Factory tow on a truck that didnt come with it. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

red71cheyenne · 06-23-2022, 02:53 PM

While I was out to sea, the wife bought me a new(used) truck. Its a 2014 crew cab, with a short wide bed. Pretty nice, but I would like to add the factory tow controller. Has anyone done this? Our 2011 Sub has it already and it pulls very well.

The truck already has the trailer hitch and wiring, the wires for the controller should just be up in one of the other harness' right?

If anyone has already done this, please give me some pointers

Thanks, Jeff

**biketopia** · 07-01-2022, 12:50 PM

hell of a nice wife! As far as the factory one the wiring should be behind the dummy panel that gets replaced when you add in the controller. I know with the Fords we have at work it's not plug and play, you have to program the truck to recognize it. I'd do a little looking on line and see if that's the case with the 14' which I would suspect it is. Depending if you have a hook up for programming and the cost of the controller it might be cheaper to put an aftermarket controller in. A very nice and feature rich P3 is only 150 bucks and then you'll probably need a $15 sub harness and it will plug right in under the dash and send the signals to your 7 way. I love my P2, no twitchy trailer brakes, everything works nice and smooth. I know it's not as "clean" looking but might be cheaper in the end.

red71cheyenne · 07-03-2022, 08:26 AM

Biketopia, you were right, the cable was behind the panel on the dash. I found a factory style panel with the controller built in. Got it on ebay for less than $40. It is installed, today I will hook up my stock trailer to see if it recognizes the trailer.

**biketopia** · 07-05-2022, 10:25 AM

There you go! Worst case you'll need the truck flashed to recognize it. If that's the case, before you go right to the dealer, do some looking in your area or reach out to some local shops, even the local locksmiths about mobile programing services. We have quite a few in our area, they have the factory scan tools and will come to you and do flash updates for less than what the dealer is going to charge for the whole 15 min of work it takes to do a re-flash.

red71cheyenne · 09-13-2022, 10:06 AM

Just an update to the factory controller saga, a local mechanic had the programmer and tried to turn on the factory trailer brake control, but was unable to make it work. I have an appointment at my local chevy dealer and they think they can do it. I'll update to let you all know if it worked or not.

**Lost in the 60's** · 01-19-2023, 06:18 PM

Were you able to get the controller to work ?
I looked at this for my 2011 a few years back and decided to just add the aftermarket under the dash. The cost to "maybe" program the truck was more than I was willing to spend.

06-23-2022, 02:53 PM	#1
red71cheyenne Back in the sticks Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Fordland, MO Posts: 3,188	Factory tow on a truck that didnt come with it. While I was out to sea, the wife bought me a new(used) truck. Its a 2014 crew cab, with a short wide bed. Pretty nice, but I would like to add the factory tow controller. Has anyone done this? Our 2011 Sub has it already and it pulls very well. The truck already has the trailer hitch and wiring, the wires for the controller should just be up in one of the other harness' right? If anyone has already done this, please give me some pointers Thanks, Jeff __________________ 1971 Cheyenne C-10 w/700R4 and Tuned Port Injection 1969 K5 Blazer w/Tuned Port 2010 2SS/RS Flaming Orange Camaro 2011 K1500 Suburban 2014 K1500 Pickup 2008 Nissan Altima? The wifes' hoopty

07-01-2022, 12:50 PM	#2
biketopia Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Warrenton VA Posts: 1,008	Re: Factory tow on a truck that didnt come with it. hell of a nice wife! As far as the factory one the wiring should be behind the dummy panel that gets replaced when you add in the controller. I know with the Fords we have at work it's not plug and play, you have to program the truck to recognize it. I'd do a little looking on line and see if that's the case with the 14' which I would suspect it is. Depending if you have a hook up for programming and the cost of the controller it might be cheaper to put an aftermarket controller in. A very nice and feature rich P3 is only 150 bucks and then you'll probably need a $15 sub harness and it will plug right in under the dash and send the signals to your 7 way. I love my P2, no twitchy trailer brakes, everything works nice and smooth. I know it's not as "clean" looking but might be cheaper in the end. __________________ 71 c-10 Long Bed, under the knife for a No Limit Engineering Wide Ride Chassis Pack and coil over static drop. 07 Silverado Classic 2wd 95 Camaro 427SBC/TH350

07-03-2022, 08:26 AM	#3
red71cheyenne Back in the sticks Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Fordland, MO Posts: 3,188	Re: Factory tow on a truck that didnt come with it. Biketopia, you were right, the cable was behind the panel on the dash. I found a factory style panel with the controller built in. Got it on ebay for less than $40. It is installed, today I will hook up my stock trailer to see if it recognizes the trailer. __________________ 1971 Cheyenne C-10 w/700R4 and Tuned Port Injection 1969 K5 Blazer w/Tuned Port 2010 2SS/RS Flaming Orange Camaro 2011 K1500 Suburban 2014 K1500 Pickup 2008 Nissan Altima? The wifes' hoopty

07-05-2022, 10:25 AM	#4
biketopia Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Warrenton VA Posts: 1,008	Re: Factory tow on a truck that didnt come with it. There you go! Worst case you'll need the truck flashed to recognize it. If that's the case, before you go right to the dealer, do some looking in your area or reach out to some local shops, even the local locksmiths about mobile programing services. We have quite a few in our area, they have the factory scan tools and will come to you and do flash updates for less than what the dealer is going to charge for the whole 15 min of work it takes to do a re-flash. __________________ 71 c-10 Long Bed, under the knife for a No Limit Engineering Wide Ride Chassis Pack and coil over static drop. 07 Silverado Classic 2wd 95 Camaro 427SBC/TH350

09-13-2022, 10:06 AM	#5
red71cheyenne Back in the sticks Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Fordland, MO Posts: 3,188	Re: Factory tow on a truck that didnt come with it. Just an update to the factory controller saga, a local mechanic had the programmer and tried to turn on the factory trailer brake control, but was unable to make it work. I have an appointment at my local chevy dealer and they think they can do it. I'll update to let you all know if it worked or not. __________________ 1971 Cheyenne C-10 w/700R4 and Tuned Port Injection 1969 K5 Blazer w/Tuned Port 2010 2SS/RS Flaming Orange Camaro 2011 K1500 Suburban 2014 K1500 Pickup 2008 Nissan Altima? The wifes' hoopty

01-19-2023, 06:18 PM	#6
Lost in the 60's Active Member Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Twin Cites, MN Posts: 158	Re: Factory tow on a truck that didnt come with it. Were you able to get the controller to work ? I looked at this for my 2011 a few years back and decided to just add the aftermarket under the dash. The cost to "maybe" program the truck was more than I was willing to spend.



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