Towing a trailer with a 2003 silverado

[fedfuzz]

I have a 2003 Chevy Silverado Ext. cab Z-71 w/ 5.3 v8. My vehicle come complete with towing package. My question is as follows. I recently purchased a larger trailer with brakes. What exactly do I have to do to my truck in order for it to operate the brakes on my trialer?

[gkindub]

Fedfuzz, you need to find out what type of brakes your trailer has - hydraulic or electric, before I can suggest anything.
Regards, gb

[kmschna]

Originally Posted by gkindub

Fedfuzz, you need to find out what type of brakes your trailer has - hydraulic or electric, before I can suggest anything.
Regards, gb

In case ol'Fuz don't come back, let's say it is for an electric brake trailer? I am interested in using my friends trailer with electric brakes and I thinks it would be good to have brakes for hauling wood.

I have a 2000 Silver with the wiring harness in the glove box. Do all I need is brake controller?

Thanks much.

[horse482]

You do need a controler for electronic trailer brakes. The harness that you are talking about is to plug the controler in to the system.

[fedfuzz]

Sorry for not being more specific. My trailer has electric brakes. I understand I need to purchase a break controller. My question is how hard is this to hook up? Is it something I can safely do myself, or should it be done my a professional? Someone mentioned they thought the 2003 Silverados has a plug under the dash somewhere. Anyone know anything about this?

[fire24resque]

I was told the same thing with mine (2001) that there was a simple harness plug in under the driver side of the dash. Never got around to towing that much so I never looked but that's what I heard too.

[fleettech]

if you look up to the left of your brake pedal you will see a black cover like a fuse block. remove the nut and pop the cover off. look inside it and it will tell you what slot to plug wiring harness in. you also have to plug in a 40 amp fuse. it tells you in owners(least read book in world) manual where. if you don't have the controler harness you can get one at the dealer or napa sells them. 99-02 and 03-06 the one napa sells is 99 and up.

[gkindub]

I hear that the Prodigy brake controller is highly rated(set it and forget it) and sells for under $100, but there are many others out there. All you really need to know now is how many brakes you have and your set.
Regards, gb

[fleettech]

I ordered the prodigy the other day with the harness to plug into my truck and the total was $110.24. it is the cheapest I have seen it and from what I have read it is the best one out now. I just checked where I ordered it from and they raised the price $10. it is now $95.