1996 K1500 Trailer Wiring Harness

[marc1]

I have a 1996 K1500. Today I unwrapped my factory wiring harness (my truck is not a Z82 equipped model) and there were only 5 wires (right, left, park, backup and ground). Is there another factory harness that has a heavy power wire and brake controller wire already in place? I do not want to run these back to my trailer plug if they are already factory installed.

Thanks!

Marc

[randyman]

Originally Posted by marc1

I have a 1996 K1500. Today I unwrapped my factory wiring harness (my truck is not a Z82 equipped model) and there were only 5 wires (right, left, park, backup and ground). Is there another factory harness that has a heavy power wire and brake controller wire already in place? I do not want to run these back to my trailer plug if they are already factory installed.

Thanks!

Marc

Are you talking about the wires that are wrapped up by the rear bumper? If so, and the 96 is similar to a 97 there should be an orange and blue wire back there as well. Though they probably aren't with the lighting wires. Mine were wrapped up separately more to the drivers side. If equipped with these wires, the blue wire will run to the engine bay and will probably be taped up near the fire wall. I was able to find mine by looking up from the bottom of the truck with a flash light. GM was kind enough to loop the wire out of the tape so that you could see the blue.

If your 96 has a fuse and relay box under the hood directly in front of the driver, take off the cover and see if there are a couple of AUX power posts. The orange wire will be connected or near by. At least my 97 was that way.

Hope this helps. I'm in the process of installing a brake controller and have recently found all this out. Now if I can figure out how to tap into the cold side of the brake switch I would be dialed.

[marc1]

Originally Posted by randyman

Are you talking about the wires that are wrapped up by the rear bumper? If so, and the 96 is similar to a 97 there should be an orange and blue wire back there as well. Though they probably aren't with the lighting wires. Mine were wrapped up separately more to the drivers side. If equipped with these wires, the blue wire will run to the engine bay and will probably be taped up near the fire wall. I was able to find mine by looking up from the bottom of the truck with a flash light. GM was kind enough to loop the wire out of the tape so that you could see the blue.

If your 96 has a fuse and relay box under the hood directly in front of the driver, take off the cover and see if there are a couple of AUX power posts. The orange wire will be connected or near by. At least my 97 was that way.

Hope this helps. I'm in the process of installing a brake controller and have recently found all this out. Now if I can figure out how to tap into the cold side of the brake switch I would be dialed.

Thanks very much for the info. Yes I was referring to the wires wrapped up by the rear bumper and as you suspected it's just lighting wires in that cluster. I will look as you suggested for the separate Orange and Blue one. I am pretty sure your 97 will be the same as my 96. So where did you run the blue wire into the cab then? Is there a grommet in the firewall or something like that? I was hoping the blue wire would loop out of a taped harness inside the truck near the brake switch... oh well. What controller did you buy? Reese? Drawtite? Do you have a recommendation? Thanks again! Marc

[kailie]

hello, have you been able to get to the cold side of the brake switch?? I've been looking for a day and can't seem to find access, I don't want to probe too much becuase of the airbags....i thought putting the brakes on the trailer would be the hard part of the job....

[randyman]

Originally Posted by marc1

Thanks very much for the info. Yes I was referring to the wires wrapped up by the rear bumper and as you suspected it's just lighting wires in that cluster. I will look as you suggested for the separate Orange and Blue one. I am pretty sure your 97 will be the same as my 96. So where did you run the blue wire into the cab then? Is there a grommet in the firewall or something like that? I was hoping the blue wire would loop out of a taped harness inside the truck near the brake switch... oh well. What controller did you buy? Reese? Drawtite? Do you have a recommendation? Thanks again! Marc

Unfortunately there was no grommet so I had to drill a hole. I don't remember the controller model, though I know it wasn't a Drawtite. Let me know if you figure out which wire is the "hot" side.