I have a 98 Chevy k1500 that has a hitch, and the 4-wire lighting harness. But i am not sure if it has the "towing package" or not... (these may have been added aftermarket.)

I have been trying to find out how to install a trailer brake controller, but everything i have found says "on vehicles with the factory towing package just plug this in to the supplied plug here and you are good to go"

well what if i DONT have the towing package??
then what all does it take? If i dont have the fancy "suppied plug" then what do i need to do?

I have also read that "all late model trucks" are prewired to accept a brake controller. but is 98 considered late model?

someone help me out!

You have to wire the whole thing in, at least it is that way on my 1997 Suburban WITH the tow package. Maybe 1998s are different, but I doubt it.

I would just get a new truck :flipoff2:

Seriously though; I had a friend that put a brake package on a one ton and it gave him false confidence that it was now a tow rig. Needless to say but we ended up putting in a 12 bolt because he blew out the 10 that was in it.

I would just get a new truck :flipoff2:

I have been looking... budget doesnt allow for much. I am trying to spend my money on my trail rig, not on the tow rig. But been looking for a reliable 3/4 ton diesel.

Part of why i want to install my own trailer harness is so that i can also uninstall it and move it to a new truck later.

I just did a Dodge Durango last night with the tow package and it did not have the plug handy nor did I have the time to wait till today to get one. Just find the wire that comes off the brake light switch under the dash board that is only hot when you touch the brakes. You should be able to turn on the blinkers and hazard lights and and the test light should not blink. This is the wire you need to tie into to give the brake controller a signal to engage the trailer brakes.

Also, if it's got one of those flat 4-wire plugs. Make sure you don't need to add the adapter that pulls power for the trailer lighting straight from the battery. Sorry, the name escapes me but I'de bet Fyrman or TrailerGuy knows what I'm talking about.

The relays on the TV are only rated for some many lightbulbs. Some vehicles, like the Durango are already running and max capacity or just 2 lightbulbs short of it.

Many Chevy trucks have the power wired (red) and brake wire (blue) already run from the engine compartment to the back of the truck, underneath. The ends are not connected, rather just tied up neatly. I suggest you look for them, near the brake booster and under the rear of the truck. On my buddy's '98 Tahoe, there was a connector in the fuse block or perhaps the "convenience center" under the dash for the brake trigger wire. Try a google search for your specific truck.

Pete

Many Chevy trucks have the power wired (red) and brake wire (blue) already run from the engine compartment to the back of the truck, underneath. The ends are not connected, rather just tied up neatly. I suggest you look for them, near the brake booster and under the rear of the truck. On my buddy's '98 Tahoe, there was a connector in the fuse block or perhaps the "convenience center" under the dash for the brake trigger wire. Try a google search for your specific truck.

Pete

Yep, red (orange) and blue wires. Under the booster taped up and in the back taped up. They are looped together and then taped by GM. The red wire, at the booster side, will have a eye type connector already on it. It goes to the fuse box under the hood on the drivers side fender well. There will be an open post to put in on. You will need a metric nut to secure the wire and a large Maxi Fuse to make it light up (30a). Don't put the fuse in untell you are all done with the wiring at the plug. The blue wire needs to run into the cab and to the brake controller. Under the dash on a GM is the large group of wires, main harness. It is just above the brake pedal. Within that harness is another small harness, just a few wires. In there you will find a white wire that comes from the back of the brake switch. Make sure to test the wires using a light tester to make sure that you get the right one. The ground can be attached right under the dash to the metal strip holding the dash plastic on. The red wire on the brake controller goes to the white brake switch wire. The blue wire goes to the blue wire that is under the booster. The black wire is a 12 volt hot wire. You can find a large orange hot wire in the main harness under the dash to attach to, or off the fuse block, either one works fine. An inline fuse holder here is also handy. Hope this helps some.

There is also a sticky at the top of this forum with all of the instructions in it. Alot of it is vehicle specific. Bet you might find an answer in there. :shaking:

The ground can be attached right under the dash to the metal strip holding the dash plastic on.


No. To the frame, or to the battery.


The black wire is a 12 volt hot wire. You can find a large orange hot wire in the main harness under the dash to attach to, or off the fuse block, either one works fine. An inline fuse holder here is also handy.


Good God no. Come off of the other empty post, and replace the 30 amp maxi fuse with a 20 amp self-reseting circuit breaker that will plug into the slot. There are alot of power wires under the dash, and most are already carrying the load they are designed for.

There is also a sticky at the top of this forum with all of the instructions in it. Alot of it is vehicle specific. Bet you might find an answer in there. :shaking:

yes, i did read that... of course, right after i posted...
but i saw alot in there about the newer trucks, and mine didnt make the cut off... and then saw lots of info about 96 and 97 being "special"... but nothing about 98. so i left this here hoping for some details.

now that i read all this, i think i may have the factory tow package... but again, it sounds like that didnt means too much in 98.

I was that you were responsible for most of that sticky. so for that i thank you greatly. alot of great info there. (just not specific to my truck)

No. To the frame, or to the battery.


Good God no. Come off of the other empty post, and replace the 30 amp maxi fuse with a 20 amp self-reseting circuit breaker that will plug into the slot. There are alot of power wires under the dash, and most are already carrying the load they are designed for.
You are not wrong, I would never say that. There are just different ways of doing it that work easily as well. I've never seen or had a problem with them hooked up this way.

The bar under the dash is plenty for the ground. You are only opening a soleniod in the controller, not using it to ground the entire trailer tow package. Most stero amps ground to the body and they use much more power and amps than a brake controller.

The one large main hot wire under the dash of the Chevy is what powers the inside fuse block. There is nothing wrong with using it. I'm not talking about using the power wire for the cig. lighter. Resetting breakers are nice, but I've seen people run around with small shorts and not even know it because the breaker just keeps resetting.