Hi folks,

I'll shortly have an new CDT Ram and I'd like some recommentations on electric brake controllers and Class IV hitches.

I'll be towing an open tandem wheel trailer and race car that weights in at 6K lbs.

Are the brake controllers easily installed? Does a RAM with the towing package come with a plug-n-play brake controller connector?

What does one look for in a class IV hitch/reciever?

Thanks Robo

 

Yes, controllers are easily installed. Tekonsha Prodigy and the Jordan seem to be the most popular.

The towing kit will provide a pigtail that plugs into the truck on one end and has bare wires on the other to hook to the controllers. For some of the electric controllers you can buy a pigtail with the plugs on both ends pre-wired

class IV hitch? Should already be on the truck ( I think) with the towing package, although Hoss had some sort of problem with his that resulted in his initially getting a class III hitch.

 

My problem was that the truck I picked off of the lot did not come with the towing package. As part of the deal I had it added. They initially installed a Class III on mine instead of the Class IV that was supposed to come with the towing package, but eventually it was resolved. Unless something has changed, the towing package SHOULD come with a Class IV hitch, a 7 pin wiring harness, and a pigtail to hook up the brake controller.

 

Robo,
Welcome to our party, there, newby. We have fun.
As previously stated, there are only two controllers to even think about, the Jordan and the Prodigy. The Prodigy is the easiest to install, the Jordan is the smoothest to use. Those of us that have had both stick to the Jordan.
Both of them plug in easy to a plug under the dash to the left of the steering column - - it is up there a ways, so make like a monkey and you will see it. The Jordan has an additional sensing wire that attaches high on the brake pedal. The wire tells the controller how hard you are pushing on the brake pedal and applies the trailer brakes in the same amount. Very cool.
Good luck.

 

Thanks for the info. The Jordan sounds great.

I asked about a Class IV hitch and I guess the info I'm after is about the Bar + Ball that you place into the hitch. I'm not sure what that is called.

I'd imagine that component, especially the ball/bolt sees lots of shear stress. What would you suggest for those components. How do you tell good from bad?

Do they make the ball/bolt with shanks and do they grade them like bolts? Grade 5, 8 etc.

Robo

 

Any hitch shop can help you with that. You can even get a lock for the pin preventing theft of the ball. You need to know the height of the trailer hitch so you can adjust your setup to match it.

 

[quote author=robo link=board=11;threadid=20708;start=0#msg194583 date=1065657396]
Thanks for the info. The Jordan sounds great.

I asked about a Class IV hitch and I guess the info I'm after is about the Bar + Ball that you place into the hitch. I'm not sure what that is called.

I'd imagine that component, especially the ball/bolt sees lots of shear stress. What would you suggest for those components. How do you tell good from bad?

Do they make the ball/bolt with shanks and do they grade them like bolts? Grade 5, 8 etc.

Robo
[/quote]

You're referring to the drawbar and ball....and these come in many flavors, sizes and ratings. These are not hard to find and as long as the rating of both the ball and the drawbar are rated high enough to tow what you're towing then you shouldn't have an issue. Keep in mind that Dodge recommends anything over 10,000 pounds be pulled with either a gooseneck or 5th wheel setup.

Here's a couple of places to get you started, but there are many more...

E-Trailer
Hitch Solutions

Also remember that your hitch is only as good as the weakest link. In other words, if you've got a 10,000 lb. hitch but only a 6,000 ball and/or drawbar then your setup is only good for 6,000 pounds. You also have to consider the rating of the pin that holds the drawbar in the hitch receiver, but I've never actually seen a rating on these.