2 hour to install an in bed plug and a 1/2 hour of labor to install a brake controller; or $37.50 ea in just labor. I think in the last 2 years many shops have greatly increased their labor rates and time that they bill to make more money. Crooks I tell ya.

My rate for installing your hitch would be $150; plus parts. An extra $75 (1 hr) if you needed a brake controller and in bed plug installed. $225 total labor.
Realisticlly it should take no more than 2-2.5 hours time.

They are correct on the application specific hitch hardware. I always get new hardware even if it is for the same year/model truck. It just makes life easier and you know the parts aren't stressed. The brackets retail for about $17ea times 4. The hardware bag is like $15-20.

Amazingly enough, for the few that tell us we are charging not enough, we get tons of customers that complain on how much we charge. We have always felt that those customers could not get quality work done anywhere else for the price we charge. We feel confident with ourselves that we run a legitimate fair bussiness that charges fair prices for excellent service, quality and peace of mind.