03 Dodge w/o tow package, how I connected Brake Controller

[DadOfTwo]

I thought I'd post this up in case anyone else is adding a BC to a Ram that doesn't have tow package.

In mine ('03 1500 Lonestar) I found that I did have the OEM electric brake plug under the dash on the left side. I also did have the fuses/relays in the fuse box. However, I only had a 4-pin connector in the bumper.

Typical online install instructions list two approaches: If you have the tow package you just plug everything in. If you don't, you splice everything. Well, I did a hybrid, and it works just fine.

Given what I had in the truck, I took a chance and assumed everything was there except some of the wires running from the fuse block to the bumper.

In the cab: I bought a plug-n-play harness and plugged my Prodigy P2 into the OEM connector, but I cut the actual brake wire. Then I spliced on a wire that I ran to the bumper.

At the bumper end: I bought an off-the-shelf 7-pin plug and wired it to a 4-pin pigtail that I could plug into the OEM 4-pin connector. And the brake wire I that I had ran from the cab I connected into the 7-pin.

So if you are like me and wondering if that OEM plug can be used (without having the tow package), then I'm here to say yes. No need to splice into brake light wire, power, ground, etc. The OEM connector can be used for all that.

The astute observer will notice that I do not have backup lights and 12-volt feed yet, but I'll get around to wiring them up eventually.