Trailer Brake Controller install

[Sarge]

So I did some exploratory surgery today to see where I would install the Redarc, and I found what I think is the perfect spot, so I ordered it today.

I've decided to install it in the headlight control panel area, above the physical switch where the 4xe eco mode panel would reside in the WL74:

View attachment 3974

I'm surprised it is designed in such a way that I can do this, but after looking at the back, I feel there is plenty of room available:

View attachment 3975

I am a bit confused by this part however, if you look in the center of the white area, you see a connector with no pins in it, which actually has a wire plugged into it. It doesn't make sense that they would have wiring for the eco mode switch in the L and I'm not aware of any options that would go on that panel, so I have no idea what this wire would be for...?

Anyway, for those of you who have installed the Redarc already, where did you wind up putting the control box? I am leaning towards putting it where the mopar control box would be mounted, but will have to come up with some kind of method to secure it. The manual says not to use wireties to secure it, but I'm leaning towards that since wireties can be very strong and secure if installed correctly, and I'm not really sure how else I would be able to do it otherwise.

If you put it in the center stick near the USB ports, just make sure you mount it where it's low enough that you can see it completely once it's recessed into position. The only person I've seen regret their install there mounted it too high, and once it was installed they couldn't see it well enough from their normal driving position.

 

[RichSNJ]

If you put it in the center stick near the USB ports, just make sure you mount it where it's low enough that you can see it completely once it's recessed into position. The only person I've seen regret their install there mounted it too high, and once it was installed they couldn't see it well enough from their normal driving position.

I'm pretty sure I would have to remove the entire center console guts in order to access that area. While that is something I'd like to do at some point to see if there's any way to put a heatsink or something under the wireless charging pad, I'm not looking forward to that and will not be doing that now.

The factory Mopar controller box actually mounts on the very left end of the dash board above the drivers kick panel. You basically take off the side of the dash and there is a space in there for it. But, it comes with a custom mounting bracket that I don't have, and probably wouldn't fit the redrc anyway, so if I chose to put it there I'd have to fabricate something, and I'm not really a fabricator.

 

[saleen032]

I'm pretty sure I would have to remove the entire center console guts in order to access that area. While that is something I'd like to do at some point to see if there's any way to put a heatsink or something under the wireless charging pad, I'm not looking forward to that and will not be doing that now.

The factory Mopar controller box actually mounts on the very left end of the dash board above the drivers kick panel. You basically take off the side of the dash and there is a space in there for it. But, it comes with a custom mounting bracket that I don't have, and probably wouldn't fit the redrc anyway, so if I chose to put it there I'd have to fabricate something, and I'm not really a fabricator.

I just mounted my RedArc controller directly to the metal dashboard... No bracket was needed...

 

[RichSNJ]

I just mounted my RedArc controller directly to the metal dashboard... No bracket was needed...

Do you have a pic of that? I'm actually going to tackle this project today. When I was in there I didn't see any obvious metal places in the dashboard to mount it to, but I didn't have the unit so I wasn't looking really hard.

 

[saleen032]

Do you have a pic of that? I'm actually going to tackle this project today. When I was in there I didn't see any obvious metal places in the dashboard to mount it to, but I didn't have the unit so I wasn't looking really hard.

Im sorry I dont, I installed it about 1.5 years ago. I remember there being a cross brace up toward the top once you pulled the knee panel. I screwed it right to there. It doesnt have to be in any particular position, as long as it is solid to the car. they dont want you to attach it to wire bundles...

 

[RichSNJ]

All done, I managed to find a place out of the way where I could secure it with screws and no wire ties. Now I need to find a trailer to plug into so I can test it out.

PS, the Mopar device on the right in the first pic is the night vision processing module. The factory brake controller mounts over that using the same screws that it is mounted with. At least that's how I read the installation manual for the factory unit...